85g coral frag tank CLOUDY

[yeldarb_00]

Hi,
I have setup a 85 gallon tank that I want to use as a coral frag farm but I am really having some problems. The tank is two months old and this week has gotten progressively worse with water clarity. The water is a milky green color. The tank is growing algae on the glass both green and red. I have a 10g sump with bio-balls. 2 power heads and 800gph return pump. No sand or substrate. 30lbs of live rock. 6 fish (3 damsels, Niger trigger and 2 Bluefin Chromis Neoglyphidodon melas

water conditions

Salt 1.027
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia .5
PH 8.2
Calcium 480
Phosphate 0

 

[StikHedRon]

you need to run some carbon and hate to bust your bubble but your nitrates and phosphates are not 0, especially with that algae growing. Start doing some water changes, run some GFO and Carbon and that should help some, start some heavy wet skimming.

 

[jaesong]

What's your water smell like?

 

[yeldarb_00]

OK added carbon, my test kits are old (5+ years) but when I took a water sample into the store they said just the ammonia was high also. Do you think the algae could be causing a false reading?

 

[yeldarb_00]

there is not a strong smell. Maybe a faint smell that would be like when I clean out the skimmer.

 

[pacmann117]

Sounds like the tank just needs some cycling, and def some carbon. Ammonia is super high at 0.5

 

[beaslbob]

kill the lights and stop adding food until it clears.

If you don't have macro algaes (in a refugium is best) add some.

Then resume with less lighting and feeding and adjust so the good stuff thrives and the water stays clear.

 

[yeldarb_00]

Well, I read that a UV sterilizer would help. I bought a Aquatop UVE Series submersible UV filter and after 4.5 days this is my tank.

I know there is still work to do until it is completely cleared up but it is well on its way.