What is the best type of Algae in sump? - and whats growing in my sump?

Kan9 · Apr 19, 2020

Hello, attached are 2 pics of my sump. I tried chaeto but it died. Calerpa seems to be on the way out. This nasty algae grows over everything. Lights are on in sump 24 hrs/day to keep calerpa from going sexual. Battling algae in my DT (not sure what type-dinos?). Tank has been cycled since about December 2019.

-----What do I need to do to get ANY type of good macro algae to grow in my sump instead of this nasty algae? Thinking of maybe a chaeto reactor or algae scrubber instead of a refugium full of macro algae---------

More info:

215 gallon DT mostly soft corals (kole tang, foxface, 2 blennys, 2 damsels, firefish, 2 clownfish, crabs, 2 red serpent stars, 2 cleaner shrimp, snails)
100 gallon sump
77 degrees
salinity 1.0245
Phosphate .07
Nitrate 2
alk 8
Calcium 430
Magnesium 1275

I just started to run UV yesterday.
Bubble Magus filter roller
large protein skimmer
Lights on in DT 11 hrs/day-T5s and LED fixture

Thanks in advance!

vetteguy53081 · Apr 19, 2020

You have lots of bubble algae which needs to go. It will end up in return pump and your display. Best removal method I had was a foxface rabbit and use of liquid vibrant but not practical in a sump. You may need to remove each rock individually and force off with an aggressive toothbrush or similar and rinse rock off well.

Kan9 · Apr 19, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
You have lots of bubble algae which needs to go. It will end up in return pump and your display. Best removal method I had was a foxface rabbit and use of liquid vibrant but not practical in a sump. You may need to remove each rock individually and force off with an aggressive toothbrush or similar and rinse rock off well.

Thank you! I figured as much. Any thoughts on how to keep the bubble algae out after I remove it?