Macro algae vs phosphate reactor

[markodeniro]

I am weighing up the options of either getting a phosphate reactor or macro algae to grow in my sump. Anyone have experience in which one is more effective?


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[54seaweed]

i use a lot of macros in my predator tank but they also need lots of attention trimming and such , they help cut down phosphates but there's always a detectable amount
I find phosban to work best in my main tank , if you don't mind the extra work macro's will work but need constant attention as they grow fast , macro's are also a good way of telling if your water chemistry is out of whack , so it can be corrected
but if your new to sw I would recommend a reactor over macro
once you get more comfortable than take on the macro challenge

this is a macro tank I had a while back before I upgraded
lots of work and constant attention helps for a healthy macro tank

[Sniperhank]

I use both. When things decompose, they break down into nitrates and phosphates. It is about a 16:1 ratio. The macros will manage the nitrates mostly. In my tank, the phosphates were the issue that algae just wasn't managing well enough...well, it was just in my display where I didn't want it! So, I use products like GFO or Phosguard to directly impact the phosphates along with macro algae.

[Gregcoyote]

+1


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[markodeniro]

Brilliant thanks for the advise looks like I may have to get both then....


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[Maridia]

Originally Posted by Sniperhank

I use both. When things decompose, they break down into nitrates and phosphates. It is about a 16:1 ratio. The macros will manage the nitrates mostly. In my tank, the phosphates were the issue that algae just wasn't managing well enough...well, it was just in my display where I didn't want it! So, I use products like GFO or Phosguard to directly impact the phosphates along with macro algae.

I assume you use those in a reactor. I want a reactor, but it's slightly further down the list on my "things to get", I have been putting phosguard in media bags and put it in my sump, in a high flow area. Not as good as a reactor, but I hear can still be effective, I may need more as I only see a very minute impact.

[Gregcoyote]

Because of clumping, I have given up on reactors and have made a space in my sump that holds phosgard.


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[markodeniro]

Originally Posted by Gregcoyote

Because of clumping, I have given up on reactors and have made a space in my sump that holds phosgard.


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Is that bagged in flow in the sump? Have many people got macro algae? I don't mind putting the time in as long as it is effective at the minute I use a small canister filter with a bag of rowaphos in it for my 20G but looking at a better solution for my 80G


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[Sniperhank]

Technically, all of us have macro algae. Even hair algae is a macro algae. It is just what we like to look at and what we look at as a pest. In the end, it is all utilizing it for benefit.

[Gregcoyote]

I built a little box to make a bed of phosgard. The flow fills that box and a part of it goes thru the bed. I stir the bed up once a week.


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