Calling all help to help make my aquarium clean!!!

dave171 · Apr 9, 2015

Okay so I have a established saltwater aquarium with some easy corals , Kenya tree zoanthids and some peaceful ( kinda) fish(4 fish). Now I am not overstocked and don't think I'm overfeeding ( only once a day and algae ring 3 times a week). My question is I want my tank to look like a display tank like at my LFS. Other than water changes and clean up crew( that I will be getting shortly ) what do I do. Scrubbing algae sucks in my opinion and seems effort less and too disrupting to the fish. Any help is appreciated no negative comments on fish please thanks! all pictures are below!!!

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Abyssions · Apr 9, 2015

What are your parameters? Are you running a skimmer? Are you using an RO/DI unit? Looks like you have excess nutrients.

dave171 · Apr 9, 2015

Parameters are
Ammonia -0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-5-10
Ph-8.0-.8.3

Magnesium-1200
Calcium-400
Salinity-1.024
Alkalinity- 9 ( I think)
I only use RO water and red sea coral pro salt and am running a skimmer its a flulval rated for my tank I was adding aqua vitro ions supplent but that's it

blazn · Apr 9, 2015

A good GFO reactor will control your algae problem, along with the clean up crew

dave171 · Apr 9, 2015

What would I put in the GFO reactor ?

blazn · Apr 9, 2015

GFO goes in the reactor. I use the dual reactor from Bulk Reef Supply with carbon in one side and GFO in the other. GFO reduces phosphates which is what algae feeds on

dave171 · Apr 9, 2015

I will look into it I will admit don't have much experience/ knowledge of reactors but I'll do some research. Thank you!

jman9331 · Apr 9, 2015

How old is your tank?

dave171 · Apr 9, 2015

Well its physically been with me for about a little over a month. But it was a established tank ( over a year) when I bought it off a friends which I used all his sand ( deep sand bed) and about 5 gallons of his water maybe a little more . plus all his biologic filters( ceramic bio balls in a c4 fluvan hob)

jman9331 · Apr 9, 2015

Once you get a clean up crew theyll take care of the algae problem. If it were me I'd upgrade the filter. im running a canister filter on my 75 gal and my water is very clean. Nothing though beats getting a protein skimmer and sumo setup. I'm working on getting the funds together for one myself. Might want to check your phosphates as well.

dave171 · Apr 9, 2015

Yea I most likely should upgrade my filter but personally I have had horrible experiences with canister filters. I like how great they work but somehow I end up with water all over my floor lol. At least any fluval canister I have used maybe another brand is better. Im gonna research the reactor and sumps I like but seem risky in my opinion as well. Like if something breaks and overflows its not pretty lol but thanks for your help I appreciate it!

blazn · Apr 9, 2015

Bulk Reef Supply has instructional videos on GFO reactors that would be informative regardless of the brand of reactor you may get. I do recommend their products for quality and service. If you don't yet have a protein skimmer, that is basically a must have item.