Algae/cyano with 0 nutrients. Should I run GFO?

[cginter]

Well I gave the tank a couple of long nights along with replenishing my CUC and the algae has cut back a lot. I tested this morning and got some different readings.

No3 (2-4ppm)
Po4 - .05
Alk- 8.5
Cal 420
Mg 1400

Still have sps receding

I'm considering doing another wc now that most of this algae is gone and the nutrients are available to remove..Any thoughts @reeferfox. I mean it can't hurt?

I'm also gonna purchase two more power heads to get better circulation, after talking to some people and reading some threads of 180-220g tanks, two mp40's didn't cut it for them most if not all added more or replaced them.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Well I gave the tank a couple of long nights along with replenishing my CUC and the algae has cut back a lot. I tested this morning and got some different readings.

No3 (2-4ppm)
Po4 - .05
Alk- 8.5
Cal 420
Mg 1400

Still have sps receding

I'm considering doing another wc now that most of this algae is gone and the nutrients are available to remove..Any thoughts @reeferfox. I mean it can't hurt?

I'm also gonna purchase two more power heads to get better circulation, after talking to some people and reading some threads of 180-220g tanks, two mp40's didn't cut it for them most if not all added more or replaced them.

Your PO4 might be a little higher than what your test is showing. Especially if you have some form of cyano. Not sure when the last WC was? Couldn't hurt to reduce some of the phosphates. But realistically phosphates should be delt with differently than WC. That said, I wouldn't deplete all the nitrates. If it were me I would give it a few more days and observe the coral more. Polyp extension might happen more at night than during the day. Maybe look into different forms of po4 export.

 

[cginter]

Your PO4 might be a little higher than what your test is showing. Especially if you have some form of cyano. Not sure when the last WC was? Couldn't hurt to reduce some of the phosphates. But realistically phosphates should be delt with differently than WC. That said, I wouldn't deplete all the nitrates. If it were me I would give it a few more days and observe the coral more. Polyp extension might happen more at night than during the day. Maybe look into different forms of po4 export.

The last wc was September 25th -40g. It's a 180g tank.

The corals that are having problems do have PE it's just the base of the sps. It started when I used a turkey blaster to blow some of the cyano away from it as it was beginning to cover the base. It recedes about 1cmm a night.

I still have my GFO offline as well, could always start running that's again at half recommended amount.

 

[reeferfoxx]

The last wc was September 25th -40g. It's a 180g tank.

The corals that are having problems do have PE it's just the base of the sps. It started when I used a turkey blaster to blow some of the cyano away from it as it was beginning to cover the base. It recedes about 1cmm a night.

I still have my GFO offline as well, could always start running that's again at half recommended amount.

Have you looked into the Aquaforest products? I think your tank would be a great candidate for their system? @jsker can fill you in more? Might help keep no3 and po4 right were you need them with limited water changes. Sounds like a win win to me?

 

[jsker]

I am running the phosphate minus and bio pellets .25 dose to control my Po4's and No3's I feed real heavy, I also dose the 1+2+3+ and use the reef salt. I have the recipe for the 1+2+3+ that one mixes thereself and it cuts the cost 2/3 and one can mix in larger dosing sizes

 

[cginter]

Thought I give a update @twillard @reeferfoxx. Still dealing with the algae/cyano. I wouldn't say it's getting worse but it's still present in the DT.

I'm coming to the conclusion that my phos are out competing trates which is causing the cyano to appear. Since I've started to feed more and brought my no3 to 2-4 ppm. Which seems to have it at hold (no more no less algae).

I think I'm gonna run some GFO at half the recommended amount to see if it helps.

Also ordered the Hanna ULR reader ( for a more accurate reading) and on the hunt for two more mp40's or tunez 6105's for more flow obviously [emoji849]

 

[cginter]

I am running the phosphate minus and bio pellets .25 dose to control my Po4's and No3's I feed real heavy, I also dose the 1+2+3+ and use the reef salt. I have the recipe for the 1+2+3+ that one mixes thereself and it cuts the cost 2/3 and one can mix in larger dosing sizes

As far as aqua forest products I'll look into it but what you just said is like Chinese language to me. I have know idea what any of that is lol.

 

[fernalfer]

i'm dealing with the same issues. A little cyano that seems to be very slowly going away. I have a GFO reactor but hesitant to run it. My tank has been up 5 months, so not sure if this is just normal of a new tank or if i have a nutrient problem. I have no other algae issue except the cyano on some of the rock tops.

 

[cginter]

i'm dealing with the same issues. A little cyano that seems to be very slowly going away. I have a GFO reactor but hesitant to run it. My tank has been up 5 months, so not sure if this is just normal of a new tank or if i have a nutrient problem. I have no other algae issue except the cyano on some of the rock tops.

Five months is still new in my opinion. But I don't know your feeding schedule, water source, additives etc. with cyano there's just too many possibilities.

I've always ran GFO, until earlier this year, I took it off because i thought I was running the tank too clean. Well after about 5-6 months of not running it I have an algae problem.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've always ran GFO, until earlier this year, I took it off because i thought I was running the tank too clean. Well after about 5-6 months of not running it I have an algae problem.

Just curious, what is your lighting schedule?

Have you tested po4 or no3 lately?

Has the cyano come back? Any other algae besides cyano?

 

[fernalfer]

Five months is still new in my opinion. But I don't know your feeding schedule, water source, additives etc. with cyano there's just too many possibilities.

I've always ran GFO, until earlier this year, I took it off because i thought I was running the tank too clean. Well after about 5-6 months of not running it I have an algae problem.

I only feed 1 time a day now since the cyano set it. I use RODI water 0 TDS. I don't add anything except Alk or Magnesium additives. I also run Rox 0.8 Carbon in a bag. I also cut my lighting schedule and only run the blues. I do weekly 10% water changes every friday. Now the cyano has probably 75% died off without hooking up my GFO reactor yet. But the last 25% of it just won't go away, it is like stuck here.

Should i wait it out because it is just a 5 month old tank? or Should i run the GFO and see if that knocks it all the way back?.

 

[cginter]

Couldn't tell ya... still trying to figure it out myself with this thread.

 

[fernalfer]

Couldn't tell ya... still trying to figure it out myself with this thread.

well if ya figure it out let me know.

 

[cginter]

Just curious, what is your lighting schedule?

Have you tested po4 or no3 lately?

Has the cyano come back? Any other algae besides cyano?

My light schedule was reduced to 7 hours at one point. Now back at 10hrs


The algae isn't near as bad anymore. Things I've done.
1)Raised nitrates slowly, currently around 4-8ppm.
2)Lowered alk to 7.8-8.2
3) added more fish for a beaver bio load and feeding.
4) still kept GFO off.
5)40g water change (180g system)
6) added acropower at half the recommended dose
7) changed carbon at one month period.
8) ordered a huge clean up crew (350 assortment of snails and crabs)
My assumption was that my phosphate was higher than nitrate but both really low which created an imbalance of nutrients for the cyano to form. Just my assumption though. But my tank is looking better than what it did.

The corals that were stressed eventually RTN on me. And the zoas are looking a little better

 

[cginter]

Another update with pics.
The cyano is gone only have a couple small patches of GH. Zoas are coming back, corals have more color, sps are actually growing instead of receding.

Lost a lot of zoas and sps but I think I at least figured out what was the cause of all this finally. The tank is looking much better .

It seems to me lately a lot of people on here are having the same issues like this, and i believe it's due to people expecting 0 nitrates and 0 phosphate being a good thing when in reality our tanks need some of both. And when and if running a low nutrient tank alk also has to be low.