question on chaeto

[benchland]

hello,

im dealing with some algae in my 34g sps tank. i dose 1 ml vodka nightly, run a gfo/carbon reactor (change every 2 weeks), 5g water changes every week and dose ~7ml mb7, my skimmer is a vertex in-80, total water volume ~44g. all parameters are in check, the last time i checked phosphates i was at .011 ppm

im fairly certain the algae is due to excessive feeding (phytofeast live, elos pros skimmer and amino acids, i feed my fish and chalices mysis shrimp once a week). but i just recently got into the phytofeast and dosing 1 drop of lugols a week.

the only other factor i can think of is my macro algae. my tank is fully cycled, been running for ~14 months. my question is- can chaetomorphae become a source of algae? i have read that carbon dosing prevents this macroalgae from growing. i pruned the clump last week, its about 8"x3". some of it seemed a bit dark, i pulled off any white bits.

one last factor- i dont vacuum my sand anymore (aragonite), mostly due to the fact that i can only get to about 20% of it. the mb7 seems to do a great job keeping everything fresh- all except this algae.

any input would be greatly appreciated

 

[hollister]

Theres no one cure for this in most cases.
Water source like tap water can cause phosphate as with flake food and over feeding and low water flow which leads to algea as algea lives better in higher phosphate levels.

Also over feeding and low CUC can be a factor.

If u couold list your set up like PH,s used and amount of rock and light source , ect. helps narrow down the advice.

 

[benchland]

ph- 8.3
alk-8.3
ca-455
mg-1350
phos-.011

its a red sea max that ive gone turbo with. life reef overflow, 20lbs rock in the sump. main display has the 2 circ pumps ~300gph (i believe) and an mp10 set on short burst with the wave action going. lights are 2 ai super sols, 12" high, maxes out at 24% white, 50%blue, 80%royal blue.

i went to the lfs and picked up 5 small astreas and 5 small ceriths a couple days ago. but im getting algae on my plugs, frag rack etc.. it seems to be proliferating everything. thinking about my rock set up... its good enough that i have no dead spots. imagine, i have like an arch, most all of my sand hardly has rock contact. but its staggered, from top, out abit too the bottom. i have 30 some sps frags (too many, waiting to upgrade), and all of them get enough flow to stay healthy.

i have a buckeyefieldsupply ro/di, water is 000ppm, i use instant ocean salt. temp stays a steady 78 degrees with help of a 1/10 arctica.