still getting brown hair algae what could be wrong

marinoob · #1 01/07/2008, 11:25 AM

here are my levels

Nitrate = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
ammonia = 0ppm
Ph = betweens 7.8-8.0
Specific Gravity = 1.024 (Red Sea Salt)
Calcium = 640ppm
Alk (KH) = 179ppm
Phosphates = 0ppm

im running the chaeto lighting oposite of my tank lights
i think im running a 36w or 26w compact florescent 6500k bulb in there and run my skimmer real wet have to empty it almost 2 times a day

my question is do you know why i would still have brownish hair algae growing all over my rocks and on my sand? it wont go away my lights are about 9 months old do you tihnk they need changed maybe? my phosban reactor and phosban are due to arrive on wednesday. but according to 2 different tests i have no phosphates or nitrates

any suggestions would be appreciated this is a picture of my tank a few months ago but the same algae is there.

thanks

luke33 · #2 01/07/2008, 11:28 AM

Your calc is extremely high. Could be phosphates

marinoob · #3 01/07/2008, 11:46 AM

yeah i know my calc is high i was adding that purple up stuff once a week and then i read the bottle fully and it said something about it raising calc and i tested and then stopped dosing

but could calc be the problem with my algae? but the phosphates are reading 0ppm of 2 diff tests?

davefl83 · #4 01/07/2008, 12:21 PM

Your bulb might also be the issue. The 6500K range is really good for growing plants (especially in freshwater tanks) because of the spectrum of light it puts out. Have you considered trying at least a 10K or 14K bulb instead? Maybe turn your protein skimmer back down a bit so that you get "sludge-ier" waste instead of watered down waste.

mg426 · #5 01/07/2008, 12:30 PM

How old is your tank ???

marinoob · #6 01/07/2008, 01:10 PM

my tank is about 1 year old now but the 6500k bulb is in the sump/refugum would that still put algae in the main tank? i have the normal 10000k and 50/50 actinic pc lighting in display why would i get algae up in the display and if the nitrates and phosphates are at 0 ppm what are they feeding off of?

luke33 · #7 01/07/2008, 01:25 PM

If those are your original bulb's from a year ago and pc they need to be replaced and that could be the problem. Your not showing any phos and trates because your algae is feeding on it as soon as it enters most likely. Are you using rodi? I know here in Indy my tap water has 10ppm trates.

saveafish · #8 01/07/2008, 04:39 PM

As I open the window and wave at Luke. And wounders why he is having left overs again. hehehe

bhdmc · #9 01/07/2008, 06:09 PM

I was feeding my fish Hikari Marine 'A" and Hikari frozen Mysis shrimp. Switch over to Ocean Nutrition Formula Two and the brown diatom is almost gone.

marinoob · #10 01/08/2008, 11:34 AM

i tihnk i feed the same as you used to im not sure about the marine A but it is something by hikari i think could be my problem i will try to switch to a new dry food but what about the frozen shrimp did you stop feeding them too?

DarG · #11 01/08/2008, 12:25 PM

You have to have some phosphates for the HA to grow. As Luke mentioned, the phosphate can be utilized by the algae as quickly as it is available. so the test can show no phosphates but there is still a small amount being made available for the algae to use. The GFO you have on order may take care of it. Dripping kalkwasser for calcium supplementation also helps precipitate the phosphates out.

I cant really tell much in your picture but I am on a small screen laptop. Doesnt look like you have a bad problem. Is it actually hair algae as in long filaments of green or brown? Or is it just a film of brown algae?

marinoob · #12 01/08/2008, 01:11 PM

it is hair like algae it is brownish now you said to do kalkwasser but my calcium is already at um 640 and thats not a typo it is already high i dont tihnk i have anything in my tank that absorbs calcium at this moment so ido i really need to add kalk? it would be nice to get my ph up but is there any negative reaction to having high calcium?

aaron7405 · #13 01/08/2008, 01:20 PM

I had this problem even the nitrates and phopates get 0, I run a Phosban reactor and the problem stops in matter of days. give it a shoot. about to get pourple algae juts look for your CA, ALk and Mag parameter and the algae will popup

DarG · #14 01/08/2008, 06:10 PM

Your calcium is too high right now (assuming your kit is accurate). One dose per week of Purple Up shouldnt get the calcium up that high so if thats all your are using for calcium supplementation, I would double check with a different test kit, a reliable one.

You can use kalkwasser as a calcium supplement after your calcium comes back down. Kalkwasser alone usually isnt enough to maintain calcium in most reef's.

aaron7405 · #15 01/08/2008, 06:52 PM

Im looking than you have a canasteir filter RENA?? or is just the water intake. If you do have one this could be a nitrate and phosphate generator. I use to have one and I took it out, now i just filter with skimmer and sock filter

aaron7405 · #16 01/08/2008, 06:57 PM

I will take a look at the bulb color too. 6500K is to grow plant. try to get some 10K or 14K bulbs, are better for marine

saltydragon · #17 01/08/2008, 07:50 PM

yea i does look like hes using a canister filter...i can see the rio 600+ at the upper middle....that should the pump for the skimmer...

i would also change the bulbs for the display asap

bhdmc · #18 01/09/2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marinoob
i tihnk i feed the same as you used to im not sure about the marine A but it is something by hikari i think could be my problem i will try to switch to a new dry food but what about the frozen shrimp did you stop feeding them too?

I stop using all Hikari food.