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They are not competing. Both are exposed to the same amount of nitrate and phosphate via the water. Both will grow.In the competition for nutrients, which wins?
I ask because I wonder if a macro algae reactor would lead to a decrease in my bubble algae problem. TIA!
Not to come across as rude or anything, but is that not the definition of competing?They are not competing. Both are exposed to the same amount of nitrate and phosphate via the water. Both will grow.
I've had a massive BA problem for about 8 months now. I finally got around to adding some chaeto to my fuge after way too long putting it off. Since then, the BA growth slowed considerably. I've actually been able to get ahead of the BA since the chaeto settled in and started growing. After about three weeks the little baseball of chaeto I bought grew to the size of a watermelon and the BA started turning white and dying off in some places. From my personal experience, I'd have to say they do compete, and chaeto paired with manual removal can beat BA.In the competition for nutrients, which wins?
I ask because I wonder if a macro algae reactor would lead to a decrease in my bubble algae problem. TIA!
No more a competition for food than two people sharing a banquet, I am thinking.Not to come across as rude or anything, but is that not the definition of competing?
I wasn’t going to say anything….Not to come across as rude or anything, but is that not the definition of competing?
yes, #2 is what I’ve done once. The ba came back. Your observation regarding chaeto v ba leads me to believe chaeto is better at using the nutrients. I do have chaeto in my sump but it isn’t illuminated. I asked the original question because I was/am debating a chaeto reactor. I have a turf scrubber but it’s not making a difference. I’ve started dosing Red Sea Nopox in conjunction with brightwell MB7 and nitrates are dropping. So I’m going to continue with that for now.I've had a massive BA problem for about 8 months now. I finally got around to adding some chaeto to my fuge after way too long putting it off. Since then, the BA growth slowed considerably. I've actually been able to get ahead of the BA since the chaeto settled in and started growing. After about three weeks the little baseball of chaeto I bought grew to the size of a watermelon and the BA started turning white and dying off in some places. From my personal experience, I'd have to say they do compete, and chaeto paired with manual removal can beat BA.
Some side notes:
1. Don't worry about popping the bubbles. They going to spread if you pop them and they'll spread if you don't.
2. If you have a sump, a long hose and a filter sock will make manual removal drastically easier. If you don't have a sump, a bucket and a return pump will do if the return pump is paired well with the flow rate of the tube you're using.
True. I was looking at it from the standpoint of nutrients already being scarce. Looks like another case of my mouth (or thumbs) running faster than my brain.I wasn’t going to say anything….
Ecologically there is little to no competition when resources are abundant. Competition increases when resources become limiting and one competitor tends to win at the expense of others.
Any particular reason you're considering converting from an in-sump fuge to a reactor? Just asking out of curiosity.yes, #2 is what I’ve done once. The ba came back. Your observation regarding chaeto v ba leads me to believe chaeto is better at using the nutrients. I do have chaeto in my sump but it isn’t illuminated. I asked the original question because I was/am debating a chaeto reactor. I have a turf scrubber but it’s not making a difference. I’ve started dosing Red Sea Nopox in conjunction with brightwell MB7 and nitrates are dropping. So I’m going to continue with that for now.
It’s not really a refugium - maybe it is, I have some rock and chaeto without illumination in the sump. I guess it is. The chaeto is surprisingly still green. It’s left over from a skimz chaeto reactor in which the pump went bad. I can’t find a replacement for it. Anyway, I don’t like having a light in the sump space. It gets salt covered and I get concerned about that. I suppose I could “reengineer” things, but I’m lazy….True. I was looking at it from the standpoint of nutrients already being scarce. Looks like another case of my mouth (or thumbs) running faster than my brain.
Any particular reason you're considering converting from an in-sump fuge to a reactor? Just asking out of curiosity.
I feel you on that. I can already tell cleaning algae out of the body of my skimmer is going to get old fast. Although, once I settle on a lighting solution I'm going to make a shade for that reason. Best of luck to you.It’s not really a refugium - maybe it is, I have some rock and chaeto without illumination in the sump. I guess it is. The chaeto is surprisingly still green. It’s left over from a skimz chaeto reactor in which the pump went bad. I can’t find a replacement for it. Anyway, I don’t like having a light in the sump space. It gets salt covered and I get concerned about that. I suppose I could “reengineer” things, but I’m lazy….