Help!!! Algea ? and refractmeter?

[ezerasurfr]

what are you using for filtration?

vacuuming a DSB can lead to a pho explosion..its like emptying your vacuum bag into your living room.

I think I'm sounding like a broken record, but UV filter, UV filter, UV filter

 

[alanbates12]

mtnbiker44, not sure of your set up but a deep sand bed can be defined as 3 inches or better. Yes your P04 is very high. Mine was high also and I did two months of weekly water changes and it did not help. It was not until I paid a professional to come check out my tank and was told how to clean it, after that I got results. Probably the best money I ever spent. My Sand bed is three inches and I had NO trouble at all doing a deep cleaning. He had me clean it twice a week for three weeks and my tank has never looked better. I had cyano all on the back glass and rock and top of the sand bed. Water changes are great but if you have lots of detritus in your rock and sand without cleaning , water changes are not going to get your P04 where it needs to be, 0.03 is a good goal to shoot for. Man I"ve been there and it can get frustrating and your tank will have a hard time, if you've got corals or anemones. Maybe talk to your LFS and see if they have a name of a good maintenance person that can come out and look at your tank and give you some hand on ideas, best $50.00 I ever spent. Now my tank has been running for several months with a 0.03 PO4, and 0 Nitrates. I have no mechanical filtration only LR, Live Sand, a fuge. I've taken out over time all the bio balls, nitrate factory, Sock filters and all sponges. The tank runs itself if you feed it right. That would be my best advice and keep us posted...

<a href=http://s921.photobucket.com/albums/ad59/rab1212/?action=view&current=IMAG0165.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad59/rab1212/IMAG0165.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

Not the best picture but you can see how clean everything looks. Before I'd spend hours cleaning out the cyano and by that afternoon it would look the same. This is two weeks and I've not even cleaned off the glass. Best of luck.

 

[alanbates12]

melissasreef I also think some of my post apply to you as well. Algae comes from a few sources, light, food. Your corals need stability more than anything and trying to get your tank adjusted with chemicals is going to make there life tough. Hair algae can be taken care of by turning your lights off for a few days. You cut off the light source and it will kill get rid of it. There are other types of algae that look like hair algae but the absents of light will not kill it. The problem is that your high end corals need light as a food source. I would recommend the same thing as I did for Mtnbiker44 and try to get a professional to come show you hands on what you need to be doing. As far as the bobber I think they have been around for a long time and are proven. I think most people refer to the SG number, something like 1.026 or salinity is like 34. Either number is ok as long as that is what you continue to use. Take a photo of your algae and let someone on RC ID it for you. Still Husbandry is the key...Best of luck Also like you I got a great CUC from http://reefcleaners.org/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=20&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=34

 

[alanbates12]

And just to let you know a UV sterilizer will not work on cyano. Got one and used it and did not work. It will help on hair algae but its not a fix. If you have an algae bloom a UV sterilizer is good. Don't get me wrong a UV sterilizer are good but unless it passes through the sterilizer it will not effect it.

 

[mtnbiker44]

Hi people,
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to all of you. I wanted to say thank you for all your suggestions. I am doing weekly 10 gal. water changes & am in the process of building a sump, which I am realizing should have one from the start.I've had this setup for a few years & getting my second wind. This time it will be done right. Presently my tank is not drilled but I'm working on getting another 90gal, drill it & get my new sump ready because I dont think I can empty my tank, drill, build the sump & reassemble & still save the existing fish. I will then give the extra 90 to my son.
Thanks again folks. You can tell everyone has a passion for this hobby when people are willing to help so much.

 

[alanbates12]

Congrats and Best of Luck!