Macro algae help

I moved my fuge out of my sump and into a seperate bucket about a month ago because the light was causing algae to grow all over my sump. My cheato algae is only about the size of a baseball and has a 20 watt flourescent light on for 24hrs (fuge is only 5 gal). The problem is that everyday it becomes covered in cyno. Does this mean its doing its job because theres really not any in the main tank or is this inhibiting its growth because it hasnt really grown much..Im using ro water
nitrates around 20ppm hoping fuge will lower this...

 

Hi, not up on fuges that much but I believe you are running the lights too long. Maybe try 12-14 hours for awhile.

 

I've run my lights both on an opposite cycle and all day/night. I've never seen CB grow in my fuge but knock on wood haven't seen CB in my tank for probably 3 years. I would start by posting params and W/C schedule. Increasing alk and pH helps fight CB. Also carbon filtration helps as does heavy skimming.

Good luck!

 

I have the same problem no CB in my tank, haven't had it in years set up a sump/refuge about 3 to four months ago and I run a opposite light cycle with my tank and I still get CB just in the refuge, It will go away.
I added a power head in the refuge took out the macro algae and rinsed it in tank water (in a separate bucket).It's finally is starting to go away.
I guess we can just be glad it isn't in the main tank.

 

i read that if you have caulerpa in your refugium, keeping the lights on 24 hours would disable its sexual reproduction, which is good because when it reproduces sexually, the oxygen level in your tank drops.
i keep mine 24 hours, and no alien algae.
my grain of sand.

 

caulerpa can take a 24 hour photocycle, chaeto can't. It grows during the dark cycle, so that is why it hasn't been growing for you.

 

I agree 100%
Chaetomorpha is generally placed in a refugium that is connected to a saltwater reef tank where It is usually balled up. This macro algae has many benefits to a reefkeeper but generally its sole purpose is to absorb nutrients such as nitrates. Chaeto as it is sometimes called has the ability to host a whole slew of organisms such as pods, mini stars, and worms. Chaeto is preferred by reef tanks owners over Caulerpa because unlike Caulerpa it does not go sexual. When Caulerpa goes sexual it releases most of its nutrients it has absorbed and it could cause a tank crash. Using Chaeto will help fight nuisance algae.