HELP!! is it the algae?? PH too high, Ammonia still too high...

[acpants]

I cured my live rock, and have been watching the tank cycle and get settled, but my water test today shows ammonia between .5 and the 3.0 marker, and ph at 8.8 !!! alkalinity 300, nitrite .5, nitrate 20, salitnity 1.024 -- there looks to be a lot of algae growing on the rocks, is that causing high ammonia/ph?
I want to get starfish, and they will eat algae, but are the water conditions too harmful? What's causing high ph and ammonia?!?!?!

 

[yosemite sam]

Never ever add anything to a tank when you have measurable ammonia. A starfish won't solve your algae problem.
First off, what did you use to start the cycle, and how did you cure your rock? Also, what test kit are you using? It should be more precise than what your describing. You should be able to easily differentiate between 0.5 and 3.0, and there should be several increments between these two readings (ie. 1.0, 2.0, etc). Any how long has this been going on?

 

[salty blues]

In my non expert opinion, I would say your tank is still cycling. I would wait awhile before adding livestock, especially starfish.

 

[acpants]

I am using "Quick Dip" test strips, made by Jungle.
I cured the rocks, and watched the ammonia and nitrate spike, then go back down, but ammonia never really went down to a "safe" level. Now there is tons of algae! I also used one packet of Algone [added it to the fluval filter]. It's a 20 gallon tank, with live sand and 20 lbs of live rock.... I did a water change yesterday-- about a 30-40% water change....

 

[yosemite sam]

Test strips are not accurate. Is this what you're using to measure PH as well? You need to use better test kits. Salifert makes good kits. They are more expensive, but you get what you pay for with many things in this hobby, and accurate test kits are a must.

 

[acpants]

ps- also there are two lil false percula clowns in there surviving-- i got them when the water conditions had been safe for about a week...

 

[acpants]

ok-- i see you are from NY-- do you know of anywhere in manhattan/brooklyn i could run out and get it today?

 

[yosemite sam]

I pm'd you some info.

 

[acpants]

ok-- so if the ammonia and ph are both high-- would it be because of the algae? and what step should i take next?

 

[yosemite sam]

Well, you first need to figure out what the actual readings are. What are you using to test PH? In a lot of cases, a high reading can be from a bad or inaccurate test. Get good kits, test the water, and then we can go from there.
Also, what kind of algae is it? Do you have a photo, or can you describe it?

 

[acpants]

it is white and almost bubbly in some places? and theres some dark purple too-- some of the rocks it has taken over completely!! it looks like there is red/purple stuff coming out of the white in places, and other places just red/purple on the rocks alone....

 

[yosemite sam]

What is the texture like? It's hard to say without a photo. The red algae could by cyanno, or red slime algae. Check out the archive on this board. There is a hitchhiker thread that has pictures and descriptions of several types of algae, among other things. The photos may be down because of the recent upgrade to the board, but the descriptions may help.

 

[acpants]

ok-- thanks again-- i was having trouble adding it, but i just added a picture above, under my first thread post, can you make it out?

 

[yosemite sam]

It's hard to tell from the photo. Is there any way you can get one that's more in focus?

 

[apos]

Algae is not causing problems: it is simply a sign of problems. You don't need to solve your algae problem (aside from manual cleaning) by trying to make an animal fix it, you need to solve what is causing the algae to thrive.
You first say that ammonia had "never really went down to a "safe" level." But then you say you put in clowns when parameters were fine for a week. Those two things can't both be right: ANY measurable ammonia or nitrate and you are still cycling, and should not have/add fish (nor should you be doing water changes during a cycle: that only prolongs the cycle).
I'd get those fish out of there asap if possible: into a friend's tank or even a helpful LFS (with safe methods of transfer of course). You're only hurting them/risking their lives in there as it is.
Red and purple could be coraline algae if they are flat and shiny (or are even just a sort of red/purple tint to the rock), which your want. Red cyano looks more like a fuzzy film. You can siphon it off rocks and sand if you want. But again, don't worry about algae, not when the far far bigger problem is that you clearly do not have enough bacteria yet to support a complete cycle process, let alone two fish.