algae on sand

[dermer]

ok i have a 75 gal reef that has been up for over a year the sand is about 4 months old 80 lbs live and in the front of the tank the sand has been turning green on the surface in there areas were ther is little light on the sand there is no algae i have 150 watt 20k mh the bulbs are less than 3 moths old any ideas

 

[dermer]

bump

 

[reefworm]

some basic questions first:
did you go through the whole N cycle in the beginning? [I didn't the first time around and it just prolonged the algae growth issue]
what else lives in the tank, specifically, and what/how much are you feeding?
what does your skim collection look like?
have you tested for phosphate?[ when changing/adding water, circulate the new mix in a bucket with a ph overnight to reduce it - most salt mixes have a good bit of phosphate as part of the manufactoring process, and it would add a good bit of $$ to the price if it were removed before it went in the bag.]
do you have a wavemaker to randomize the current from your ph's - to eliminate potential "dead spots"?

p.s THANKS for what you're doing "over there"!

 

[virginiadiver69]

I've been having the same problem. I asked my LFS guru about it.
He told me that using tap/well water could cause this so change to RO water. He also said that siphoning it off the bottom would help. Also make sure you are not over feeding.

P.S. Thank you for you service in Iraq

 

[reefworm]

Virginia makes a good point - forgot to ask about your water source. It's well worth the $$ to invest in a good RO/DI filter if you're not doing that already.

 

[dermer]

i do yse RO i also have a clossed loop with a wave maker i use IO reef crystals there are several types of corals 3 small fish and i feed every few days
it is weird that it olny is on the areas that light hit the sand
i did go through the whole cycle

and thank you for saying thanking me in the mil you hear it every day you akt like its no big deal but inside of it all it means more every time you hear it and its nice because not everyone believes in the cause but believe in the soldiers is were i stand the sad par is im going back in june for my 4th time

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Pics would be very helpful.

 

[dermer]

ok ill try to get some when i get home im at work now it is a green algae just on the surface of the sand only in areas were light hits the sand under the lr and in shaded spots there has been none