Algae problem Bio Pellets worth it?

[Midwestmade]

I set up a 225 Gallon tank in Oct. 2012. So about 6 months in and still having some algae problems. I don't know if my live rock is still leaching phosphate or what, but after 6 months my phosphate levels are at a constant 5ppm.

It started out as Diatoms and is now turning red with hairs, I am also starting to get some bubble algae on the rocks. It looks like oxygen bubbles on the live rock but it's algae.
I run a dual BRS GFO/Carbon reactor with about 3 cups of High Capacity GFO in the reactor. Changing it every month.
I can't seem to get rid of the algae and and vacuuming my sand bed every week and nothing is changing.

I run a 8 lamp 39W T5 setup. 4-10K daylight bulbs, 4 actinics I have turned of the daylight bulbs completely and only run the actinics. Will no running the day lights have any effect on my corals?

I have a media reactor I just picked up, wondering if I should fill it with Bio pellets or phosguard?

 

[ganjero]

Diatoms are usually part of the new tank cycle; your tank is still maturing, give it time. That said, find the source of your problem and fix that before trying to fix the consequences. 5ppm phosphates is really high.
Are you using RO/DI water?
Do you have enough flow? cyano usually shows because of lack of flow.
How often and how much do you feed?
Do you have a skimmer? You need a good one if you want to use biopellets.
Was you rock from another tank? New? Live or Dead? Did you pretreat it?

Turning lights off for a max of 5 days should not affect your corals badly, you might see some discoloration that should come back right away.

Bubble algae is hardly affected by any type of filtration. Manual removal is the best approach.

 

[kc350twin]

I completely agree with ganjero on the tank is very new. I set mine up in aug and its just now starting to settle in. I run a combo of pellets, gfo and and little magic ingredient called Algaefix. I was really struggling with some weird green turf and the Algaefix really pulled me through.
I also agree the 5ppm is really high. I keep mine at .05-.09 and I am getting some really good colors now. I would first work on the 5ppm P04 level and you should see a nice turn around in the tank

Kc3




Kc3

 

[kc350twin]

I would also start out with 1/2 the amount of BP's and work your way up. Plus don't forget they take some time to start working. 4-6 weeks I have experienced. I do have to feed the crap out of my tank as well.




Kc3

 

[rickjd]

That is interesting to hear that 5 days with Lights Out will not hurt corals too terribly bad. And they will recover pretty quickly. I thought just two days without lights would be detrimental. That is good information to know. Thanks.

 

[ReefKeeper64]

Bio pellets are worth it. I never have algae issues of any kind since I started using them. They did take a few weeks to kick in but when they did, the skimmer went crazy and the nitrate readings dropped like a rock.