harvesting algae 2nd thread

[snoo]

how much algae do you need to remove and how often
I have a 24" sq section of sump 75% full of calurpa with 4 T8 tubes on 24/7the system has been running 6 months have not removed any yet as I was waiting till it was 100% full , any comments

[Smitherington]

Hi,
personally I wouldn't harvest the algae until the section looked pretty full. If there's still room for the algae to grow I'd leave it.

I found it took a while for the algae to take off as the nutrients in the water are at a low level in a new system and as the tank matured so the algae grew quicker.

Once I started harvesting I take out maybe 10 or 20% every couple of weeks or until it starts to look full again. ATM I'm taking smaller amounts every week as I clear the cyano out of the macroalgae.

The thing I really hate about removing the algae is the loss of the pods etc that go with it.

Basically I would say err on the side of caution and if you're in any doubt either leave it or take small amounts out regularly rather than heaving a load out and ruining what you've created.

Cheers