my tank isn't doing great

[sk8rreefgeek]

after 9 months, your rocks should be pretty well covered in purple coralline. My guess would be low calcium.
the corals don't look bad to me, your bulbs make a big difference in the color they end up.

I would research the DRAWBACKS of UV sterilizers. Unless you already know, but I've heard they can kill more bacteria than what is desired. just a guess, but do you run that thing all the time?

 

[Tommy3492]

yea i run it all the time i just replaced the blubls today, coast me 150 bucks !!! but verything is looking much better...

 

[Sk8r]

What you've got is a buildup of phosphates in your tank: that fuels algae blooms and depresses corals. To get rid of phosphate: 1. use ro/di water only. 2. water changes, weekly 10% 3. set up a successful fuge 4. keep your fuge lighting up to date 5. set up a phosban/gard reactor.
You might also remove your skimmer, fill it up with vinegar, let sit overnight, rinse, fill with clean salt water, reinstall.

 

[Littleg182]

I would:

1- 30 Gallon water change
2- Increase flow
3- Couple chemipures and maybe a carbon
4- Change bulbs
5- leave lights off for a day
6-Wait and see, no need to dose anything in that tank if you are doing a water change regularly

 

[Tommy3492]

i use ro/di water with an output of 0 ppm.

i use to do the 1 percent water changes weekly but have been slacking off to every 2 weeks, so i will def. get back on that.

i have a phosban reactor running

i dont have a fuge ive wanted to get ones but i dont want to pay 300 bucks for one and i cant find and cheap all glass ones from petco or anywhere that is the correct dimensions, and im not allowed to build one.....


what will the skimmer full of vinegar accomplish?

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

not sure if you meant 10% (1%?) but, without regular water changes, your calcium will get depleted.
I would do a 20% WC, and possibly dose with a CA buffer.
that would be my guess, as far as the lack of purple is concerned.

good luck, the tank does look nice, but it will definitely look better

 

[Tommy3492]

here are the params, justed tested today and im going to do water change tommorow


Temperature: 80 F
pH: 8.3
Salinity: 1.024 SG
Calcium: 460 ppm
Nitrate: 0 mg/l
Nitrite: <.3 mg/l
Ammonia: 0 mg/l
Carbonate Hardness : 7 dKH

 

[wargeneral]

Nitrite: <.3 mg/l ?

This should be at 0

Sounds like your tank is doing a cycle or you had an ammonia spike.

Actually a UV will kill your algae or bacteria. Depending on what pump you are running on it. That's probably why you don t have any purple on your rocks. You can try Purple Up and shut down your UV for a week or 2.

 

[Tommy3492]

thats as low as the scale goes on the card for the testing of the nitrite, its at 0.

im running the UV really slow the pump is acutally not on, the force from the down spout of the sump is actually propelling it through the uv system, itsa like the turn on the garden hose a little bit and theres some flow, proly takes 24 hours to fully cycle through all the water if not more.

 

[paraletho]

Your params dont look to bad. Most people recommend a little higher Sal. 1.026, and definitely bring your Alk up slowly to 10 or 11. Are you sure you didn't reverse your nitrite/nitrate readings. How do you test for Sal./ Sp G? Swing arm hydrometers are notorious for being inaccurate.

 

[nate1414]

I have a question?? All tanks will get glass algea that is green. My tank will get it in about 3 days of not cleaning it. Is this not true? As for the green on the rocks??? I dont get that. It looks like water flow could be a big issue.
I also run a uv and have lots of purple coraline algea on rocks and back of glass.
If you are doing what you are saying you should have your pho under control.

 

[paraletho]

Sorry about the nitrite thing I was watching the weather. I'm 1/2 mile off the beach south of Port Arthur, TX. Just getting over Rita really don't need another one.

 

[Tommy3492]

i test with a refractometer and yea the nitrite and nitrate are both at 0

 

[wargeneral]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13088307#post13088307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nate1414
I have a question?? All tanks will get glass algea that is green. My tank will get it in about 3 days of not cleaning it. Is this not true? As for the green on the rocks??? I dont get that. It looks like water flow could be a big issue.
I also run a uv and have lots of purple coraline algea on rocks and back of glass.
If you are doing what you are saying you should have your pho under control.

What pump do you use for the UV?

 

[bsagecko]

switch bulbs to 12k or 14k to get more blue

add carbon and phosban

then dose cal and alk and get test kits for all this

make sure you are using ro/di water

 

[nate1414]

a 150 gph pump. not sure on the brand? why?

 

[wargeneral]

Because when I run mine it kills only algae. But thats because I am running a 270 gph pump. I only run it when the algea gets to be too much. I like to leave some for the snails , algae blenny.

 

[cmm1970]

In reviewing your tank parameters and your update of those conditions, I noticed your Alk has slipped to 7 from 8. Your calcium level at 500ppm is great, but is comes at the cost of the lower end of the usual range of alkalinity maintained in reef tanks. I have enjoyed reductions in unwanted algae in the past by running the tank at an alkalinity of 10-12 for a moderate period...6-10 weeks. In combination with a little higher alkalinity, moving your magnesium levels up to the high end of acceptable may also help in cleaning up your tank.

I don't disagree that having bulbs firing with good spectrum is vital to having a tank in control with regards to macro algae, but I do think you could improve the tank by simply manipulating your water parameters within the acceptable ranges for a healthy tank and enjoy benefit.

For the cyano problem, you may have a dead spot as far as circulation or water movement is concerned. You may need to redirect a powerhead or return to that area to increase water movement. That in combination with higher magnesium and alkalinity levels may help.