a few questions about lr

[weekendplayer]

Hey Guys and Gals
It's been awhile since I've posted anything. I've been reading through the post here and on other forums. Everybody has such good information especially for new hobbyists. Anyway I have a few questions for you experts out there. I'm going to try and post pics to. Never post pics before, hope it works. The first two pics are of some lr, I was wondering what was growing on the rock? Is it Cyno? And how do I get rid of it? The third pic is what the rock used to look like. The last pic is of my new skimmer It's an ASM G-3 that has the recirc, gate valve, and direct feed mods done. By me, first DIY project. The question is the skimmate looks watery, is the good or should it be dryer? How do I know if it is ajusted properly for optimal skimming? The skimmer has been running for three days now. My last question is my Ca level stays low 280 ppm today. I dose with aragaMILK and KENT Tech-CB parts A & B. I do a 20g water change about every 2 wks. What can I do to get Ca levels up short of a Ca reactor which I'm not redy for yet? Thanks for all you help.

Tank Stats:
105 show with 30g sump/fuge - fuge has mud/ lr rubble/colaropa (?spelling)
150 lb lr, 80 lb ls
Mag 9.5 return pump
ASM G-3 skimmer with gate valve, recirc, direct feed mods
2 250watt HQI metal halides 20000k, 2 URI 110 watt VHO's (1 actinic, 1 white)
Yellow Tang, Green Manderin, 5 Yellowtail Damsels, Various snails and hermit crabs, 2 sandsifting stars.

Water Parameters done taday:
PH 8.2
Salinity 35 ppt
Tamp 78
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitite 0 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm
Ca 280 ppm
dKH 9.9
ALK 3.54 meq/l
PO4 0 ppm

 

[ACBlinky]

Looks like coralline algae, it's desirable to most people (discourages growth of nusiance algaes, looks nice, uses up nutrients) so I'd leave it be.
If you're supplementing Ca and alk and can't get Ca to go up, try checking your Mg levels. I believe if you want Ca around 450ppm or so, Mg should be around 1275ppm.

 

[weekendplayer]

I wasn't sure if it was coraline algae because it doesn't look like the rest of the coraline algae in my tank. Have any idea what the fuzzy algae is and how to get rid of it.

 

[Blown 346]

The skimmer might still be breaking in. But you want skimmate to be thick and dry. Pulling a drier foam will result in more nutrients pulled fom the tank.
Just adjuat the inlet of the skimmer, you might have to play with it a few days. I like to have the water level in the middle of the neck on mine.

 

[weekendplayer]

Thanks, I ajusted it down earlier today and started to get drier foam. I was thinking that it looked a little wet.

 

[smcnally]

Wait til you empty it! I have a G3 and the skimmate is chunky when I pour it out. It makes my whole house smell like fart-ville when I clean it. My wife said I need to clean it outside from now on

 

[weekendplayer]

I know what you mean. I emptied mine today. Booooy did it stink.

 

[piranhaking]

try to get a closer pic of the fuzzy algae. If its fuzzy i wouldnt think it is cyano though. cyano is usually like a layer of slime on the rock.