strange growth in refugium

[mr.limpit]

I have a AQUAFUGE RF24 REFUG by cpr w/4inch mud base some caulerpa and two peices of small live rock.the problem being a foam like substance[algae?]floating on top of the water its green redand white
Also on top of the caulopra there is a reddish brown growth and on the inside walls of the refug I have green and red algae growing.
None of this is in the main tank and there is no unwanted growths in
the main tank.
Is this stuff ok?
I have cleaned this out weekly and dont know if i should be doing so how much extra growth should be there. The lights are on in the refug 24/7.

[Reefland]

Welcome to Reefland!

How long have you experienced this algae and have you been cleaning it out routinely since you noticed it?

As you probably know, there are many different types of algae and the only bad ones are the undesirable ones by you; and of course the Caulerpa that goes sexual. I would say if it isn't growing in the main tank, continue to clean it out following your same routine. An additional use of a refugium is for vegatable filtration (algae growth and removal) and this is what you have going on. There is something in the tank that is fueling this algae and as long as you manually remove it, you should be fine.

Regards,

[bongobrian]

It sounds like it's cyanobacteria (slime algea). Are you using RO or distilled water? I would run some tests on the water for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and phosphate. I think your phosphates are usually the primary cause of that type of algea (if that's what it is). HTH

[scubadude]

Originally posted by mr.limpit

None of this is in the main tank and there is no unwanted growths in
the main tank.
Is this stuff ok?
I have cleaned this out weekly and dont know if i should be doing so how much extra growth should be there. The lights are on in the refug 24/7.

Welcome to RL!

Sounds to me like your fuge is doing what it should do.....grow the problematic algaes in it and keep them away from your main tank atleast IMO. I have flatworms in my fuge but not in my main tank, I also have alot of problematic looking algaes in my fuge but not in my main tank, and YES i try to leave a little bit of them in the fuge when I harvest them because they are obviously thriving there and not in my main tank. I personally wouldnt sweat it so much sounds to me like they are playing an important role in your system.