Detritus & Green Algae with -0- Phosphates

[Jamon]

Hi folks, maybe yo can give me some idea on how to fix this problem. My reef tank is 175 gallons, all parameters are in check. I actually sent a test out to confirm before I wrote this. Yet, I am getting green hair growth around my wavemakers, plus my sand turns brown every morning (some stays that way through the night). I did a water change and 30 minutes after is starts to turn brown. I use RODI water, have a couple of diamond gobies to help with detritus and some CUC but nothing has helped my sand pristine like it used to be.

Do you have advice on how to address this issue and what the heck could be causing it? It's been months of battle, and I'm losing.

 

[glb]

How old is the tank? Also, the green algae is probably consuming nitrates and phosphates, so that’s why your numbers are low. If the tank is new, the brown on the sand is probably diatoms, which will go away on its own. Could be something in the RODI water, maybe filters need to be changed? These are my first thoughts.

 

[Jamon]

The tank is 2-1/2 years old. I wash my filters in a washing machine, but I haven't fully replaced them in. months. That's an interesting thought I haven't considered. And yes, diatoms, not deitrus.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Sounds like the classic Dino symptons to me. Get a microscope and ID it. Do you have pics?

 

[Jamon]

I don't have a microscope, never amazes me how the further along I get in this hobby the things I have to buy. Here are some pics, hope this gives you a clue. I read Dino is sticky, but this seems like powder when I blow on it with a turkey baster.