Is refugium growing hair algae and others okay ?

[Idech]

This is my first refugium so I’m not sure what to do. I have a ball of chaeto growing in there and the light is on 12 hours a day. It’s been going for less than a month but it didn’t take long before hair algae started growing too, along with some other type of green algae, lots of bubbles and some white stringy stuff.

Do I let all of that happily live in there or do I scrape some of it ?

I’m afraid if I do try to clean it, some will make it to the display tank and grow in there. I put a big snail in there and it’s definitely helping but it’s growing faster than it can eat.

Should I add 3-4 more snails ?

Thanks !

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Pics?
In general, a fuge is used as a place to grow algae that will outcompete algae in the display... It doesn't matter if it's chaeto, caulerpa, gha, cyano, or whatever. (Yes, at one point years ago my fuge walls were covered in a thick layer of cyano, but there wasn't a bit in the tank, lol).

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

If you want to scrape some, turn the pumps off (stop the flow in the sump), scrape, and then siphon the loose algae out of the sump (basically a small water change) before starting things back up.

 

[Idech]

Pics?
In general, a fuge is used as a place to grow algae that will outcompete algae in the display... It doesn't matter if it's chaeto, caulerpa, gha, cyano, or whatever. (Yes, at one point years ago my fuge walls were covered in a thick layer of cyano, but there wasn't a bit in the tank, lol).

I’ll take a picture tomorrow. Thanks for your help !

 

[JonoH]

Mine grows hair algea also (at least thats what it looks like) - none in the DT, when i scrape it occasionally, it goes through the pumps and my Tangs have a feast on it!

 

[Idech]

@EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal here are some pictures of the refugium :

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

@EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal here are some pictures of the refugium :

That doesn't look bad at all. I wouldn't worry about it but if you feel like adding more snails, you can. Just remember, the point of a fuge is that algae grows and is then removed (trimmed back) so the nutrients it consumed are exported from the tank. An algaevore that eats it will ultimately add to your bioload, slightly diminishing the efficiency of the fuge ...
Let me know if that makes sense.

 

[Idech]

That doesn't look bad at all. I wouldn't worry about it but if you feel like adding more snails, you can. Just remember, the point of a fuge is that algae grows and is then removed (trimmed back) so the nutrients it consumed are exported from the tank. An algaevore that eats it will ultimately add to your bioload, slightly diminishing the efficiency of the fuge ...
Let me know if that makes sense.

Yes, it makes perfect sense ! I’ll just leave it as it is.