I Just Don't Know What To Do Anymore!

[Katesreef]

Well it's an office. I will see what I can do. Anyone else want to tell me what kind of test kits you use?

Personally, I have never liked the API test kits. Color matching is just too hard. This is my list of test kits:

pH - Salifert
Ammonia - Red Sea
Nitrite - Hanna Checker ULR
Nitrate - Salifert
Ca - Hanna Checker
Mag - Red Sea Pro
Alk - Hanna Checker
Phosphate - Hanna Checker ULR

I love the Hanna Checkers because there is no guesswork, it does it for you. They are pricey, but well worth the money. Plus, they are highly accurate. I will never go back! If there were Hanna Checkers for everything, I would buy them! There is some color matching to do with the others, but I found them much easier to do with the Salifert and Red Sea kits.

I'll check into the Hanna. The easier for this old woman the better!

 

[rodeoclown]

pulsing xenia but it spreads like wildfire if it isnt isolated

 

[Daytonareefing]

Salifert tests are the best. canister filter really don't work well for saltwater tanks. I bought my 55 gallon a couple years ago from a guy running two he got feed up with the bad algae. I would run a marineland BIOWHEEL filter bio wheels are the way to go on that size tank if you can't use a sump. Do a water change and get some seachem phosguard as fast as you can. It doesn't matter what the phosphate test sizes the algae says it all. You don't need to shut off the lights thats a short term fix that could hurt the corals in the long run. I would remove as much algae by hand when doing the water change as well. GFO was a good idea as well but that size tank should not need it. I been down that road many many times and the best first thing to do is get a phosphate sponge like the seachem phosgaurd the other question is what lights are you running that can be a very big factor on why its growing bad algae. that my 2 cents. I do wish you luck though its hard to look at algae like that when you know it can look so much better.

 

[twilliard]

As I read the title..
don't give up and be persistent on removing what fuels algae growth.
please read Randys articles.

 

[Katesreef]

I have started reading his articles. They are very good ! I don't know what was meant by xenias. I am trying not to give up but this went out of control so fast.

Lights are Aquaticlife t-5. It's new still has the stock bulbs.

 

[Paulday]

Denials r a coral that like. Phosphates and high nutrients. A lot of people use them as a macro algae but there prett looking

 

[Paulday]

Xenias stupid iPad

 

[maroun.c]

As this is a Frag tank (less Rocks by definition) water changes would be an easy way to bring it levels down for nutirents as well as correct any other deficiencies or excesses. Would make sure the RODI is performing well and TDS is at 0 and then do successive water changes every few days. Dying Alfa will release nutirents back in the water and feed the cycle so continues with water changes even more when he Alga starts looking slimy and peeling of and try to remove manually as much as possible.

 

[Paul B]

The first thing I would do is open your desk drawer and see if you have a bottle of Merlot. Drink 2 glasses of that and relax. That is a completely normal 10 week old tank in an office with a little natural sunlight. Don't add anything and don't change the water. If you can remove some algae by hand, do that as often as you can. Drink another glass of merlot being careful not to spill any in the tank. Eventually the algae will eliminate everything it needs to grow (as long as you don't change the water or add anything) It is normal, don't worry about it. Algae actually makes the water more healthy (eventually). It will pass.

 

[Katesreef]

The first thing I would do is open your desk drawer and see if you have a bottle of Merlot. Drink 2 glasses of that and relax. That is a completely normal 10 week old tank in an office with a little natural sunlight. Don't add anything and don't change the water. If you can remove some algae by hand, do that as often as you can. Drink another glass of merlot being careful not to spill any in the tank. Eventually the algae will eliminate everything it needs to grow (as long as you don't change the water or add anything) It is normal, don't worry about it. Algae actually makes the water more healthy (eventually). It will pass.

You are too funny. Strongest thing I drink is pepsi! Thanks!

 

[Katesreef]

Thanks everyone for all of your advice. I certainly appreciate it! This is a wonderful forum.

 

[Paul B]

You are too funny. Strongest thing I drink is pepsi! Thanks!

That is the problem. Pepsi will kill you and the caffeine will make you jumpy while it is killing you. Wine will calm you down so you don't realize the pepsi is killing you and your algae is taking over. It all works out

 

[Diesel]

What Paul is really saying here is Pepsi turns you into algae food and wine will turn you into a carbon source which your bacteria will feast on and in return will kill your algae.
It all makes sense.
Let us know how your tank will do in a few weeks.