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#1
10/15/2003, 10:36 AM
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major algae problem...
Ok, I need help in finding a solution to this algae problem I have. The tank was blooming (ROSE, LPS, etc...) for about 1.5 years with a refugium and some spaghetti agae (no skimmer). My tank params are: pH=84, nitrite=0, ammonia=0, nitrate=0. Running 4 t5s on a 100g tank for about 9hrs a day during the last 12 months.
Then one day, I decide to try growing some grape caluerpa for my tangs. Keep that for about 2 months and it was growing great. During the 2 months, my glass thermometer broken and I lost many of the metal pellets in the sand bed. Anyway, my corals started to look weak after this 2 month. Xenias that were spreadking like wild fires were starting to die. My torch was getting stringy. My rose was looking smaller, etc... This is the time my algae problem started. I immediately thought the problem was the calerpa so I riped them all out. Got rid of the xenias and the torch (starting to melt). Did 100 percent water change within a week and ran alot of carbon. 3 months have past and all my corals/livestocks are looking great and thriving. However, the alage problem is still everywhere. It's a thick brown/red coat on the live rocks and covers the whole sand bed. During the day, the algae bubbles up when the lights are on and goes away right before the light goes out. Then during the night, the algae re-appears everywhere again. Any suggestions on getting rid of this stuff? I was thinking about buying the phosphate sponge media, etc... --Tony
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#2
10/15/2003, 11:04 AM
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You proabably sparked the bloom with the 100% water change. That water will have to cycle all over again.
Once that began the algae took hold. Shorten your photo period and do many water changes, small ones. Say 10% 1-2 a week. Then get a skimmer. Dave |
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#3
10/15/2003, 11:11 AM
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No, the algae bloom already took place during the 2 months period. Again, all my params are in check. My only guess is that the phosphates are high (due to the calerpa). Unfortunately I don't have a phosphate tester to confirm. Any other suggestions guys?
--Tony
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#6
10/15/2003, 11:27 AM
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First suggestion would be to GET A SKIMMER
if it is phosphates I would not worry too much about testing for them as many tests are not accurate (or measure the incorrect form of PO4). Phosphates can also be high in certain regions (sand bed) and not others. Just assume you have a phosphate problem to be safe. Now the fun part...removing it... There are plenty of threads about this dilemma. Here is a current one: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=251077 My personal feeling is that you will never really remove the phosphate. You need to set up a cycle to keep it in check. The algae/cyano bloom is what is thriving off of it now. So just get animals to eat that algae/cyano and you will eventually get things back in check. I have a bunch of cyano growing in my sand bed and have found that the only way to effectively deal with it is fighting conchs. Other things to help out the cleanup process would be: Heavy skimming Kalkwasser additions (keep your PH up and precipitate PO4) good water circulation sand sifting animals to keep the DSB healthy Large water changes RO/DI or NSW water changes (source water needs to be pure) Never overfeed (biggest source of phosphate is food) get your fuge working well again |
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#8
10/15/2003, 01:43 PM
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Quote:
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Linear Mode
