aries426
New member
I have a 30g Deep Blue 24x24x12 tank that has been setup for about 9 months. I am getting some algae on the substrate, it is mostly starting as brownish/red and some spots do get a little longer(Hair Algae). It does not look like cyano to me, doesn't have the slime effect. I have 2 Koralia 240's plus my return, flow seems really good. I have moved the power heads in different directions to keep the sand clean but no matter what it seems to come back. I had a AI Vega LED but switched to a ATI 6x24w T5(3 Blue+, Coral+, Atinic and Purple+)I have a Super Reef Octopus 1000INT protein skimmer, filter sock, refugeium, Carbon and GFO reactors, Tunze Nano 3152 ATO and return pump all in sump. I have a pretty good CUC with about 8 Nassarius snails, Peppermint shrimp and hermits. I did a water test yesterday
Salinity 1.026
pH 8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-15
Alkalinity 8.5
Calcium 375
Magnesium 1140
Phosphate 0.04-0.05
I have been vodka dosing to bring the Nitrate and Phosphate down, it has helped. I know the GFO does it but I wanted to try to get it down to optimum level and then let the reactors take over. The algae issue did start BEFORE I was vodka dosing, so it is not due to that. I feed twice daily but only enough so that it is gone within 30-45 secs. I switch between frozen Mysis/Brine/Bloodworms, flakes and pellets. I do 20-25% WC weekly with RO/DI.
Any ideas or help would greatly be appreciated!
Thanks
Salinity 1.026
pH 8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-15
Alkalinity 8.5
Calcium 375
Magnesium 1140
Phosphate 0.04-0.05
I have been vodka dosing to bring the Nitrate and Phosphate down, it has helped. I know the GFO does it but I wanted to try to get it down to optimum level and then let the reactors take over. The algae issue did start BEFORE I was vodka dosing, so it is not due to that. I feed twice daily but only enough so that it is gone within 30-45 secs. I switch between frozen Mysis/Brine/Bloodworms, flakes and pellets. I do 20-25% WC weekly with RO/DI.
Any ideas or help would greatly be appreciated!
Thanks