8 replies to this topic

[hapka16]

I've had my tank set up for almost 2 years and is extremely stable. My water parameters are awesome pH -8.2, nitrate/ite and ammonia and 0 ppm, calcium at 480, and phospates at 0. However, i'm having a problem with an algae outbreak that doesn't seem to go away. I've tried cutting the amount of nutrients in the water by decreasing the amount of food and by stopping using flake food. Can someone please help me?
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What kind of algae is this or is it Cyano? And what can i do to get rid of it cuz it's already killed on coral by smothering it to death?

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[j'field]

Hi hapka16, as you were saying that your nitrate and phosphate reading are perfect and you also have lots of snails(your snails not doing a good job), I was quite surprise that you still have algae outbreak. It seems like some kinda diatoms or hairy algae to me.

But are you using DI/RO water for your saltmix?
Running a FR with phosphate removal media?
Increase the flow in your tank?

[hapka16]

Hi hapka16, as you were saying that your nitrate and phosphate reading are perfect and you also have lots of snails(your snails not doing a good job), I was quite surprise that you still have algae outbreak. It seems like some kinda diatoms or hairy algae to me.

But are you using DI/RO water for your saltmix?
Running a FR with phosphate removal media?
Increase the flow in your tank?

I am using RO water. What is a FR though? I am running a canister filter with ceramic media and a pouch of Purigen to aid in phosphate removal. as far as flow...my canister filter runs at about 315 GPH and then i have a koralia 2 and nano powerhead. I've never had an algae problem in the 4 years i've been keeping reef tanks. I've even helped friends get rid of there problems. I'm clueless?????

[j'field]

I am using RO water. What is a FR though? I am running a canister filter with ceramic media and a pouch of Purigen to aid in phosphate removal. as far as flow...my canister filter runs at about 315 GPH and then i have a koralia 2 and nano powerhead. I've never had an algae problem in the 4 years i've been keeping reef tanks. I've even helped friends get rid of there problems. I'm clueless?????

Hi hapka16, think what I would do is to do a water change, cleans the canister filter just in case it's traps any debritus. Reduce the lighting period by maybe an hour. As for FR is fluidized reactor.
How often do you clean your canister? Think is important to clean and change the media regularly too.

That's all that I can think of.

[hapka16]

I clean my canister filter about once every 2 weeks. I've taken out all the foam pads and use it stricly for biological filtration (except for the purigen). I do monthly 15% water changes, but maybe i should increase the frequency. Thanks for the help.

[Vanquish]

Try using some PO4 removal media in a reactor that allows the media to be "fluidised"... Are you haveing lots of those algae in the tank or only certain areas?

[peacemaker]

What's your lighting period, and do you have a chiller?

[hapka16]

I'm having algae sporadicly around the tank. I think it's starting to go away now that i've added purigen to my canister filter. How much do FR's usually run? None of my friends have every had one and I've now surpased them in knowledge of reefkeeping, which doesn't say much for them. This only shows you how much i still need to learn to get tanks like everyone on this forum. My lighting schedule is actinics on from 10am to 10pm and 10k/6500K on from 11am-9pm.

[Vanquish]

From the way I see it... you do have very low levels of po4.... use some po4 removal media in a reactor and you'll get even better results... you should see coralline algae growing profusely and you can feed mre to the fishes too! Stay awy from flake foods though, they pack alot of po4!