Biocube Algae

[Cfmccomsey]

Hi All,

I’m looking for some recommendations on ridding this Algea. It’s starred to creep up in small tufts around my biocube. Recently it’s been getting like a red substance on the ends. I’ve tried manually removing them but it’s difficult . My nitrates used to be around 20 or less and not it’s at 80. I feel like this algea is breaking off and causing my nitrates to spike. Any ideas?

Tank has 2 clowns, 1 gobi, 1 blenny 2 shrimp 2 hermits and about 6 snails. 1 Zoa and 1 bubble coral

Have an upgraded return pump Sicce 1.5, and Jebao ow 10 on the other side. Biocube skimmer, media rack in back with chemipure blue and some extra rock, also run UV in chamber 3

 

[Spare time]

Do you have a phosphate test kit (and if so, what brand)?

 

[Spare time]

What is your water change schedule like?

 

[Cfmccomsey]

What is your water change schedule like?

I change weekly 5 gallons.

do not have a phosphate kit

 

[Spare time]

I change weekly 5 gallons.

do not have a phosphate kit

That would be my number one course of action. The hanna ulr phosphate or ulr phosphorus are the best. The key is to get one that can read between 0.00 and 0.1 easily.

Secondly, I would rinse your filter pad (or whatever you use) at least every other day. A quick rinse in the sink helps. This is the easiest way to keep a tank clean.


Next I would do two maybe 20 gallons this week.


There are some other options but you need to know the phosphate number for them.

 

[Cfmccomsey]

Great. I’ll
Test phosphates this weekend and let you know. What do you recommend for the range you want for phosphates? (What would be a number to stay under)?

 

[Glenner’sreef]

0.05 on Phosphates. Your nitrates are high because of excessive dirt and nutrients in the tank. Gravel vacs are worth their wait in gold. Also turkey baste your rocks. Get detritus in your filter and out of your tank. You’ll be back to 10 or 20 in no time.

 

[Cfmccomsey]

0.05 on Phosphates. Your nitrates are high because of excessive dirt and nutrients in the tank. Gravel vacs are worth their wait in gold. Also turkey baste your rocks. Get detritus in your filter and out of your tank. You’ll be back to 10 or 20 in no time.

Hanna checker has phosphates at .27! This seems really high! I plan on doing a large water change tomorrow (10 gallons) any other recommendations?

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Hanna checker has phosphates at .27! This seems really high! I plan on doing a large water change tomorrow (10 gallons) any other recommendations?

If you’re at .27, that’s not the end of the world. Have you tried Phosgaurd?

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Hanna checker has phosphates at .27! This seems really high! I plan on doing a large water change tomorrow (10 gallons) any other recommendations?

I have a Biocube so hopefully I can help with some things that have worked for me:

1. how new is your tank? This could just be because of the ugly phase, which can be eliminated through a multitude of factors, but time being the biggest one. My tank was 6 months when it ended

2. What are you feeding? If you’re feeding a lot of dry food, such as flakes and pellets, your phosphates are going to climb like crazy. I’d recommend to spend the $20 or so on frozen food which will last you a year or so and will keep your nutrients under control with just water changes. Also, water changes will most likely not fix your phosphate issue. Phosphate binds to the rocks and other surfaces and is not really suspended in the water column. It may help with nitrates. I use to do 5 gallon water changes and that kept all the my parameters in check (now I dose and don’t do water changes. I’m one of those lol). Also, .27 isn’t horrible. Highest I’ve been was at .45 and didn’t have any issues.

3. What me your mechanical filtration setup? I use polyfil cut into little squares. Removes nitrates too well, in fact, I got a Dino outbreak from it. But I found out, you have to keep an old one in there as well as a new one to keep nitrates up, but also keeping the water quality good. ANYWAYS. I use chemipure blue too.

4. I would get more snails. This is what I have in mine and they’re all doing great.
7 Trochus
5 turbo
5 bumblebee (for my Vermetids
1 tiger conch (absolutely recommend, one of the best purchases I have ever made for my tank)

5. I have OW-10, great pump, I keep on else mode at I believe 6 dots.

6. It’s going to be very hard to control that algae in the tank. You might as well just let it grow and only get rid of if when it’s on your corals.

 

[Cfmccomsey]

If you’re at .27, that’s not the end of the world. Have you tried Phosgaurd?

Not yet. I’m pretty sure my tap water is the issue. I’m going to pick up some pre made salt water at the LFS this week and invest in a small ROI setup like the Aquaticlife one, otherwise I’ll almost always be fighting the issue. I’ll probably pick up some phosguard as well.