algae issue

[bolt696]

Hi, I recently have been getting a large out break of hair algae. I just tested my water and got the following (this is a new test kit so chemicals should be fine:

No3 zero
Calcium 460
Phos zero
salt 1.22
PH 8.6
KH 10
No2 .07
NH zero
iodine zero
Alk zero

so Alk is low, Ph a little high

Any ideas? Could it just be to much light? I have my lights on a timer that comes on at 11am and goes off at 9:45 PM. There is some window light

thanks

 

[chemisfun11]

With your Alk at zero your pH measure is inaccurate. You may have severe swings in parameters. Something is not quite right. What test kit are you using? Have you added new fish recently?

I'd recommend a pH monitor and Salifert test kits - Ca, Alk/KH, NO3, PO4

HTH

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Well window light is a strong culprit with algae even when indirect. How old is the tank? It could be "new tank syndrome" causing it too. I don't think anyone has come up with that solution yet. I have had it and it is a pain.
Your Alk is the same as KH so it is 10 not 0. Nothing would be alive @ 0. The Ph should be 1.022 not 1.22 I believe. Shorten the light period by a few hrs., try to eliminate the window light by leaving the curtain closed and pull or siphon as much as you can during water changes. BE PATIENT it WILL take time.

 

[bolt696]

My tank is just about 2 years old. My master test kit is new from Red Sea the other tests are nutrafin

 

[SeaView]

Phosphate do not always measure accurately and they are a major contributor to algae problems. What is the biolaod and feeding like?

If this is the problem, water changes and increase skimming if possible.

 

[DEXTER SOLIS]

possibly feeding too much????

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Above Is A Mistake!
1.022 should be Salinity, NOT PH.
Thanks to the one who caught that.

 

[bolt696]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9350664#post9350664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DEXTER SOLIS
possibly feeding too much????

Only have 3 fish

cardinal
clown
and small blue guy (size or quarter) forgot the name

Feed pellets 3 times a week.

My skimmer pump has been getting week and my new one will be here Friday. That might be it.

you are correct with the salt 1.022

 

[Justjoe]

PO4's are often the guilty party and most test kits show you what you want to see and that is zero.
Bring a water sample to a club meeting or NERAC and we can test your sample with the Hach Colorimeter for an accurate test result.

What type of lights and how old are they?

What types of herbivores do you have and how many of them?
Joe

 

[bolt696]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9354109#post9354109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justjoe
PO4's are often the guilty party and most test kits show you what you want to see and that is zero.
Bring a water sample to a club meeting or NERAC and we can test your sample with the Hach Colorimeter for an accurate test result.

What type of lights and how old are they?

What types of herbivores do you have and how many of them?
Joe

Hi Joe,

for my lighting, I have 2 150w 14000k Aqualight Advanced Series HQI Metal Halide Fixture

as for the herbivores I had about 60 assorted snails and crabs, but this damb gorilla crab which is now the bigger than a silver dollar is eating most of them ( can't catch it). Other wise it is just the 3 fish i mentioned and a purple urchin. I just got a very large sea hare yesterday from Dex which I hope will help.

 

[DEXTER SOLIS]

Mike, how is the sea hare working out for you?

 

[bolt696]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9355608#post9355608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DEXTER SOLIS
Mike, how is the sea hare working out for you?

When I put it in, it did one lap around the tank then spent all day yesterday behind the rock work. It came out when the lights went off ( guessing it is nocturnal)

until my lights come on I don't know if it cleaned good last night.

I will let you know.