Dealing with high Nutrient levels

Jisko · Feb 7, 2018

So I've been battling what seems to be a never ending battle with algae covering the sand, hair algae, and now my beautiful purple rock turning green with algae. I've decided because carbon, and GFO has not worked, and then I tried adding cheato fuge which didnt help... Now I'm trying to add more bio media because I feel my problem might be I don't have enough rock. Currently I have about 25-30lbs of live rock for the 55g tank. With that being said I ordered a marine pure block 8x8x1 to add into the bubble trap. Do yall have any suggestions?

Here is a photo of how bad it gets ... the sand is true to the color in the photo in terms of being black/brown all over the place. The photos arn't even that bad sometimes it gets covered in hair algae...

Brew12 · Feb 7, 2018

How big is your CuC?

Jisko · Feb 7, 2018

Brew12 said:
How big is your CuC?

currently about 10-15 snails, brittle star, and 2 conches

Brew12 · Feb 7, 2018

Jisko said:
currently about 10-15 snails, brittle star, and 2 conches

I would boost that way up.
In a system that size I would run at least 40 to 50 snails and 10 to 20 blue legged hermit crabs. I realize not everyone likes hermits, but I find the blue legged ones to be reef safe and stay small.

High powered fuge lighting with chaeto (or a turf scrubber) will help you get away with a smaller CuC but not as small as the one you have imo.

Jisko · Feb 7, 2018

Brew12 said:
I would boost that way up.
In a system that size I would run at least 40 to 50 snails and 10 to 20 blue legged hermit crabs. I realize not everyone likes hermits, but I find the blue legged ones to be reef safe and stay small.

High powered fuge lighting with chaeto (or a turf scrubber) will help you get away with a smaller CuC but not as small as the one you have imo.

Yeah I'm waiting for my tax return before I order a large CuC. I have a frag/grow out tank being setup so I'm in desperate need for some snails for sure. My only problem with crabs is them killing the snails for shells

Brew12 · Feb 7, 2018

Jisko said:
Yeah I'm waiting for my tax return before I order a large CuC. I have a frag/grow out tank being setup so I'm in desperate need for some snails for sure. My only problem with crabs is them killing the snails for shells

I do have that problem to a minor degree. I buy my CuC from reefcleaners.org (John) and purchase extra hermit shells for very cheap. I get his snail only package and then add the blue leg hermits. Since they stay so small they don't compete for shells as much as other hermits that are constantly outgrowing theirs. It still happens, but not enough to make a difference. I have about 40 hermits to 200 snails. I feel like I still need more snails. I used to think that the huge CuC's I saw recommended would make it nothing but a snail tank. Now, I realize they are closer to what I should have than I thought!

Jisko · Feb 9, 2018

So a little update... I'm doing a few tests tonight and the red sea reads .75 on the high range nitrate test which converts to 12.00 ppm.... gonna take a shot in the dark and say that it' pretty high haha

Jeepguy242 · Feb 9, 2018

4 months ago my nitrates were over 50ppm and i couldn't see a single rock....

you dont have algae....

fuge... carbon dosing.... clean up crew... change your lights if you have older bulbs.... and work...... and time

Jisko · Feb 9, 2018

My mag is around 650. Now the esv mag says dose 1.5ml per gallon to raise it 15ppm a day... 90ml of mag seems like a lot to be dosing 0_o am I reading this right

Jeepguy242 · Feb 9, 2018

sounds about right.... dose it over several days

Brew12 · Feb 10, 2018

Jisko said:
So a little update... I'm doing a few tests tonight and the red sea reads .75 on the high range nitrate test which converts to 12.00 ppm.... gonna take a shot in the dark and say that it' pretty high haha

12ppm is actually a very nice place to be for nitrate! Anything above 5 and under 30 should be just fine.

Are you sure your mag test is accurate? That seems very low. What salt are you using?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 10, 2018

Jisko said:
My mag is around 650. Now the esv mag says dose 1.5ml per gallon to raise it 15ppm a day... 90ml of mag seems like a lot to be dosing 0_o am I reading this right

Almost certainly test error, unless you have used a DIY two part at high doses for a VERY long time with no water changes and no magnesium additions. Try the kit on some new salt water.

If it ever got that low, even a 10% water change brings up magnesium by 65 ppm each time, so it would not stay that low if you did any normal water change routine.

Jisko · Feb 11, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Almost certainly test error, unless you have used a DIY two part at high doses for a VERY long time with no water changes and no magnesium additions. Try the kit on some new salt water.

If it ever got that low, even a 10% water change brings up magnesium by 65 ppm each time, so it would not stay that low if you did any normal water change routine.

did two more tests and both were 1200 which is low so im doing a 25% water change today since its been awhile