Algae every where !!

[Aquamomma85]

so here's the deal I have a 300gal glass tank it's been up and running for 5 years and now I have diatoms and maybe dino? Low phosphates low silacate lots of flow I have no clue how to keep fighting this I cant seem to ever keep the algae away?

 

[Copingwithpods]

OK first let's get your parameters, source water and maybe a few pictures of the algaes you're fighting, identifying these will help greatly in putting you on a path to beat them.

 

[Aquamomma85]

OK first let's get your parameters, source water and maybe a few pictures of the algaes you're fighting, identifying these will help greatly in putting you on a path to beat them.

0 ammonia 0 nitrates 0 nitrites salt 27 running gfo for phosphates and silacate I'm not ruining RO/DI water just treated tap ( unfortunately)

 

[Aquamomma85]

Here's the best I can get at the moment

 

[Copingwithpods]

Hmm, salt 27? As in 1.027 or 27ppt? What's your PO4 at?

As you are running tap that is going to be the #1 thing everyone will advise against. Number 2 being running 0 nitrates. What test kits are you using for these values?

Also how does it behave? Does it go away at night and come back when the lights turn on?

 

[reefez]

Tap water tends to have a lot of silicates high TDS could be a good start use RODI
A generous cleanup crew lots of snails
Reduce photo period
High temperature above 78 could affect
Use chaeto in refugium to out compete the algae in the tank
Get as much detritus out of your sump and display as possible
Just some ideas good luck these are all things I did and fix my problem

 

[Aquamomma85]

Hmm, salt 27? As in 1.027 or 27ppt? What's your PO4 at?

As you are running tap that is going to be the #1 thing everyone will advise against. Number 2 being running 0 nitrates. What test kits are you using for these values?

Also how does it behave? Does it go away at night and come back when the lights turn on?

1.027 yes and I'm using an api marine test kit at the moment I just ordered a red sea it seems to always be active maybe more so with lights on its building up on the sand bed accumulating bubbles and making a film like substance it is not cyano I have dealt with that one before. I'm not sure where to begin as far as sourcing RO/DI . I know it will help alot I'm just hoping I can fight it while I'm in the process of making a system or finding a source (fyi I live in a tiny town in utah)

 

[Aquamomma85]

Tap water tends to have a lot of silicates high TDS could be a good start use RODI
A generous cleanup crew lots of snails
Reduce photo period
High temperature above 78 could affect
Use chaeto in refugium to out compete the algae in the tank
Get as much detritus out of your sump and display as possible
Just some ideas good luck these are all things I did and fix my problem

Temp is 76 I have chaeto in my ref and and mangrove plants. Do u suggest I just gravel vac them ? And I have a clean up crew but thinking it's a little small for my tank thank you all for the help.

 

[reefez]

How long are you running your lights and what are you using
I don’t know about a gravel vac you seem to have a low nutrient system already don’t know that that would help
But any standing or visible detritus try to remove get a power head and use it to blow off your rocks you might be surprised how much detritus will gather on them even with high flow in your display you may have some dead areas

 

[Aquamomma85]

10 hours and I have 4 Chinese box lights with the green and red blacked out .

 

[Aquamomma85]

These are my lights

 

[Aquamomma85]

Here is another picture

 

[Aquamomma85]

How long are you running your lights and what are you using
I don’t know about a gravel vac you seem to have a low nutrient system already don’t know that that would help
But any standing or visible detritus try to remove get a power head and use it to blow off your rocks you might be surprised how much detritus will gather on them even with high flow in your display you may have some dead areas

Advice on uping my nutrient level

 

[Copingwithpods]

I understand, if you cannot make or get a hold of rodi then try distilled or even filtered drinking water.

The problem with diatoms is that as they die the release the stored silicates back into the water so a clean up crew will do nothing but release more silicates, since your silicates are already high this will just compound the problem.

Getting as many out of the tank is best practice and not introducing more silicates into your tank should solve it for you. But I understand large water changes are going to be difficult specially if water is hard to come by there.

 

[reefez]

Consider how much you’re feeding maybe not enough
Take the GFO off line
Reduce your peak lighting to seven hours you’d be surprised how much your lights will make algae growth or any direct sunlight from open windows may be a culprit

 

[Aquamomma85]

I'm so thankful for the advice with no judgement I feel pretty dumb at the moment . Like I said I have only been doing saltwater for about 5 years which as we all know I still have a ton to learn and my not so local fish store has maybe given some not so sound advice

 

[Aquamomma85]

Consider how much you’re feeding maybe not enough
Take the GFO off line

Are u saying I may be feeding to light ? If so that's an easy enough fix lol and remove the gfo really even with phosphate and silacate from tap water?

 

[reefez]

Well 0 No3 and 0 Po4 good indicator
But as I’m sure you know over feeding causes high range and yours is un measurable
Why I’m leaning towards lights and detritus and the use of tap water

 

[reefez]

I’ve been in the hobby 20+ years and I just Got over a huge algae problem don’t feel bad just a few tips wanted to give you that I neglected that led to my problem and my algae now is gone
Also there was no mention of a UV sterilizer in use it’s kind of highly debated subject but I wouldn’t run my system without one and it helps combat the algae’s ability to reproduce
I for example noticed an hair algae out break on my daughters nano tank and added a 15watt hob Aqua UV and within a few days it cleared up also used a passive carbon bag and some extra flow via little Tunze power head

 

[Aquamomma85]

Well 0 No3 and 0 Po4 good indicator
But as I’m sure you know over feeding causes high range and yours is un measurable
Why I’m leaning towards lights and detritus and the use of tap water

Ok I will do some research on building an RO system for sure . Should I cut down my light time