algae in sump help

[kasha]

hi,
so i decided to grow some macro algae in my sump tank and put in a 55W CF. it is on for 6 hours at night. after 1 month my acro algae is growing fast but now i also have lots of other algae in the sump tank coating the walls. how does one grow macro algae without having too much other algae growth? am i doing something wrong? my water parameters are good (phosphates, nitrates near 0 and using RO/DI water)

thanks

 

[Wes]

sounds like you have a phosphate problem

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I second Wes' Opinion.

If your phosphate is not high, the macro will out pace the other algae. It's not the macro that spawned the other algae but rather the phosphate level is too high that help support growth of all algae.

 

[kasha]

I second Wes' Opinion.

If your phosphate is not high, the macro will out pace the other algae. It's not the macro that spawned the other algae but rather the phosphate level is too high that help support growth of all algae.

The thing is that in my main tank I have stronger lighting and for more hours yet there is little if any algae there. granted there is a cleaning crew but still it seems strange. also my phosphates are low (0.5 ppm)according to a testing kit (although this can be because of the algae that is consuming it).

 

[Wes]

The thing is that in my main tank I have stronger lighting and for more hours yet there is little if any algae there. granted there is a cleaning crew but still it seems strange. also my phosphates are low (0.5 ppm)according to a testing kit (although this can be because of the algae that is consuming it).

0.5 ppm is high. You should keep them <0.05 ppm. Your testing kit may not be accurate. Most are not, which is why many of us use colorimeters to check phosphate levels.

 

[boardryder]

I agree. I have a similar problem. My PO4 is so hight that all my macro must absorb only soo much and the rest is taken up by nusance algae. Once the hair algae took hold my PO4 measures very low so you probably still have high PO4 its just hidden.