algee starting again!

[pcollins249]

Going back about 7 months ago, i had bleached all of my rock (120lb) b/c of too much hair algee. i put in about 50lb 5 months ago. starting to see algee growing again. I have 2x250 MH bulbs on timer for 6 hours a day. they are about 8 months old.
ph 7.9
a 0
ni 0
na 0
sl 1.031
a week ago i put the rest of the rock in and its starting to turn brown

 

[fatcat]

What are your phosphate levels?

 

[pcollins249]

not sure how to check

 

[silverdak]

you check them with a phosphates test kit.

 

[pcollins249]

dont have one. i just tested KH 143.2

 

[silverdak]

do you have a fish store near by? most stores will test your water for free. take some to them and see what they say. get the exact number tho not just "its low" or "its fine"

 

[pcollins249]

yes i do and yes they will test. do ya think thats the problem? what causes it?

 

[silverdak]

I am having all sorts of algae problems too... there are a few things that can be the cause from what people are telling me
Phosphates
Nitrates
Bad lights
In frequent water changes
if you can eliminate the nitrate or phosphates you will get it to die off. do you feed flake food? I did feed flake and I heard they are or can be high in phosphates... so it would add even more if you over feed. clue me and the gang in on some of the stuff in this post and we will see what it might be

 

[oceansidefish]

Are you sure about your salinity???? Seems a little high

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by Oceansidefish
http:///forum/post/2921873
Are you sure about your salinity???? Seems a little high
Yeah, why is your sg so high?

 

[pcollins249]

im working on slowly bringing it down to 1.021. Not sure how it got so high.

 

[silverdak]

I would say a safe level is like 1.025 or so. thats what I see many reefs around here at

 

[pcollins249]

Originally Posted by SilverDak
http:///forum/post/2921840
I am having all sorts of algae problems too... there are a few things that can be the cause from what people are telling me
Phosphates
Nitrates
Bad lights
In frequent water changes
if you can eliminate the nitrate or phosphates you will get it to die off. do you feed flake food? I did feed flake and I heard they are or can be high in phosphates... so it would add even more if you over feed. clue me and the gang in on some of the stuff in this post and we will see what it might be
nitrates are good on my end. i only feed flake food every now and then. when i do feed them they eat most of it. ill go buy a phosphate test tomorrow and keep up to date. i do think some of it could be from old bulbs though.
i just finished reading on the post of
Mega-Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover Replaces Skimmer, Refugium, Everything .
my eyes hurt from reading so much! very good idea. my return pump went out on me this weekend. i dont know a whole lot about wet/dry sumps. not even sure if thats what i have.

 

[silverdak]

ya your lights seem kinda old... might be that

 

[alyssia]

1.021 is too low. 1.025-1.026 is good.

 

[pcollins249]

update on phosphate test. i bought nutrafin test kit. only one for phosphate they had. dont like it too much. anyway, PO is at 1.0. he gave me a phosphate filter pad.

 

[pcollins249]

when should i start seeing seeing the good purple and pink algae growing?

 

[karak40]

What kind of algea is it. Green Hair, Purple, Bubble. I had a small green hair outbreak in my tank and I bought green crabs and a load of margarita and hermit crabs that cleaned it right up.

 

[pcollins249]

green hair algae. i guess im too impatient. trying to get some good coraline algae right now. phosphates were high. im ordering new MH bulbs monday.