Gfo in a macro display tank?

I am starting up a macro algae display tank and am wondering if i need to run any Gfo or phosphate remover. My levels of phosphate are pretty low and i use RO water. I am growing many kinds of macro algae and am planning on getting some pipefish, mandarin goby, and possibly some seahorses down the road. Macro algae feeds on nitrate and phosphate. So i dont want to starve the algae out. Is any phosphate remover needed in my tank? I would just assume that with a well established refugium, you wouldnt need any. :-/

 

I wouldn't use any. The important thing is to make sure your macro tank has good flow so your desired macros are able to out-compete smaller film algaes and cyano. You'll be in good shape!

I have a macro tank and I run a canister filter that i rinse the filters on about once every 6-8 months and a small skimmer. My algae thrives. Some of my red algae i can pull a salad bowl's worth out about every 3 months.

 

that is great! I have good flow. I use a hydor flow on my return and upgraded to a pump with higher flow for my return also. I am using a biocube 29. I will be adding a skimmer soon also. Yeah my fern caulerpa and botroclydia grown like mad.

 

ok. so ive been getting some green hair algae issues recently. My macro algaes seem to be doing ok, my fern caluerpa is really taking off! Should i add a little GFO or should i just try getting a few emerald crabs and a fresh clean up crew to try to beat the algae? I have also heard of people using boiling water to shoot at the GHA to kill it. I might give that a try because the only thing i have in the tank right now is a cleaner shrimp.

 

You don't want to put any type of crabs in with macro's. They will eat your algae. So will turbo snails. Nerites and Ceriths worked best for me.
If you are having a problem with GHA in your display all you can do is remove it manually and wait for the macro's to begin demanding more nutrient than the hair algae.
Remove the GHA as you see it dying because if it begins to break down in the water all of the stored phosphates are released.
Watch the caulerpa, it can quickly over run your tank and choke out your other macros.

 

ok. thanks for the tip. i will try to get some snails. and try to remove hair algae as best i can.