decisions, decisions

[woogy]

Ok this is the last attempt to get rid of this nuisance algae. I currently have no corals. I want to start keeping them but I am afraid the algae will kill them. Filtration in the tank is a catalina protein skimmer...i know time to upgrade. It'd been on my tank for months and so far it may have pulled out possibly a 1/2" of gunk into the soda bottle. I have koralia #1 and a #2 for flow.
Nitrates are 10-20...phosphate is 0 but I know this may be consumed by the algae.

The decision is defintely to purchase a new skimmer...probably a HOT octopus skimmer but there are many new skimmers that are HOT i am considering as well.

After that I am considering a hang on the back refugium or a phosban reactor. I know both would be better but I am only leaning on one or the other. Any help on this decision would be appreciated.

 

[Bonneville08]

Your Nitrate is too high. I'm not familiar with Catalina skimmers. Lots of folks make good venturi and needlewheel skimmers. Might try AquaC Remora, I have experience with AquaC, they work well for me. The refugium would be a batter choice if you use macroalgae for filtration as your present problem will not be solved with phosphate removal, and macroalgae will help with all organic waste.

 

[seapug]

I'd recommend the PhosBan reactor AND a refugium, and a protein skimmer upgrade, perhaps. Start with the reactor. They are relatively cheap, a breeze to set up and are very effective in eliminating your primary algae fuel. Definitely solved the algae problem in my tank. Your Nitrate levels aren't sky high and can be managed quite easily with water changes. Phosphate is a bit more persistent and hard to get rid of, as it comes with necessary food inputs and ends up leaching from rocks and sand for long periods of time.

 

[woogy]

that's what i thought seapug...i really do not feel that 10-20ppm of nitrate is that high...are u saying that the rocks and sand could be leaching phosphate into the aquarium or just the food that is not eaten???

 

[seapug]

Phosphate binds with calcium based substrates (rock, aragonite sand) and slowly leaches out fueling the growth of algae. That's what makes it a bit more problematic than Nitrate, IMO.

 

[woogy]

I have had the rock and sand for about 10 years...should i replace some?

 

[seapug]

if you are having persistent hair algae problems, it might not be a bad idea to swap it out with some new.

 

[woogy]

hair not so much...i have some green slime algae that is very hard to get scrape off and some brown and now some red...all slime

 

[abulgin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13337676#post13337676 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seapug
I'd recommend the PhosBan reactor AND a refugium, and a protein skimmer upgrade, perhaps. Start with the reactor. They are relatively cheap, a breeze to set up and are very effective in eliminating your primary algae fuel. Definitely solved the algae problem in my tank. Your Nitrate levels aren't sky high and can be managed quite easily with water changes. Phosphate is a bit more persistent and hard to get rid of, as it comes with necessary food inputs and ends up leaching from rocks and sand for long periods of time.

Please see this thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1467099

OP--how old is your tank? If it's less than a year, nuisance algae is just something you'll have to work through. Don't go crazy on adding all sorts of stuff. Start slowly, and understand that you're battling an inevitable cycle.

I totally agree that you should upgrade to the best skimmer you can afford. I aslo agree that any refugium is better than no refugium.

 

[woogy]

tank is 10+ years

 

[Michael]

your nitrate level is not desperate, ive seen sensational tanks with trates of 20, however 0 is best, i agree with abulgins comments, but if a refugium is awkward then get a reactor and fill with phosban, as for the skimmer, well as mentioned get the best you can afford, another factor could be your lighting, what have you got and how long is it on?is it just the t5s as stated in you signature?

 

[woogy]

yes the lighting is the T5s...is there something wrong with these???...i only run it for 6 hrs a day and in the past i have kept it off as long as a week and still no difference

 

[Michael]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13340336#post13340336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by woogy
yes the lighting is the T5s...is there something wrong with these???...i only run it for 6 hrs a day and in the past i have kept it off as long as a week and still no difference

no nothing wrong with t5s, just wondered if lighting was contributing thats all

 

[seapug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13340285#post13340285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abulgin
Please see this thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1467099

Refugium doesn't necessarily equal filling a reservior with Chaeto. There are many different techniques for setting up a refugium. You can get quite a lot of benefits from one with nothing more than a Deep Sand Bed and live rock. A PhosBan reactor will have no effect on its functionality.

 

[woogy]

i may just go with a new skimmer...possibly the new octo 800 but i may feel this maybe overkill for my tank and a phosban reactor and go from there