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tomaquar

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Been having some trouble with red algae lately so took a sample to one of the LFS. I did this right before I did a water change so this is worse case.

Ph - 8.1, Ca 360, Kh 140 -- I had been adding a little kalkwasser to the water change and the fresh water evaporation top off. Someone told me not to "chase" the Ph so I stopped. Should I resume?

phosphate - 0.1 - will that account for the red algae

ammonia 0.3 (dont know whats up with that) nitrite0.1, nitrate 0.1 - how bad are these for a reef?

never top off with more than 2 or 3 cup of fresh water to take care of evaporation so salinity stays pretty constant and the heater keeps temp pretty constant/

Would be thrilled with this in a fish only but how off is this for a reef? Any input?
 
what are you dosing? any extra food? over feeding?

I am just starting to have this problem after a year of having my tank. tagging along.

good luck
 
pH is good, calcium is low for a reef, is KH in ppm?

Any phosphate would be a reason for algae, so yes, more water changes, lighter feedings, reduced photo period, etc.

Ammonia & nitrite should not be present in an established tank, how long has yours been up? Are there fish in the tank? If so, can you move them somewhere else?
 
"Red Algae" is usually not algae at all. It's Cyanobacter, a bacterium, that behaves somewhat like an algae.

What test kit are you using to test with? An established tank should have zero ammonia or nitrite unless there's been a major catastrophe.

What size tank? How much live rock (estimate)?

How much water do you change, and how often?

How much do you feed, what do you feed (including liquid coral foods) and how often?

How old are your lamps, and what type? How long is your photoperiod each day?

That will get us started to the root of the problem...

Jenn
 
au01st , I agree . Not sure what is up with the nitrogen parameters. Kirru, Im only feeding once a week. I have on black mollie from the cycle and she keeps the algae under control, and a yellow watchman and he seems to be ok on the amphipods.

I used to have a fish only several years ago and I broke it down when I when to grad school. I dried the rock and put it up them put it back in the tank without scrubbing it when I decided to set up a reef. Someone suggested that organic material like dried alge on the rock may be a source. Tank is 4 months old.
 
Jenn, 25 gal, plenty of rock, compact florescents 4 months old 10 hour ligh period
 
How long has this one been up and running?

And what brand of test kit?
 
Oops just saw - 4 months old... missed that.

Back to the list of my original questions - still waiting for a few more answers there :)

Jenn
 
water change is is 3 gal every two weeks.

I use Mardel test strips at home and they always seem to reflect LFS checks. I dont know what they used at the LFS but its a reef sponsor so I sure it was a good one.
 
Were your posted parameters from the strips or the LFS? IME, strips aren't very accurate.

Since we're flying blind... I'd suggest having Magnesium tested. Since your CA is low, chances are your MG is too and higher MG helps discourage the growth of cyanobacter.

I would still have those ammonia/nitrite levels verified - that doesn't sound right to me unless there's a huge bioload, lots of uneaten food/overfeeding going on, or something big died and rotted in there.

Upping the flow in the areas where the cyanobacter settles can help get rid of it too.

Jenn
 
All the parameters I posted are from the LFS. I just use the strips at home for ball park and take in a sample from time to time.

I agee on your comment about the nitrogen. I dont undestand it. The tank has no where near a bioload max. (2 fish) and I only feed once a week.

Ill check the Mg. Had not thought of that.
 
How long from when you collected the sample, til the LFS tested it? It can degrade over time. And as elementary as this might seem - did you begin with a clean, dry container?

Jenn
 
Yes clean dry container. It was a couple of hours. The first LFS I went to wouldnt test it. So I made the second store the last stop as I worked my way across town on errands. It stayed cool the whole time though
 
Well a couple of hours shouldn't have made that much of a difference.

Dunno... something is amiss if you're having cyano outbreaks...

Jenn
 
Coral assesment, star polyps, and mushroom are doing fine. Zoas are spreading fine, montipora is keeping its color and seems to be growing. Coraline is cropping up on all surfaces. Copapods and ampipods are healthy. Xenia however looks prety sad.
 
I know when my pH gets below 7.8 my xenia shrivels up. Maybe the LFS test was innaccurate?
 
Could be. The nitogen readings seem odd especially the ammonia. Ill get another store to confirm.
 
Oil_Fan;450123 wrote: You said you use fresh water to do top offs. Is that RO water or tap water?
Click to expand...
Very good point. Also what is your temp in the tank?
 
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