Algae Issues and Testing/Solution!

[jdpiii3]

How is your change water? Does RODI show 0 tds? If getting from store does it show 0 Po4?

 

[vetteguy53081]

12 hours is way to much light. Cut to 6 hours blue and uv only no whites.

I run at 12 hours daily and zero algae but light is balanced with Lower white intensity

 

[BanjoBandito]

I also feed every other day now. I’m trying to feed frozen more than pellet too. I will be reducing my lighting schedule to not have them run 12 hours a day too. And I know it’s more glass algae but it’s still not pretty with a mix of green hair algae on the rocks. And some other algae too and yes I do scrape it off but it just comes back and I don’t like snails so they are out of the question.

Snails are the backbone of any reef cuc! Lol. You don’t need snails but you should get something like a small pencil or tuxedo urchin. Or like 100 limpets. They are pretty snail like. Skip any crab.

do you have coral? Turn the lights off a few days and turn em down to like 6-7 hours. If you can adjust the whites turn them off or to like 10%.

 

[AydenLincoln]

How is your change water? Does RODI show 0 tds? If getting from store does it show 0 Po4?

I have to test it. But it is RODI and considering they are a super popular/reputable fish store near me and use it for their systems I assume so.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Snails are the backbone of any reef cuc! Lol. You don’t need snails but you should get something like a small pencil or tuxedo urchin. Or like 100 limpets. They are pretty snail like. Skip any crab.

do you have coral? Turn the lights off a few days and turn em down to like 6-7 hours. If you can adjust the whites turn them off or to like 10%.

I would but my tank being so small and already maxed I don’t want the urchin to starve which happens in small tanks and everything sticks to them lol. They are like a giant glue ball haha.

 

[jdpiii3]

I have a natural sunlight system with zero algae problems while light cycle is important you're starting water parameters and nutrient export are most important.

 

[BanjoBandito]

I would but my tank being so small and already maxed I don’t want the urchin to starve which happens in small tanks and everything sticks to them lol. They are like a giant glue ball haha.

I think you are underestimating what 10 astrea or trochus snails could do! Maybe find someone who will “handle” them for you?????

 

[AydenLincoln]

I think you are underestimating what 10 astrea or trochus snails could do! Maybe find someone who will “handle” them for you?????

I know I know. But going into this I told myself I wasn't going to snails or conchs and I still don’t want them because I really really really don’t like them. I mean REALLY don’t like them. And I do have a mixed tank with coral.

 

[Lavey29]

I run at 12 hours daily and zero algae but light is balanced with Lower white intensity

But you have a mature fully stocked tank. No comparison.

 

[AydenLincoln]

How’s this preset from WWC for a mixed reef tank? From 11:10 am to 6:50 pm? Which is a completely different one than what I was using. @WWC Feel free to chime in.

 

[jdpiii3]

Start at the beginning you don't have a huge bio load so simplify and I'm sure you'll find the issue.

 

[AydenLincoln]

But you have a mature fully stocked tank. No comparison.

TRUE!!

 

[Lavey29]

How’s this preset from WWC for a mixed reef tank? From 11:10 am to 6:50 pm? Which is a completely different one than what I was using. @WWC Feel free to chime in.

Duration is better for your tank as long as those intensity levels give you the par you need.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Duration is better for your tank as long as those intensity levels give you the par you need.

I have to see so I have a GSP, bubble coral, alveopora, a blue ridge coral, and green cloves. I’m mainly wanting the GSP to grow and flourish but all of them to be open.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

No I don’t and that was almost over a week ago.

That’s why I was asking. Siphoning the sand on a regular basis will definitely help with some of the nutrient issues. Two you have a gravel vac or siphon like a python? It’s pretty much a necessity if you have sand. Vacuum small sections every week.

 

[AydenLincoln]

That’s why I was asking. Siphoning the sand on a regular basis will definitely help with some of the nutrient issues. Two you have a gravel vac or siphon like a python? It’s pretty much a necessity if you have sand. Vacuum small sections every week.

Oh okay I thought you were referring to stirring up the sand bed. I know it’s basically the tank’s litter box. And reviews are mixed on whether or not to clean but to do it in sections if you do.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Oh okay I thought you were referring to stirring up the sand bed. I know it’s basically the tank’s litter box. And reviews are mixed on whether or not to clean but to do it in sections if you do.

Most do clean their sand beds I think. It’s the deep sand beds people leave alone as they don’t want to disturb the anaerobic bacteria. Everyone does everything different though

edit, I only mentioned the stirring as that’s the comment you made over a week ago…..I didn’t know your methods. Some people do stir things up and let the filter do the work. I wouldn’t promote that method though.

 

[Lavey29]

Most do clean their sand beds I think. It’s the deep sand beds people leave alone as they don’t want to disturb the anaerobic bacteria. Everyone does everything different though

edit, I only mentioned the stirring as that’s the comment you made over a week ago…..I didn’t know your methods. Some people do stir things up and let the filter do the work. I wouldn’t promote that method though.

What do you do if a lot of your substrate is covered with corals?

 

[vetteguy53081]

But you have a mature fully stocked tank. No comparison.

Even my newest tank is at same light schedule. Again, how its balanced makes the difference

 

[vetteguy53081]

How’s this preset from WWC for a mixed reef tank? From 11:10 am to 6:50 pm? Which is a completely different one than what I was using. @WWC Feel free to chime in.

A little low but subtle.