Cloudy water, algae bloom, and unhappy corals

[Sandsnail]

I came home today and noticed the water in my tank was pretty cloudy looking, and a bunch of brown algae appeared white I was gone. I was a little stumped cause I did a 20% water change with RO/DI water and had cleaned the tanks, with all new filter media and some green x phosphate remover. Most of the softies I have don't look very pleased, but the fish look fine and everything else seems to be alive. It's an 8 month old tank and the params were ammonia-0, nitrates-0, nitrites-0, ph-8.2. The salinity is fine. I'm assuming its phosphates, which is a problem since I don't have something to test for it currently. any ideas? and how to fix it?

 

[CelticReef]

Do a 50% water change and stop using chemical phosphate remover. You have no algae that I can see so it’s highly unlikely you have high phosphates ....Follow up with 10% water changes daily till your water clears. Never assume anything be sure and get the right test kits. Looks like a diatoms bloom probably from the phosphate remover.

 

[Sandsnail]

Do a 50% water change and stop using chemical phosphate remover. You have no algae that I can see so it’s highly unlikely you have high phosphates ....Follow up with 10% water changes daily till your water clears. Never assume anything be sure and get the right test kits. Looks like a diatoms bloom probably from the phosphate remover.

Really? I didn't know the phosphate remover would cause a bloom 0_o
thanks for the info

 

[CelticReef]

Keep it simple, this is how I look at it , if it’s not in your salt mix it doesn’t need to be added to your tank if your not testing for it don’t add it ...The best solution for pollution is dilution. Best of luck it should clear up shortly

 

[ahiggins]

Yep, unfortunately have zero nitrate and phosphate is just as bad as having tons of it (in a newish tank anyway). Zeros across the board on a new tank before the 6-8 month mark usually means diatoms or if you’re unlucky dinos.

 

[ahiggins]

I battled dinos and the best (non chemical) way I was able to beat it was to get the 5k pods from algaebarn with their phyto, dose phosphates, and overfeed slightly with dirty food (like mysis cubes). Still have diatoms here and there but my pods and snails keep it at bay