Problem with phosphates...HELP!

[booth2010]

My 10 gal tank has been set up for over a month now. The first few weeks were fine and now for the past 2 weeks I have had a real bad problem with red (i think its algae) and green algae. There is no direct sunlight. I was told it could be a phosphate probelm so I added AmQuel Plus but it really hasnt done anything. In the tank is 10lbs of live rock, a clownfish, a damsel (cheap 4.99 blue with yellow tail), a hermit crab, two snails, 2 mushrooms and a torch. The torch hasn't looked good since the problem started. Im using the Aquasun T5 HO light fixture with Ocean Sun 10,000k and Coral Sun Actinic 420 bulbs. The filter is a penguin bio-wheel power filter 100. I took the stock filter out and just have filter floss in case it was the carbon. I do a 10-20% water change every week. Also I have the Oceanic BioCube protein skimmer for 29gal but it is not hooked up because ive lose the instructions and dont know how to set it up to work properly. The light hangs about 6" above the tank. Salinity is kept around 1.024 but is going to be raised shortly. Water is always tested fine but I do not know specific readings.

 

[beaslbob]

It is entirely normal for phosphates to take some time to drop down. One month may just not be enough time.

The biowheel should help as the gunk is actually algae so it acts as a small algae turf scrubber.

If nitrates and phosphates don't drop down I would consider adding macro algaes to help out.

But bottom line for phosphates is that the algae (macros or biowheel) will be the greatest sink of phosphates in your system.


my .02

 

[jduck]

Are you sure its phosphates?
What are all of your water paramaters?
Are you using RODI water?
Algae is just a sign of extra nutrients.
Try testing Nitrates and phosphates?

 

[booth2010]

sorry so small

 

[booth2010]

Im not sure, i was told it probably is phosphates. IDk what the exact parameters are they just use the basic test strips to test the water but the salinity is 1.024 and will be raised tomorrow. I dont use RODI water I used purified water from grocery store. My nitrates are always perfect when tested.

 

["that guy"]

You need to get you water fully analyzed.....

period.


phosban media bag will fix the issue if its present.

 

["that guy"]

Dont forget....weekly water changes of one gallon.

 

[rworegon]

From the pic posted it looks like dino's. Normal for a new tank. It will eventually cycle through. Would be a good idea to get some quality test kits though.

 

[mike007]

I agree it looks like dino which most all tanks go through when first setup. It will go away. Be sure you are using rodi water and don;t overfeed the tank.

 

[Reefing Madness]

If your tank has only been set up for a month now, I'd not worry about this. Those are just Diatoms, and they are eating the silicates out of your system, when those are gone will will they. They go away by themselves, and you needn't worry. Most all new tanks get these, and all depending on how much silicate is in the water, is the degree in which you will see the Diatoms.