All sorts of algae recently popping up?

[2thdeekay]

if your phosphate level is quite high, then using micro-algae or macro-algae will not be able to reduce phosphate well. This is due to the fact that algae use quite a bit less phosphate than they do nitrate to grow. You will need to use GFO or some other means of reducing high phosphate levels. The phosphate is constantly added by fish foods in large amounts, so if a hobbyist feeds quite a bit, they may need to use a GFO type product to keep phosphate in line.

There are a lot of hobbyists and as many different ways of maintaining a reef tank. On solution is not going to work for all.


Not to take sides, but Cliff makes a good point, and it applies to other methods of exporting N & P, including using organic carbon to drive bacterial growth, or even skimming. A systems rate of denitrification can also be a factor in causing a method to be limited by N. Certainly additional N can be dosed, or a PO4 remover used.

My point is, there isn't a single 'do-all holy grail' method in reefing. It's prudent to be open to mixing methods, AND be skeptical of any holy grail claims when it comes to methodology or products. I've enjoyed reading this thread, thanks!

 

[didz04]

although I do not believe its related to the algae issue - if you have cyno then that may be more attributable to the flow issue

I have experience of both models of wavemaker you are using

The Sunsun units - very good IMHO , they generate a lot of water movement
and whilst I have not tested them, I would be inclined to believe the claims on flow rate

The Resun on the other hand

I have 4 tanks each 18 x 15 x 12 set up and started with the Resun2000 in all 4 of them
hardly produced a ripple on any of the 4 tanks to be honest

so I upgraded to the larger size resun, supposedly 4000lph - not much better IMHO

I then tried a single Sumsum in one of the tanks - 3000 lph model - and the difference was amazing (To powerful for my needs, but at least it proved something to me

If I had only had one of them - I could dismiss it as a poor one
but I had 4 of them and they all performed equally terribly

Steve

Yeah they no way produce 2000lph I think its due to their size because they are tiny lol. I used to run a single 3000lph SunSun PH in my 13g nano and it was more than enough never had any cyano issues.

However the Resun's are small enough to fit inside a 25lt jerry tub so they are useful in mixing salts.

On ultimatereef a few have offered to do straight trades for my Resun for their SunSun PH, but someones offered a 5000lph similar to the SunSun and also very quiet so it will be the better option for me. Rather have more then enough flow than just about enough :spin1:

I was wondering when I get the powerhead and since I'm going to have around 8000lph of flow in a 32" long setup, will it work if I placed both PH on the right hand side screen higher up the tank and faced them straight so there bouncing back off the left side screen. Like shown in this video, will it work for me but of course on a much smaller scale?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6Cz_H8Uhg&feature=related

I have also enjoyed reading through all the comments its a very interesting topic :rollface:

Thanks

 

[didz04]

My new SunSun 3000 powerhead has arrived this morning, hopefully it will fix my cyano problem.

 

[didz04]

Just thought I'd mention a couple of weeks after adding in my new power head, the red slime/hair algae and cyano has completely disappeared. Thats definitely progress for me