Algae with gfo usage

[roblox84]

Does anyone know what can be causing algae growth even with using gfo and carbon? I have a 125g and use 1 cup of carbon in sump and 2 cups of gfo each month in a reactor and I still get consistent algae growth on the sand bed. Although not as much as without using gfo because when I quit running gfo I quickly noticed what could have been hair algae ready to grow very long on my rocks. Is gfo supposed to kill algae or just slow it because it definitely slowed the growth a lot it just doesn't get rid of the algae.

 

[JerryD120]

IME, I had the same problem. I change my GFO and carbon, and still have algae growth. Changed my RO filters and DI resin, and it went away...


Jerry


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[808jaymakoa]

Following

 

[Rickyrooz]

IME, I had the same problem. I change my GFO and carbon, and still have algae growth. Changed my RO filters and DI resin, and it went away...


Jerry


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I change my GFO and ROX 0.8 carbon out monthly and I replace my RO/DI filters every 6 months and I still have algae growing on my overflow. I feed twice a day and run my halides for 8 hours and my T5's for 11 hours. I have a small refugium section in my 30 gallon sump with Chaetomorpha algae in it and I perform 30 gallon water changes weekly to help get rid of the algae but I have not made a dent. Nitrates are under 5ppm and phosphates range from 0.05ppm to 0.10ppm depending on how much I feed.

 

[jeremy]

Yeah when I have that problem its time to change rodi filters.

 

[roblox84]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem, I tried searching and no topic about this issue came up on any search engine.

I also replace my ro filters every 6 months and di when it reads 1 on my tds meter. I changed the membrane about two months ago.

 

[Rickyrooz]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem, I tried searching and no topic about this issue came up on any search engine.

I also replace my ro filters every 6 months and di when it reads 1 on my tds meter. I changed the membrane about two months ago.

Do you have a sandbed? I have a mix of Arag-alive Special Grade and Fiji Pink. If the water flow is slow I get brown growth on the sand but never on my rocks, it's weird. The hair algae only grows on my overflow box. I added snails and hermit crabs but they have not made a noticeable dent on the algae.

 

[roblox84]

Do you have a sandbed? I have a mix of Arag-alive Special Grade and Fiji Pink. If the water flow is slow I get brown growth on the sand but never on my rocks, it's weird. The hair algae only grows on my overflow box. I added snails and hermit crabs but they have not made a noticeable dent on the algae.

I have a 2 inch sand bed, sand is Tropic Eden from Premium Aquatics. Whether my flow is high or low the algae still grows, it forms little clumps of sand bound by what looks like very short hair algae. It doesn't grow much on my rocks maybe because of the snails, but I'm not sure.

It's weird because my coraline algae only grows on my overflows and a little on the rocks, never on any part of the glass.

 

[Saltgator]

Sounds like my scenario. Tropic eden as well. 3 inches. No gfo would touch the PO4 locked into the substrate. Been doing 20% water changes and pulling the tropic eden out via a hose. PO4 steadily going down, corals are happier, tank looks 100% better. Only half way thru and my PO4 has went from 0.25 to 0.13 over 2 weeks.

If you don't prefer to go BB, IMO, vac the sand all the way down to the glass during your wc. Algae will disappear in it's own. Your snails (like mine and my fish) control the algae growth throughout the entire system more than you know (at least in my scenario) . GL and go slow. Too fast and your coral may get stressed from a quick drop in parameters.

Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO

 

[roblox84]

Sounds like my scenario. Tropic eden as well. 3 inches. No gfo would touch the PO4 locked into the substrate. Been doing 20% water changes and pulling the tropic eden out via a hose. PO4 steadily going down, corals are happier, tank looks 100% better. Only half way thru and my PO4 has went from 0.25 to 0.13 over 2 weeks.

If you don't prefer to go BB, IMO, vac the sand all the way down to the glass during your wc. Algae will disappear in it's own. Your snails (like mine and my fish) control the algae growth throughout the entire system more than you know (at least in my scenario) . GL and go slow. Too fast and your coral may get stressed from a quick drop in parameters.

Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO

Sounds like Tropic Eden isn't all what its hyped up to be, that's kind of dissapointing. I really have to get a Hanna meter now, I'm curious of my p04 reading. I have actually always vacuumed my sand down to the glass as part of my bi-weekly maintenance, its also how I hide the algae clumps underneath the sand

The Tropic Eden has to be the problem then, it can't just be coincidence that algae is only growing on the sand. If I don't want to remove all that sand is there any chance of the phosphate leaching completely out of it?

 

[Saltgator]

Sounds like Tropic Eden isn't all what its hyped up to be, that's kind of dissapointing. I really have to get a Hanna meter now, I'm curious of my p04 reading. I have actually always vacuumed my sand down to the glass as part of my bi-weekly maintenance, its also how I hide the algae clumps underneath the sand

The Tropic Eden has to be the problem then, it can't just be coincidence that algae is only growing on the sand. If I don't want to remove all that sand is there any chance of the phosphate leaching completely out of it?

IMO, it's gonna keep trapping the junk, no matter how much gets leached out. I'd either change it to a different brand or go BB. I know several on here have tropic eden and love it (using it multiple years), but each reef is in it's own.

Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO

 

[Rickyrooz]

IMO, it's gonna keep trapping the junk, no matter how much gets leached out. I'd either change it to a different brand or go BB. I know several on here have tropic eden and love it (using it multiple years), but each reef is in it's own.

Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO

Are you bare bottom now?

 

[Saltgator]

Not yet. About 1/3 left of my tropic eden to pull out and I will be.

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[deboy69]

How old is your tank. What type of light are you using and light cycle. If using bulbs which ones and how old? Have you tested your rodi or salt water mix for phosphates?

KCCO

 

[roblox84]

How old is your tank. What type of light are you using and light cycle. If using bulbs which ones and how old? Have you tested your rodi or salt water mix for phosphates?

KCCO

I have leds that are basically brand new. 11:30-7:30 actinic and 12-7 whites.

I also have tested for phosphate but with a color changing kit and it always reads 0 so I need to get one of those Hanna meters before I do anything.

 

[deboy69]

How old is your tank

KCCO

 

[roblox84]

How old is your tank

KCCO

Sorry it's about 2 years old.

 

[roblox84]

Even if I change the sand bed won't it just wick up phosphate again and I'll be in the same position a few months down the road?

 

[Saltgator]

Even if I change the sand bed won't it just wick up phosphate again and I'll be in the same position a few months down the road?

Depends IMO. If it's fine sand or just a bit bigger than fine, it might not collect so much waste. If its crushed coral or a bit smaller, same thing as mine (collecting waste). Again, my own personal opinion. Many do good with sand (maybe they'll chime in), but BB is just easy for me.

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[roblox84]

Ive been having coral problems ever since I set up the tank. Soft coral would never grow and sps would rtn, is it possible that phosphates wicking from the rock can have such a drastic impact? Some coral would grow for a few days but then stay the same or just die. I've been having this problem from day one so can phosphates accumulate that fast during cycling only for me to add coral a month later and have it already wicking phosphates?