Power wash live rock

[mytank]

The alge in my tank is SO bad and I have tried EVERYTHING and it just keeps getting worse. I use RO/DI water and the phoshates are at zero and I am not able to figure out why or where the alge is coming from. I have in the past scrubbed the live rock and it took care of the problem for about 1 month. Now it's really disgusting. What are your views on power washing the live rock???????

 

[uberlink]

Originally Posted by mytank
The alge in my tank is SO bad and I have tried EVERYTHING and it just keeps getting worse. I use RO/DI water and the phoshates are at zero and I am not able to figure out why or where the alge is coming from. I have in the past scrubbed the live rock and it took care of the problem for about 1 month. Now it's really disgusting. What are your views on power washing the live rock???????

Do you mean with fresh water? I'd be afraid it would kill everything on board, and I guess I'd be surprised if it cured your algae problem.
How long do you keep your lights on every day? Maybe worth cranking them back an hour or two. Maybe also get something to eat the stuff, if you don't have something in there already.

 

[madman133]

fox face los do a great job of eating algae if you have a big enough tank for them.

 

[mytank]

Just changed the bulbs 1 month ago, lights are on for 2 hours a day, saltwater tank I have tried a lettuce slug, lawnmower blenny, turbo's, water changes every week. the only thing that I can think of is that it's saturated within the rock. I just called the LFS and they suggested that I use S.A.T. treatment for 6 weeks and then follow up with the reef vital. I have fish that eat the alge but they can not eat it fast enough or they are not very piggish.

 

[wax32]

What are your nitrates and pH?

 

[thangbom]

well.. first off what type of algea is it?? green hair? cyano?? cuzz green hear algea 'gha' feeds odd po4.. which u dont have.. or cant detect.. but cyano feeds off silica.. which may be in your sand or rock..... like did u stir up your sand or rock lately??

 

[mytank]

it's green mossy hair alge and the phosphates and nitrates are right where they should be at zero, the only thing that is low is the calcium
currently I run a fluval 404 w/phosphate sponge, UV sterilizer, 2 power heads and a skimmer
I am completely out of options, I cut back the feeding to every other day and that is skimpy feeding
I have not stirred up the sand but I do have a sand sifter star fish and do not have a whole lot of sand, there is probably a half inch at the very most, but I do have a lot of live rock

 

[osb]

i may be wrong, but phospahtes are probably reading low or zero because the algea is consuming it constantly, keeping the reading low or at zero, but the algea very happy.