Tanks falling apart. Need Help

M

mdog3000

New member
I started my tank about a year ago. Here a link to my start up thread.

http://www.cincyreef.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=9129

My tank became overrun with algae and I have weekly been doing 15-20 gallon water changes and scrubbing all the rocks, trying to get rid of this algae. The algae seems to being beaten back some but not all the way. I recently purchased a lawnmower blenny to help with the algae, but one little fish can only do so much.

DSC_0080.jpg


I also just recently replaced my three 250 watt metal halide bulbs with Reefflux 12k bulbs.

My water chemistry is as follows

Nitrate- 0
Nitrite- 0
Ammonia- 0
Calcium- +450ppm
Iodide- 0.8- 0.9 mg/L
Alkalinity- 9.9 Dkh
Specific Gravity- 1.23-1.24
Temperature- 77-80
Ph- 7.7

I'm struggling with why I'm having all this algae growth. On top of this my corals are starting to fade, such as my torch coral. Before it looked like this

DSC_0002-1.jpg


Now it looks like this

DSC_0093.jpg


Some of my other corals such as my blue staghorn are also fading.

DSC_0094.jpg


I thought about adding a canister filter with sponges and carbon in it, but I dont know how much that will help. What should I do? I really like my tank, and its looking like crap. Any help or suggestions are welcome. Thanks
 
sorry to hear that, not sure about the algae really, the ph is low at 7.7 and id bump the sg to 1.026 other than that if the tank is over run with algae this is why your nitrate and phosphates are 0, there are lots of ways to try and sort this out, start off with removing all detritus from the rock and any slack areas, use a phosphate remover and for now to slow down the algae reduce lights on time, other guys will join in and help you will be ok just listen to their advice, by the way i hate sponges in filters, i wouldnt use 1 of them, also try posting your tank details like flow etc this may help, hope you got some flow in the tank other than just a return:)
 
Alright. Thanks for the advice about sponges. I was also thinking about getting some filter socks to filter out loose particles, but dont know where to purchase any.
 
i never experinced algea even though i fought phosfates for a year (started with tap water) and finally tried rowophos but i ran a uv from day 1 and i really think thats why i never had algea and i had tangs right off the bat and they are grazers. good luck, it must be frustrating.
 
I've made it long because I am gone from home so long of the day, and feed twice a day. The VHO's come on at 7, metal halides on at 11 off at
5, VHO's off at 7:45. Is it necessary to feed twice a day? I've only been doing it because I've read that anthias need to be fed several times a day.
 
Also (if you dont want to take the time to look at my other thread) the refugium I added about a month or more ago, hasn't really affected my algae growth any. My chaeto has been growing a little, but nothing that seems to make a difference.
 
How long has it been since you changed the cartridges in your RO/DI unit? If they are no longer good, then you are just adding nutrients to your tank every week when you do a water change
 
keep them in a good flow area..
lps or sps?
few of mine are being taken over by the hair algae..it kills them =/
im trying to move mine in more flow also.
 
It's been a little while since I've changed the cartridges. My tds meter is reading almost zero though. And for the coral, lps and sps, they're in a moderate flow area.
 
Do you mean what RO unit do I use? I use a Kent RODI setup. And yes I test the tank for phosphate. It might be a good idea if I test the RO water before I put it in the tank.
 
Oh. I have a Octopus 150 Recirculating skimmer in a 30 gallon sump. I have 100+ pounds of rock in the tank. Also have a 30 gallon fuge
 
ok same setup i have...
i guess were both on same boat.
has it taken over any of your softies?
im trying everything right now, my tank is new i got rid of the other that had the problem...seeing if its any better this time around. keep posted
 
I had the same algae problem and just recently the tank is starting to look a ton better. Unless you want to be constantly cleaning a canister filter like I am with my fluval 405, don't get one. I'm sumpless so I have no choice. But seriously, there's a million ways to go about getting rid of this algae.

What I have tried is the following

-increased flow
-new bulbs
- Refugium with chaeto
- Phosban reactor
- New octopus bh300f protein skimmer
- Increased clean up crew
- switch from spring to ro water
- 5 to 10 gal. water changes weekly
- Lights out method for 2 days before water change
- switched salt mix
- decreased lighting period for the day to 6 or so hours.

Obviously I changed a lot of things and they all contributed a wee bit. Everything I changed is fairly new so I think giving it some time would be smart. But what I advise, is if you scrub your rocks with a tooth brush or turkey baster, or whatever gets the algae off, ONLY DO IT DURING A WATER CHANGE. I used to kill a but load of time scrubbing rocks to get algae off and within hours of the lights being on I would be back to step one with a tank full of algae. Scrub the rocks during the water change so you can remove the algae after scrubbing it off the rocks

Good luck. I was really frustrated when I got this algae bloom, but slowly its going away. Slowly, but surely.
 
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