I need help with algae - Page 8

I agree on smaller more frequent water changes over larger spread out water changes........

Meowzer I'm curious about your setup.....You keep talking about adding PH's and such and adjusting flow.....Is the tank drilled or un drilled......  I'm more curious about seeing some pics as far as your returns and such.  I've touched and not trying to preach, but we can continually add HP to pumps and more PH's, but the bottom line if your not using them efficiently the problem won't be solved.  I would almost bet, that if we took a poll 98% of people couldn't honestly explain or give a logic reason why they have their return lines where they do.....Only for mere fact, because it's convenient.  I'd like to take a closer look and explain when the time comes....

Also curious how deep do you have your MP40's mounted......I have my MP60's probably 8"-9" off the bottom of my tank playing, and I guarantee I could go lower in the tank and get excellent flow across the bottom and not disturb a sand bed.  

It's apparent your possibly lacking adequate flow along the bottom of the tank......

The rocks might be cleaner, but apparently something is settling in your problem algae area, which in my mind means flow isn't adequate to keep things suspended in the water column to be picked up by the overflow box and then for them to be removed in the sump.

Where have you read or told there was a certain area to mount your Vortech's........

Meowzer I just did a quick google, and even checked Eco's site and I can't see anywhere obvious where it states they are suppose to be mounted at a certain depth.....Curious where this came from.   The pump wouldn't be affected if you mounted them at the bottom of the side panel blowing across the bottom directly....Pump would still operate the same.  You just have to be careful and avoid sucking sand would be a major concern.

I just went through the media gallery and I see nothing about depth of mounting......Honestly that would be totally ludicrous to have limitations as far as depth they can operate other than preventing them from sucking foreign objects.......

Have you tried setting your MP40's on the sides and leaving your others on the back and running the Gyre mode.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by meowzer 

WELL.....My MP40's are on the sides......LOL....and I have no clue what gyre is

 Lois I'm not laughing at you; but with you.....So much we are sheltered from on this site!!!!!!!   If you go to my thread or remember I briefly touched on this subject......A lot of people don't understand real flow....what naturally occurs and what we should be trying to replicate....That's were I keep stating move water efficiently and smartly....Not just blow it around.  The flow inside our systems should be moving for a purpose.  I've had extensive conversations with individuals that truly understand efficient water movement, so I won't argue or debate what others might say.  

Take my setup for example.  I use 4 returns from my return pump.  I blow (2) down the side panel from top to bottom forcing fresh (clean) water down to the bottom of the tank and along the bottom.....At the same time I have my MP60's (2) blowing across the bottom........at the same time you want to push water forcefully enough to pick stuff up from the bottom and theoretically bounce it off the opposite wall and upward towards the water surface where in my case; my other (2) returns blow back across the top of the tank towards the overflow box.  The reasoning behind this is that what is picked up along the bottom or suspended in the water column is then being forced to the overflow where it can be removed from the DT.  This is where I state again most people aren't using what they have efficiently or effectively.  They just haphazardly blow water around the DT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meowzer 

I know....LOL...BUT I did read that

 

I have a large leather on each side of the aquarium on the bottom though.......

Guess the leather might have to be relocated to get the flow where it needs to be.......  Again in the right mode he might not be affected as well.......

Ok........

Lois, I sent you a pretty lengthy PM.....You might want to start by moving the MP40's down......Your flow is in the upper portion of the tank; which is great, but I guarantee with rock work and such the Vortechs aren't reaching the bottom.....Try moving them down about 2"....If you see sand movement, back them up a bit......

What mode are they in......