Did I let chaeto get into my display?

DarkSky · Nov 30, 2018

I'm starting to see a lot of strands of algae in my display ever since feeding a lot heavier. My nitrates were always undetectable (salifert), and my phosphates were a bit high (140-170ppb w/ Hanna ULR Phosphate checker).

I run a larger chaeto refugium, and when I started my tank the chaeto wasn't doing so well so it was turning white and breaking off into small chunks. It looks like a bit made it into the rocks and now is going crazy.

If this is chaeto, what can I do beside manual removal? I'm pulling tons of it out when I can, but it's getting annoying.

I now have a few sponge filters between my refuge and return so it won't send more into the tank. I have one yellow tang in the tank, and three more tangs going through QT soon.

sfin52 · Nov 30, 2018

Does it have bubbles in it.

How old is your tank.

Dodge Ram · Nov 30, 2018

It's definintely plant based as the bent branch shows. What other fish in there?

Neo Jeo · Nov 30, 2018

Get a tang

DarkSky · Nov 30, 2018

No bubbles, it's not dinos.

Tank has been running since July, rock was curing in salt water for over six months prior to that.

Mostly wrasses in the tank - like I said I have three more tangs going through QT but it'll be 30+ days before they're done in QT.