Macro-algae in sump???

I see in many pictures that people have some kind of green plant-like thing in their sump. Is this a macro-algae? What is its purpose, it breaks down nitrates? Looks rather pretty to me, is there anything wrong with having it in the main tank as opposed to the sump?

 

Many macroalgaes will overgrow corals if in the display tank and it's hard to harvest it for nutrients export purposes. If the macroalgae is in the sump, it will just do it's thing....absorb Nitrates and phosphates and it's easy to periodically remove some of it to export the nutrients that way.

 

Oh great, okay, I understand. When you say export nutrients, do you mean that periodically you will snip off some of the algae and remove it from the sump to cut down on the amount of phosphates and nitrates in the tank? Or is the export for some other reason?

 

The algae eat the nutrients. Only reason to trim is size, or to feed fish in display tank.

Some culperas will go sexual if not trimmed.
ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Macroalgae Care

 

While the Nitrates and phosphates are in the algae, they are techincally still in the system. When you cut off some of the macroalgae and throw it away, you are removing some of those nutrients. Additionally, it will make the algae remaining in the sump grow faster and absorb more nutrients.

 

Sorry, another noob here ;-) when you say it will overgrow corals, is it harmful to the coral or it just crowds the display so you can't see the coral? If i have a FOWLR tank will the macroalgae harm the liverock?

 

Most helpful, thank you!

 

It's fine in a FOWLR tank.* It will overgrow the corals blocking them from getting light.* Additionally, many macroalgaes put out secondary metabolites (toxins) that are dangerous to certain corals (particulary SPS corals).

 

OK, thanks!

And sorry tangopa for hijacking your thread ;-)

 

No problem with keeping chaeto, macro or caulerpa in the display for a fowler tank. It will help with the water quality. The only harm it will cause is it will block the light from the corals. If fowler, then no problem. Mine grows like crazy in my sump. I just rip it off and throw it out or give it to a local reefer every few weeks. Tangs love the stuff. Mine eats any chaeto that gets sucked back in the tank