Green algae with 0 phos and nitrates?!

[PhantomHalo]

Hello all, been trying to bring up my phosphates and nitrates in my tank, but had to pause to get some red slime under control. I used the red cyanorx to get rid of it, but now I have green hair algae. I just tested my water and my phosphates are at 0 per Hanna checker and my nitrates as well per API test kit. How is this possible? Thought you needed one of the two to feed the GHA? Any ideas on what is absorbing my phosphates btw? No protein skimmer for a week+ now, no UV filter, only a filter pad and macro algae. Thanks all!!

 

[Billldg]

The GHA is actually absorbing those nutrients giving you the false readings, or accurate reading depending on how you look at it of 0 ppm.

 

[Cory]

I agree. The algae is using it as its produced. They are very efficient at taking small undetectable amounts of nutrients.

 

[PhantomHalo]

Any recommendations at getting rid of it?

 

[Cory]

Any recommendations at getting rid of it?

A strong red led in a refugium with macroalgae or an ats.

And a good clean up crew.

 

[Billldg]

The only thing I know that seems to work is Reef Flux. It would kill it in my sump when I used it your bryopsis. Some people have used peroxide, but you will have to search R2R to get the recommended doses.

 

[KTownReefer]

I’ve had great success using Vibrant for GHA. I’ve also used Fluconazole with success

 

[PhantomHalo]

A strong red led in a refugium with macroalgae or an ats.

And a good clean up crew.

Have a ton of Macro in my sump with a light on 24/7. Great clean up crew down there as well. In the tank not so much due to having 3 triggers. They like snails apparently. The giant turbo snails have lasted though. May try the fluconazol a try.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Have a ton of Macro in my sump with a light on 24/7. Great clean up crew down there as well. In the tank not so much due to having 3 triggers. They like snails apparently. The giant turbo snails have lasted though. May try the fluconazol a try.

What type of lighting? Is you macro algae growing? I have a 600W horticulture light and the chaeto and ulva grow like crazy. I have to harvest it every two weeks. No nuisance algae in the display tank.

 

[Cory]

What type of lighting? Is you macro algae growing? I have a 600W horticulture light and the chaeto and ulva grow like crazy. I have to harvest it every two weeks. No nuisance algae in the display tank.

Got a pic? That sounds awesome. How much do you grow over time?

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Got a pic? That sounds awesome. How much do you grow over time?

Got it on Amazon. I have no idea how much I have grown over time, but I would say about two gallon bag full every two weeks.

 

[PhantomHalo]

What type of lighting? Is you macro algae growing? I have a 600W horticulture light and the chaeto and ulva grow like crazy. I have to harvest it every two weeks. No nuisance algae in the display tank.

Yes, I have a LED light that came with my smaller tank. I think it’s a coral life one, but it’s been growing like crazy. I’ll check your light out too to see if it might have better features. Mine has a mechanical on/off switch instead of being programmable. I have a ton of macro and just pulled some out yesterday because it was covering my entire sump area. 600 watts is insane though! How big is your sump? Any heat issues? The algae doesn’t bug me as much as just not having any nutrients in my tank. My LPS and SPS are not doing well because of the lack of phos/nitrates. I am trying to stop the uptake of those and increase enough to make the corals happy.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Yes, I have a LED light that came with my smaller tank. I think it’s a coral life one, but it’s been growing like crazy. I’ll check your light out too to see if it might have better features. Mine has a mechanical on/off switch instead of being programmable. I have a ton of macro and just pulled some out yesterday because it was covering my entire sump area. 600 watts is insane though! How big is your sump? Any heat issues? The algae doesn’t bug me as much as just not having any nutrients in my tank. My LPS and SPS are not doing well because of the lack of phos/nitrates. I am trying to stop the uptake of those and increase enough to make the corals happy.

I have a 55 gallon DIY sump under my 125. The setup is in the basement so no heat issues. Also, I have the fuge light on an opposite cycle as my display tank lighting. But if you are growing a ton of macro it sounds like you don't need a better light. If you want to increase nutrients, I would increase feedings. You could also decrease your fuge light cycle.