Help me!!

am00re34

am00re34

Member
My tank has been set up for about a year now and have never had a algea problem other than the initial outbreak. My parameters are perfect:
Nitrate = 0
phos = 0
alk = 0
salinity = 1.026
ph = 8.4
calc = 370
What would cause this? The only changes i've made is i removed a ton of my xenia and replaced my t-5 bulbs.
What could cause this and what can i do to get rid of it? I just added some phose-lock and carbon. what else can i do?

 
S

swalchemist

Guest
Knocked the tank out of balance or TDS has increased to a marked level. Are you using RO/DI as your topoff and change water? If so insure the unit is producing adequate qater with a low TDS.
 
yosemite sam

yosemite sam

Active Member

Originally Posted by Am00re34
My tank has been set up for about a year now and have never had a algea problem other than the initial outbreak. My parameters are perfect:
Nitrate = 0
phos = 0
alk = 0
salinity = 1.026
ph = 8.4
calc = 370
What would cause this? The only changes i've made is i removed a ton of my xenia and replaced my t-5 bulbs.
What could cause this and what can i do to get rid of it? I just added some phose-lock and carbon. what else can i do?

I'm assuming this is a typo and that your Alkalinity isn't 0
What is your setup like? What size tank, what livestock, what equipment? As SWalch said, do you use an RO/DI filter, and do you have a tds meter?
 
S

swalchemist

Guest
Yes, we need flow parameters please. Powerheads, placement etc, however if you have had no problem prior to this that suggests another factor at work here.
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
How often do you feed, how long do you run your lights, what type of bulbs and how old are they?
Odd that it's just now starting.
 
am00re34

am00re34

Member
i'm sorry! my Alk isn't 0... i meant to put ammonia. My alk is more in the 8.4 range.
I have a 55g reef tank w/ 115lbs of LR and 40lbs of LS.
My flow is the 200gph or so from my skimmer (Aqua C Remora mag 3 pump) plus 2 modified 6025 nanostreams. The nanostreams are in the corners, one facing the front one to the back. If you can see the pic the algea is growing even in the area of the tank with the highest flow.
I do top of with RO/DI water and my TDS meter is showing 0.00(that was my first thought too!)
This weekend I lowered my daylight cycle from 9 hours a day down to 4.
The only huge change i can think of was 6 new bulbs in my T-5 fixture. I know you should add new bulbs slowly, but i was dumb and didnt.
I looked this morning and it appears my turbo snails ate up a bunch of the algea, so maybe the phose-lock is helping, but we will see if it all grows back once the lights come on.
 
S

swalchemist

Guest
Check for silicates.
Watch your Alk if you added and Phos removers, it could drop fast.
It seems to me however that this is related to the mass export of nutrient absorbers (xenia) that you had in your system. In short the biotope is re-establishing and balancing but it will take much time and look bad in doing so. I suggest you do weekly water changes of 20% until you notice a change. Also lower your salinity to 1.025, lower Ph to 8.34 if you can.
 
am00re34

am00re34

Member
I have been told by many people to keep your salinity more in the 1.026-1.028 range because thats the salinity of natural seawater. Is this not accurate?
Also, how do you suggest lowing PH? Should i get the additives that can lower PH or should i do this by another method?
I was thinking the removing of xenia might be the issue.
I will monitor my alk and make sure to keep up on my supplements (part A & B).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top