algea problem help

[kstyle13]

I'm getting one of those already from curt. I just have to get a hold of him to pick it up. I thought gfo is for phosphate though. I don't have an issue with phosphate.... Plus I'm running phosguard which removes silicate and phosphate. It's in a diy canister filter that I made. It works great though. I had a problem with phosphate but after adding this I don't anymore....

 

[ringo®]

If you're getting algae, you have a problem with either nitrates or phosphates as a fuel source. Even if your tests show 0.

 

[acroholic]

AFDANW;940238 wrote: well, that does not sound like the problem then. How did you get to a place were you could see their skimmers at the ATL aquarium? This is a long shot, but i have heard if you magnesium levels are off, you can have algae problems, and i have heard that carbon, and skimmers can both hurt magnesium levels.

Not sure where you heard this, but I have never found this to be true.

Carbon will not hurt magnesium levels. Magnesium is a metal, and carbon is a very poor adsorber of metals and minerals. It adsorbs organic molecules.

Skimmers remove organics primarily as well, although a minute amount of magnesium may come out as well with any water removed, depending on the wetness of your skimming. Not because skimmers have any particular affiliation for pulling magnesium, but just as a component of salt water.

 

[kstyle13]

Ok. I'm gonna get a gfo and carbon reactor because I need this algae gone it's disgusting

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Well if you made everything else.. Making a GFO and Carbon reactor is easy.. But so much for taking things slow and letting the chemistry of the tank and micro-organisms work for you.

 

[indecloudzua]

There's no real point in running carbon and gfo imo..carbon is good but it is a waste when run constantly.

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Do you have anything to base that opinion on? What is wasteful in running carbon constantly?!?

 

[kstyle13]

Lol is a reactor just a chamber with the filter media in it with a pump? Because I can do that easy. I just didn't know if the reactor did something special or if it was a glorified canister filter with different media in it....

 

[indecloudzua]

Xyzpdq0121;940608 wrote: Do you have anything to base that opinion on? What is wasteful in running carbon constantly?!?

Just my experience..It does remove odors and colors from the tank but it can get exhausted rather quickly and to me there are more effective media's that dont need to be changed as often..I run carbon for about two weeks or so every three months..

 

[xyzpdq0121]

kstyle13;940610 wrote: Lol is a reactor just a chamber with the filter media in it with a pump? Because I can do that easy. I just didn't know if the reactor did something special or if it was a glorified canister filter with different media in it....

Glorified canister filter...

As for carbon being a waste. I guess it depends on the type of carbon. But if your carbon is getting exhausted quickly that means it is removing what it should be which I fail to see as a bad thing. Not many media that remove as much organics as carbon, in my experience.

 

[kstyle13]

I just you tubed the reactors. I have plenty of tuning and pipes and clear canisters that I will be building one tomorrow. I bought more carbon to go in my hang on filter but I'm gonna build a reactor tomorrow since that seems more effective than the hang on filter. As far as getting more water into a certain area. I have 2 pumps left over from my build that will work perfect. It's a 200 gph pump so it will turn the water Over once an hour.

 

[acroholic]

AFDANW;940238 wrote: well, that does not sound like the problem then. How did you get to a place were you could see their skimmers at the ATL aquarium? This is a long shot, but i have heard if you magnesium levels are off, you can have algae problems, and i have heard that carbon, and skimmers can both hurt magnesium levels.

AFDANW;940592 wrote: Thank you for the correction, about the carbon. Like said, "I heard that," but i dont remember were, and was not 100% sure if it was accurate. The skimmer portion of what i said was exactly what u mentioned, that it could come out as you skim. but that would be minimal amounts.

Well, not really. Your first post on the subject post implied that protein skimming could be removing enough magnesium to be problematic, and it does not.

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Again... much of what you hear is stupid. That is why you should learn for yourself to sort out the BS when you hear it. Mag levels can effect some algae types but carbon and skimming will not drop your mag levels.

 

[ralph atl]

indecloudzua;940614 wrote: Just my experience..It does remove odors and colors from the tank but it can get exhausted rather quickly and to me there are more effective media's that dont need to be changed as often..I run carbon for about two weeks or so every three months..

That's why I use a high grade pelleted Rox 0.8 Carbon that I change weekly. It is extremely effective in removing DOC (Dissolved Organic Compounds), Tannins, & Odors and so many more...