Natural Phosphate Reducers?

[loans_n_fishes]

Are there any natural phosphate reducers (certain algaes and such)?

[Thunderkat]

Hair algae does an awesome job of taking phosphates out of the water.

[loans_n_fishes]

:lol :lol Ok...how about DESIRABLE algaes! :P

[Thunderkat]

Cheato, halimeda, the red algaes,... there are more but I don't have my algae book. Basically look for something that grows fast. Cheato is the poplular choice. I would love to try the red algaes because supposedly they secrete chemicals that inhibit other algaes and this substance is what makes the "good" ocean smell, not the san diego ocean smell.

[watered_down]

Cheato, halimeda, the red algaes,... there are more but I don't have my algae book. Basically look for something that grows fast. Cheato is the poplular choice. I would love to try the red algaes because supposedly they secrete chemicals that inhibit other algaes and this substance is what makes the "good" ocean smell, not the san diego ocean smell.

wow... never heard of that... do you happen to know any more info about this? like what varieties?

[lhoy]

Yea, frequent water changes. ; )

Seriously, doing frequent water changes will help prevent their buildup.

Lee

[GaryP]

I believe feather caulerpa secretes a chemical that is supposed to inhibit Ich.

The idea behind a refugium is that macro algaes will compete with undesirable algaes for nutrients in the water. These nutrients are primarily nitrates, ammonia, phosphates, and dissolved organic carbon. The excess macro algaes harvested from the refugium also provide a source of nutrition for herbivorous fish such as tangs. In addition to all these benefits, the fuge will provide a safe haven for the breeding of desirable invertebrates such as copepods and amphipods.

[loans_n_fishes]

I actually have some red algae in the tank itself. I am planning to add more algaes eventually.

Approximately how much algae per gallon do you guys use to help with filtration. For now, they will be in my tank...so something attractive (or that can easily be stuck behind the rocks) is what I am looking for.

At present, I have around 2 handfuls (but my hands are fairly small ^_^ ) in my 75 gallon. I had a codium plant, but it disintegrated! Not sure what happened there. My calcium levels have been good...

[GaryP]

The poroblems with red algaes are that they are fairly slow growing. You want algaes that grow quickly. The faster they are growing, the faster they are absorbing nutrients from the water. That's why green algaes like caulerpa and chaetomorpha are more commonly used in refugiums, because they are fast growing. The problem with them in a main display tank is that fish like to eat them, especially tangs, angels and rabbitfish. Not much will eat chaetomorpha except a rabbitfish. Its a little tough to chew on. Caulerpa on the other hand has a tendency to go sexual in a display tank where the lights go on and off. They can produce some toxins when they go through this stage. That's not a problem in a fuge where the lights are on 24 hrs.