Argh.

[lokii_37]

Argh
I can see why so many people quit reefing in the start. Trying to get everything the way it should can drive you nuts. This hair algae is goon to be the death of me.
I have gone thru 3 types of HA. When I started I had long course stringy stuff. That went away but was replaced with short soft very dense fuzzy looking HA. Finally I thought I was winning because I started seeing some brown HA. I thought it was just the fuzzy stuff dying but I suck it out during water changes and it is back the next day, so I think it is just another type.
I was hoping to win without having to go with GFO but I think I am going to give in. It sure is frustrating trying to get the tank to look like something other than an algae farm. Argh

Then last nigh at work my wife calls me " um there is water all over the floor and the tank underneath doesn't have any water it and your pump is making a weird noise". Ahhh I had to have her shut down the return and only keep the power heads running until I got home at midnight to fix it. I guess I let a little to much air get into the over flow box and it couldn't keep up with the return pump. Well it's all fixed now. Deep breath.

 

[GiantBen]

Bummer man.

What's your filtration like?
What's your feeding schedule?

 

[lokii_37]

Currently I don't run any media, but in may in the near future. I run an SCA-302 skimmer, rated for 180g. I also run a 200um filter sock that get changed out every couple days because it is full of algae. I have about 100g total volume

I feed one cube of PE mysis a day. A couple days a week I will add a pinch of flake or pellet food. This feeds a kole tang, 1 clown, 3 PJ cardinals, 1 algae Blenny, 1 yellow headed sleeper goby, and 1 solorensis wrasse plus a CUC. Does my feeding and stocking seem ok?

 

[lokii_37]

I also have been doing three 5 gallon water changes s week

 

[GiantBen]

This bioload sounds like kinda a lot, but not too extreme. How old are your RO/DI fileters? How do you monitor your TDS? What type of salt are you using?

 

[nwing84]

I would just get a reactor with some gfo and call it a day....my phosphates run at zero percent..

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[GiantBen]

I don't think it is really that cut-and-dry. I run a reactor and am still struggling with cyano. Finding out the source of the problem is always better than covering it up, imo. That said, I'm sure a reactor would benefit you. Still, determining if your water source is sound remains important.

 

[justin_cutri]

+1 Check your water, although a little gfo never hurt anybody.

Also I've heard from many people that some salt mixes might contain silicates which can become a problem so I switched from Coralife to Red Sea Pro upon advice from others.

 

[lokii_37]

My RO is about 6 months old. And a TDS meter is on my list of things to order, within the next week. Right now I'm using brightwell neomarine salt.

 

[GiantBen]

My filters useually need replacing after around 6 months. Especially the silica buster. If the unit doesn't have an inline TDS meter, then there is no real way to know how good it is doing. I have a dual inline on my unit and a hand held TDS meter. If you want to come by with some water, we can test using the handheld. I also have some coral that I agreed to give you a while back. PM me if you want to work out a time. It will probably have to be next week.