Quick question about carbon dosing

[trueblackpercula]

Hello everyone,
I have a problem with algae on my sand bed that is driving me crazy. I was going to dose vodka to get ride of it but I have no nitrates right now and wouldn't know what to start dosing at. So after speaking with another reefer he advised me to try zeovit start3 and I will but can anyone please view the below picture and tell me what they would do?

This problem has started to progress after feeding my sps dry food every other day. Yes they look better and I need to feed them but I hate the algae.

Salinity 1.025 to 1.026
PH 8.1
Temp between 78 to 82 high have a chiller
Nitrates zero
P04 0.03
Calcium 420
Alk 8.0 to 8.3 mostly 8.3
Magnisium 1320
Theses are the test results from this morning.

 

[Acronic]

Looks like a flow issue to me. I would vac the sand bed and get the crud out of it.

 

[trueblackpercula]

I thought so to but the algea is swaing back and forth, not to mention I see it today on my rock work as well.

 

[reefsurfing]

?Does the algae cover the whole sand bed or just the one area?

 

[trueblackpercula]

?Does the algae cover the whole sand bed or just the one area?

Almost all of it, but dispute that my sps are thriving and have lots of color. I need to start dosing carbon just don't know what's best for my set up.

 

[Arkayology]

How long has the tank been set up? How often do you do a water change?

 

[trueblackpercula]

Over six years water changes once a week 5 gallons each time RO/DI used system is 120 gallon tank 30 x 30 x 31 deep. Two fish 15 acros and I feed acro food three times a week.

 

[reefsurfing]

So your nutrients are reading almost zero while your algae is being fueled. Sounds like the algae is consuming what nutrients are available. Do you clean your rocks often?
I throw in a filter sock and hit my rocks with a turkey baster and that seemed to help a lot. once the water column looks clean in an hour or so I just remove the sock.

 

[ampemployee1]

So your nutrients are reading almost zero while your algae is being fueled. Sounds like the algae is consuming what nutrients are available. Do you clean your rocks often?
I throw in a filter sock and hit my rocks with a turkey baster and that seemed to help a lot. once the water column looks clean in an hour or so I just remove the sock.

+1 on this husbandry practice.

 

[jda]

Even the cleanest tanks have a bit of algae. Just gravel vac it out with your next water change. If bad algae won't grow, then neither will the algae in the coral.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Thanks here is a picture I took today after cleaning the sandbed and I have started to dose vodka.

 

[fishguy597]

What kind of test kits are you using for po4 & nitrates? Reef surfing hit it on the head IMO. vodka dosing can be tricky and can lead to major problems. I would consider cutting back on feeding,rinsing your food, and only put enough food in at a time that the fish could eat. If it were me I would run some gfo at half doses and Chang weekly. also blowing off your rocks and corals with a Turkey baster. or a powerhead works great too.

 

[trueblackpercula]

What kind of test kits are you using for po4 & nitrates? Reef surfing hit it on the head IMO. vodka dosing can be tricky and can lead to major problems. I would consider cutting back on feeding,rinsing your food, and only put enough food in at a time that the fish could eat. If it were me I would run some gfo at half doses and Chang weekly. also blowing off your rocks and corals with a Turkey baster. or a powerhead works great too.

Hello

I am not feeding the fish a lot of food only what the can eat in less then a minute. I was feed the sps three times a week and needed to get another source as the one I am using adds to many nutrients to the system. I did a major live rock clean up with a power head and removed as much algea from the sand bed with a cat litter scooper that work ver well by the way. I still have some more work to do in the sump now.

I use salifert test kits and Lamottes and get the same readings for calcium, alkalinity.

Ph 8.1
Salinty 1.025 to 1.026
Magnesium 1245
Alk 8.3 to 8.6
Calcium 450
P04 0.03
Nitrate 0
Temp 77 to 82

 

[Piper27]

Over six years water changes once a week 5 gallons each time RO/DI used system is 120 gallon tank 30 x 30 x 31 deep. Two fish 15 acros and I feed acro food three times a week.

IMO a larger water change and once a week sand cleaning would help. I don't think carbon dosing is something you should jump to for a resolution to algae on a sand bed. Especially with two fish and no nitrates, but it seems your already started. I would guess your going to create more problems with carbon dosing on that tank than you imagine. I mean if you have no nitrates and already feed small amounts what is the bacteria going to eat?
Also what test kits are you using for phosphates and nitrates?

 

[CUNAReefer]

Hello

I am not feeding the fish a lot of food only what the can eat in less then a minute. I was feed the sps three times a week and needed to get another source as the one I am using adds to many nutrients to the system. I did a major live rock clean up with a power head and removed as much algea from the sand bed with a cat litter scooper that work ver well by the way. I still have some more work to do in the sump now.

I use salifert test kits and Lamottes and get the same readings for calcium, alkalinity.

Ph 8.1
Salinty 1.025 to 1.026
Magnesium 1245
Alk 8.3 to 8.6
Calcium 450
P04 0.03
Nitrate 0
Temp 77 to 82

Hi Michael,

Hope all is well!

Your Params look great! Give the Oyster Feast a try. If will add just enough nutrient to the water column. IMHO, if you discontinue the dry food, you may not even need to carbon dose. Feel free to give me a call if you want to discuss.

Warmest Regards,
James

 

[Dactylopterus]

Your Magnesium is low, Not saying this is causing your cyanobacteria problem.
Dosing carbon would only help if you have a good skimmer, and may help also if the problem is caused by old tank sindrome

 

[jimlin]

i prefer to use biopellets and attach the output of the reactor to the skimmers input. you really need a good skimmer if you are carbon dosing or you will end up with cyano.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Your Magnesium is low, Not saying this is causing your cyanobacteria problem.
Dosing carbon would only help if you have a good skimmer, and may help also if the problem is caused by old tank sindrome

Thanks here is a picture of my skimmer an MRC MR2 Single Becket and what it pulls out. The mag is low? what do you recommend?

 

[trueblackpercula]

i prefer to use biopellets and attach the output of the reactor to the skimmers input. you really need a good skimmer if you are carbon dosing or you will end up with cyano.

never read about these can you post some results and what company you get yours from? are they like a source of carbon dosing? please give me details about this.
thanks

 

[trueblackpercula]

Hi Michael,

Hope all is well!

Your Params look great! Give the Oyster Feast a try. If will add just enough nutrient to the water column. IMHO, if you discontinue the dry food, you may not even need to carbon dose. Feel free to give me a call if you want to discuss.

Warmest Regards,
James

Thanks you know will and by the way the Frags are dripping with Color thanks a gain.