ICP for algae. Scratching my head

[Clownreef]

Hey y'all,

Well.. Here are the results of an ICP I got done to give me some insight as to why I have so much hair algae growing in my system.

First the display.

The last image is the RO..

Id appreciate any I leads.

I run a turf scrubber..

Thank you!

 

[Jekyl]

Pics and age of tank?

 

[Jekyl]

Is nitrate listed on there and I'm missing it?

 

[Clownreef]

Last time I checked phosphate and nitrate with Hanna.

Phosphate is at 1.0 ppm on august 11 at 9:05 am
Nitrate 4.2 ppm on august 11 at 9:09 am

The tank is a transfer from my 5 year old system.

 

[Jekyl]

Doesn't look that bad. Have enough CuC? Try dosing live phyto?

 

[Miami Reef]

Last time I checked phosphate and nitrate with Hanna.

Phosphate is at 1.0 ppm on august 11 at 9:05 am
Nitrate 4.2 ppm on august 11 at 9:09 am

The tank is a transfer from my 5 year old system.

Where do you see the algae? I see a beautiful tank!

 

[Clownreef]

It’s everywhere. I’ll take a close up tomorrow.

Does anything looks off on my RO?

 

[Miami Reef]

It’s everywhere. I’ll take a close up tomorrow.

Does anything looks off on my RO?

Do you use RO/DI or just RO water in the tank?

 

[Clownreef]

RO/DI, 7 stage

 

[Jekyl]

How long since the tank transfer? Any new rock added?

 

[Clownreef]

How long since the tank transfer? Any new rock added?

2 years

 

[Lavey29]

If your phosphate is 1.0 that's the source of your problem.

 

[Clownreef]

If your phosphate is 1.0 that's the source of your problem.

Is there a solid answer as to where phosphates should be??

 

[SPS2020]

For problem algae, an ICP won't help too much. You would want to run an NDoc (Triton) test to isolate issues.

You mentioned that you PO4 was 1ppm, but the ICP test shows 0.01963ppm in your tank and 0.00897ppm in your RODI. So, the PO4 is fine from the ICP test, but high according to your test.

 

[SPS2020]

Very nice tank, by the way!

If you are not cleaning the substrate routinely, I'd make that suggestion as a start.

 

[Clownreef]

For problem algae, an ICP won't help too much. You would want to run an NDoc (Triton) test to isolate issues.

You mentioned that you PO4 was 1ppm, but the ICP test shows 0.01963ppm in your tank and 0.00897ppm in your RODI. So, the PO4 is fine from the ICP test, but high according to your test.

Thank you, Let me check with my Hanna tester right now..

 

[Lavey29]

Is there a solid answer as to where phosphates should be??

Is there a solid answer as to where phosphates should be??

Each tank is different. Some very established tanks handle high phosphate well but newer tanks end up causing nuisance algae. .05 to .1 is the good range so you are 10x over that.

 

[Clownreef]

Each tank is different. Some very established tanks handle high phosphate well but newer tanks end up causing nuisance algae. .05 to .1 is the good range so you are 10x over that.

1.4 :/

 

[Lavey29]

1.4 :/

Yes and you want .05 to .1 so you are way elevated

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure that there is anything that would show up on an ICP that would "explain" an algae issue except enough nutrients to support it.