phosphate control in a reef tank

[Pyratt]

Any recommendations about controlling phosphate in a reefish tank? I'm volunteering a few hours a week in a biology lab here at NIU, and they have a green hair algae problem in the warmwater+metalhalidelighting tank. They have amphipods in another colderwater lowerlight tank that seem to devour the green hair algae (when algae'd glass slides from the one tank are placed into it), but dont seem to be able to live long or reproduce in this tank... Can't give specific phosphate levels until I buy a test kit this weekend.

I heard that phosphate-sponge technology is a bad idea for reef tanks (what about when using a 'phos reactor'?)... is the answer just water changes? He's been doing weekly water changes. I do want to add that the tank lacks coralline algae, though he wouldn't mind that, so might introduction of the coralline algae in conjunction with a temporary removal of the green hair help the problem?

Thanks,

-Pete

 

[Volcano1]

Here's a start.


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

 

[adamjr]

Bad news for you. Most will tell you that the phosphate test kit at this point would be a waste of money. Much of the phosphate is suspended in the green hair algae and the test kit will read very low levels if not undetectable.

I had a bad hair algae problem in my 150 which I pruned and pruned and pruned. Water changes, supposed algae eating species, balancing ph and alkalinity all did nothing.

I replaced my old ghetto fuge when it sprung a leak with one I bought a few years ago (HOB) and never installed because the ghetto one worked great. I stopped by Sho-Tank and got a couple of big hands full of a couple varieties of macro (probably a gallon of it) and put it in my fuge. That was about 6 weeks ago and after about a week what I had started to shrivel and now there isn't a trace.

That said I do not employ a skimmer either. Now I'll duck while people prepare to pelt me with rocks and spoiled produce.

You need somethign else that will eat the phosphate and starve out the green hair algae.

Adam

 

[joroscoe]

I am not gonna throw anything at you. There are too many cases of people who are doing everything right and are still having this problem. There are only two possible reasons for this. Either (1) every single last person who is doing all the right things is lying or forgeting to do something, or (2) algae growth is not completely scientifically understood.

 

[jmarches]

try a short photo period. Say 4 hours. Also, Wait for the system to mature.

 

[craftytony]

I agree with the others, also, I put a small bag of ROWA in my sump and that brought my phosphate levels down to 0 within a week.
http://www.rowausa.com/
As far as the hair algea, I had that issue, and it went away with the help of my tank maturing, and my foxface rabbitfish...
I live in sycamore, so if I can be of any help, let me know. Also, you may want to talk to Rod over at Rod's Reef, he is the LFS for our area...