y does my tank look like this

[hud3339]

help with algae, zoas, and palys. my zoas or palys wont open been like this for atleast a week.
salt .026
amm=0
nitrate=0
nitrite=0
ph 8.3
lights replaced about 2mths ago. pics commin soon

 

[hud3339]

o and temp 78

 

[weaglereefer]

What is your Mg level? I found that whenever my zoas were getting finicky, it was because the Mg dipped below 1000.

 

[hud3339]

pic
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>

>

class="gc-images" title="2.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[hud3339]

donno mag level, but all my candy cane, and leathers are doin great

 

[weaglereefer]

Most likely the algae irritating the zoas in that pic. First you need to ID the algae. Any chance for a better pic? Most likely course of action will be more frequent water changes (with RO/DI only if you're not already doing that), lighter feeding.

How old are the bulbs and what kind?

 

[drnecropolis]

I told ya that tap water would catch up...

 

[hud3339]

Light are 2mths old, not hair algae some other kind. dr its not mine its my neighbors. My 55 is lookin great with my tap water no algae hahaha

 

[weaglereefer]

hud3339;529962 wrote: not hair algae some other kind

That's why the first thing is to ID it, then figure out the best way to treat it. Green and stringy but not hair algae could be the dreaded B-word...

 

[oil_fan]

So the next question is does the algae look like a small fern?

 

[hud3339]

Its short, green, and thick

 

[texhorns98]

hud3339;530077 wrote: Its short, green, and thick

I have the same stuff. The only thing that ever kept it at bay was a tang.

 

[texhorns98]

Though looking at that pic now, it looks like bryopsis to me.

 

[morganatlanta]

I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy...

 

[smoothie]

Tell him to slowly up the mag with Kent's tech M and up the water changes. The levels are reading zero because the algae is feeding and soaking up everything. He'll have to cut off the food supply to it like over feeding, extended photo period, old crusty bulbs, not changing the water often and USING TAP WATER INSTEAD OF RODI

 

[jennm]

The water seems to have a green tint to it also. Is the keeper using activated carbon?

Tell us more about the system... size, inhabitants, water changing habits, filtration etc.

Smoothie is right - the nutrients aren't in solution in the water because the algae are taking it up - so it's there, just bound up.

Export is the key - and not importing too much nutrient in the first place (ie overfeeding etc.)

Jenn