algae in the frag tank

[XSiVE]

so.. what the heck gives???

I have no brown algae in my display (that I can see anyway) but whenever I have my frag tank hooked up to the system I always have a ton of algae of some kind in it.. right now its a brown film.

It's plumbed into the main system so its not like there should be a new cycle, it's got a brand-spanking-new LED pendant hanging above it so it doesnt need new bulbs aaaaannnnndddd it's only 10gal with a Koralia 1 in it, more than enough flow.

I dont get it. :doh:

any insight?

[EMUreef]

i kinda have the same thing going on.

I have a frag rack set up in my fuge/sump and my plugs are all getting what looks like diatoms on them. but its found no where else in my tank. just the fuge area.

[adalius]

Is it possible you just have lower flow rate in your frag tank/fuge/sump/etc allowing it to settle?

[XSiVE]

well, I have ~3600gph in my 120 display, ~500gph in my 10g frag tank... sure its less in the actual numbers but relatively speaking, its more flow... and it's not like its settling, it's actually fighting the current to stick to the glass near the koralia in there...

[Rabidgoose]

I have the same issue, In my case I have surmised that the systems excess nutrients are collecting here. You talk about flow but what is your turnover rate (mine gravity feeds back into the sump so not as much turnover)? On the bright side, your growing your nuisance algae away from your display tank. LPS and softies grow very well in mine while SPS not so good(reverse of the display).

[iyachtuxivm]

I have the same issue, In my case I have surmised that the systems excess nutrients are collecting here. You talk about flow but what is your turnover rate (mine gravity feeds back into the sump so not as much turnover)? On the bright side, your growing your nuisance algae away from your display tank. LPS and softies grow very well in mine while SPS not so good(reverse of the display).

I agree! flow and turn over not the same. I am guessing this is where your issue lies also.

[adalius]

Flow and turnover aren't the same but since he had his tank dimensions posted in another thread I needed the flow to figure out the turnover ;-)

[XSiVE]

Turnover, I would have to calculate based on the drainage amount (which I will do tonight) but here's some thoughts.

My return from the sump is a mag 9.5 which goes into a manifold and is split 3 ways, each destination has a ball valve.
Two go to the display, but they are turned down significantly to reduce flow into the display in hopes of less micro bubbles from the durso overflows.
The third is wide open, which flows to a spraybar in my refugium, not all the pressure is released here, the rest of the pressure goes to the frag tank..

I would assume by this that Im getting somewhere around 100-200gph through that 10gal's overflow but I can calculate it by putting the drain in a gallon container and seeing how long it takes to fill up.

[Rabidgoose]

Sounds similar to what I have. I'm split 3 ways with the majority going to the DT. Fuge is upstream of the DT w/ DSB and chaeto, and the rest goes to my FT upstream of the sump. Do you have a chambered sump and do you run a skimmer? I would be cautious of flow changes if your DT turnover is slight.

[XSiVE]

okay so I checked the flow, in the process extended the small crack in my frag tank and it started leaking so I had to replace it with a new one.. yay for 10g tanks only being like 12 bucks... drilled the new one and got it setup.

anyway, to the point, I checked the flow into the tank and Im getting ~112 gph through it... so 10x turnover, total of 50x "flow"

[EMUreef]

i have a MJ1200 feeding my fuge along with a power head in there creating more flow.

and yet my plugs still get a light dusting of brown on them.

[XSiVE]

maybe it's just because we dont keep a CUC in there.. :confused:

[cbau45]

How heavy is your frag tank stocked? Just curious because if there is not a whole lot in there then nutrients aren't being used up by the growing frags and would be yet another reason for them to build up. Again, +1 to nutrient export and flow in your frag tank. That's just my two cents.