Tank Not Looking So Good (Pics)

[WaterssretaW]

How do I clear up the sand bed and get rid of this alage?

Salinity 1.025
Kh 9.6 Dkh
Ca 350
Ph 8.1
P04 See Picture (Blue) No chip
Nitrate Undetectable

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thanks everyone...

 

[BLKTANG]

we need to know alot more.Any recent changes?Dosing?

CA is low @ 350 for an SPS dominated reef.

Looking at the sandbed, ammount of algae on the LRit looks like a nutrient export problem.

 

[WaterssretaW]

The alage breakout started when decided to clean all my pumps and protein skimmer without rinsing off.

Water clarity is cloudy but getting better slowly.

I am running the protein skimmer every so often; however, I dont want to run it too much because I only have 3 clowns and a damsel.

The corals were not looking good because I think I was over skimming for the amount of fish.

any idea?

 

[Toddrtrex]

When you have an algae problem, it doesn't matter what the test kits say --- it is being used up by the algae, so the kits stay say zero.

Are you using RO/DI water? And if so, what is the TDS?

How often are you changing out your phosphate media?

 

[WaterssretaW]

yes. ROdi 0 TDS

I am not running any media. I have filter socks that are getting black with alage within a day.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15228161#post15228161 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterssretaW
yes. ROdi 0 TDS

I am not running any media. I have filter socks that are getting black with alage within a day.

From reading your sig about your current set up, I thought that you were. I would suggest running some, but start off slow with the GFO, don't want your Alk to drop -- which can happen if you start off using too much right away.

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

I am all for 24/7 skimming. The idea of over skimming is hard to beleive since there are things eating/pooping/living/dying 24/7 in your tank. Why not have the skimmer pulling all that gunk out 24/7?

If after running the skimmer all the time you think its removing too much (pale coral coloration) then turn it off for a day or two and see if it really makes a difference.

$.02

 

[eric@tampa]

+1 I thought that skimmer are to be ran 24/7? I could be wrong but someone else might chime in.

 

[iFisch]

Looks kind of like a diatom bloom.

What's the true color of the algae?

 

[username in use]

run the skimmer 24/7, that is my final answer. Also, some carbon and phosban in a reactor is always a good idea. don't listen to people who say that carbon removes good stuff, it removes far more bad stuff than good. How old are your lights, that can contribute to algae growth, but your sand does look like you have nutrient issues, which could be solved by having your skimmer running all the time, and making sure that it is tuned perfectly also makes a big difference.

 

[flamron]

May be cyano - what type of flow do you have? Increased flow can help, but I would definitely want to remove as many nutrients as possible.

 

[hypernesia]

You have to skim that water 24/7 if you want to see some changes IMO. The algae growth alone tells me you have too many nutrients in your tank. The Phosphate issue needs to be addressed with GFO running 24/7. Change it out when the output from the GFO reads measurable phosphate.
Our tanks are a closed system, the input of nutrients ie: fish poop, feedings etc far exceeds the amount of nutrients that corals receive in the wild. We have to get rid of the excess somehow.

 

[BLKTANG]

PO4 is the cause no doubt.Like Toddrtrex said use some GFO in your reactor,& but not too much at first so you dont have an ALK swing,& burn your SPS.

Try skimming Dry if you think your "overskimming".I also agree on always keeping my skimmer online.

 

[WaterssretaW]

should I start dosing vodka to bring down the po4?

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15228492#post15228492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterssretaW
should I start dosing vodka to bring down the po4?

I would start doing EXTENSIVE research on it before considering it.

In the right hands, it works. However there are a many horror stories about using it as well.

 

[silentscream]

try using phosphate removing media first. It's a lot easier than messing with vodka on a daily basis.

 

[BLKTANG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15228496#post15228496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iFisch
I would start doing EXTENSIVE research on it before considering it.

In the right hands, it works. However there are a many horror stories about using it as well.

+1

PURA PHOSLOCK works great.

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15228614#post15228614 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BLKTANG
+1

PURA PHOSLOCK works great.

Is this it?

http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem...&utm_content=pscsegglPURA Filtration Pad 710 (7.5%20inch%20x%2010.5%20inch)&utm_campaign=pscseggl

(LINK DOES WORK!)

Personally, it sounds like mubo-jumbo. I'm no chemist, and I have no idea what Beta Ferric Oxide Hydroxide, Alpha-Ferric Hydroxides etc are.



Does it do as advertised? (Phosphates, Organics, Toxins, Ammonia, Heavy Metals, Particulates)


What about DFS version? IT also includes carbon as well. PLUS I have a $40 credit with them. I've done a little research and it seems both are well used and liked.


http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+13965&pcatid=13965





Thanks,


-Nick :rollface:

 

[WaterssretaW]

What about the cloudy water?

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15229393#post15229393 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterssretaW
What about the cloudy water?

Could have to deal with the lack of nutrient export. I don't know, quite honestly.

I dose Kent's Marine water clearer every day, just for the sake to keep my water pristine. I also run Elos carbon, and dose Brightwell MB7 (but "claims" to clean water, but is a bacterial based chemical not intended on cleaning water) as well.

But I'm slightly obsessed with clarity. Partially due to my tank being 14g and I can sit really close and watch the reef in action. It makes all the work and money dumped into the tank worth all that and more.