Using Rowaphos with macroalgae, IDEAL?

Hello everyone !

I have been using a refugium consisting of macroalgae ( mostly chaeto + some grape caulerpa ) to control my nitrates and it has been working like a charm. my nitrates are always 0 and the tank is nearing the 5 month mark. HOWEVER, recently there's been some red slime algae growth on the sand bed, just the right handd side of the tank and it's not severe yet. I do not have a phosphate test kit so i do not know my phosphate levels.

I do know that macroalgae requires both nitrate + phosphates to survive, at a 20:1 ratio. I am thinking of adding rowaphos to control the excess phosphates but i'm afraid that would deprive the macroalgae of the phosphate nutrients causing it to malfunction.

PLease advice on my situation ;D thank you!

 

I use it and a fuge. The only thing I noticed is my cheato and manageoves doesn't grow as fast. But it took care of my Dino problem so to me it was worth it. As a side note with my Dino problems and probably your red slime you won't get a phosphate reading since the algea is consuming it.


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yeap i bet it won't.. i was thinking of maybe using it until the red slime goes away..

 

Actually I think a cyano outbreak around the 6 month mark is normal. Much like the dino out break the bacteria should die off on it's own after it's consumed all the excess nutrients. If it doesn't in about a months time then there's a underlying problem with your system.

 

i like the idea yheartsp - nitrates sound like your limiting nutrient, (there is always one nutrient as a limit, never more than one - liebig's law stuff), so reducing phosphate your available nutrient shouldn't hurt growth.