Cant fix algae

SlimJim009 · Oct 28, 2020

I have had an algae problem for months now and I cant seem to fix it. I test my water with api test kits (i will be upgrading soon) and my nitrates are very low but my phosphates are at about 1. My rodi water tests 1 also for phosphates and im not sure why. I believe its the phosphates causing it but im not sure. Last night I installed a gfo/carbon reactor and my api test kit still says 1 for phosphates. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Reefer1978 · Oct 28, 2020

You have a few different issues going on here:

Stop using API test kits - they are not accurate for N & P
You have Dinoflagellates. Don't try to lower your nutrients, it will make it worse
Your RODI should not have any P coming out of it, I would start there, get better test kits and fix RODI issues if you indeed have them.

For Dinoflagellates there's plenty of reading material on the forum, you have days of reading ahead of you.

SlimJim009 · Oct 28, 2020

Reefer1978 said:
You have a few different issues going on here:

Stop using API test kits - they are not accurate for N & P

You have Dinoflagellates. Don't try to lower your nutrients, it will make it worse

Your RODI should not have any P coming out of it, I would start there, get better test kits and fix RODI issues if you indeed have them.

For Dinoflagellates there's plenty of reading material on the forum, you have days of reading ahead of you.

What is a recomended tssring kit?

SlimJim009 · Oct 28, 2020

SlimJim009 said:
What is a recomended tssring kit?

Testing*

Reefer1978 · Oct 28, 2020

SlimJim009 said:
What is a recomended tssring kit?

Another hard question.

Personally I use Red Sea. Folks swear by Hannah, Salifert.

Reefer1978 · Oct 28, 2020

To me, the important factor is consistent point of reference. I know Red Sea are not super exact, but I also know I will not get a 0 reading where my nitrates are at 100 (yes I hate API that much).