Pump Failed Now I have algae? Correlation?

[MattR]

Tests were done today using red sea kits
pH-8
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-10
Salinity-1.024
Calcium-370
Mag-1400
Alk-14
Phosphate-0

 

[ca1ore]

Hard to see how the loss of pump flow for 8 hours could have caused an algae breakout (presumably you meant caused rather than correlated). More likely to be coincidence.

 

[MattR]

Hard to see how the loss of pump flow for 8 hours could have caused an algae breakout (presumably you meant caused rather than correlated). More likely to be coincidence.

I totally agree I don’t believe it either. All that matters now is I have the issue and I want to solve it

 

[Terry Mattson]

Tests were done today using red sea kits
pH-8
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-10
Salinity-1.024
Calcium-370
Mag-1400
Alk-14
Phosphate-0

Try testing phosphate with an ultra low phosphate tester like hanna. Phosphate should be around .03 ppm. Not zero but
< .1 ppm. I am assuming you have an API test kit. Zero does not indicate true 0. Your calcium should be 400 to 450. I would raise specific gravity to 1.026. Same as most seawater. DKH of 14 seems high to me. Seawater is 7. I keep my dkh around 7.5 to 8.5.

 

[MattR]

Try testing phosphate with an ultra low phosphate tester like hanna. Phosphate should be around .03 ppm. Not zero but
< .1 ppm. I am assuming you have an API test kit. Zero does not indicate true 0. Your calcium should be 400 to 450. I would raise specific gravity to 1.026. Same as most seawater. DKH of 14 seems high to me. Seawater is 7. I keep my dkh around 7.5 to 8.5.

I agree with the phosphate being not actually zero. I’m going to raise my salinity when I do my next water change (probably tomorrow. I don’t understand how my calcium is that low because my Last water change was yesterday and I really don’t have any corals sucking up that calcium. I don’t have access to an ultra low phosphate checker. Any suggestions

 

[Terry Mattson]

I agree with the phosphate being not actually zero. I’m going to raise my salinity when I do my next water change (probably tomorrow. I don’t understand how my calcium is that low because my Last water change was yesterday and I really don’t have any corals sucking up that calcium. I don’t have access to an ultra low phosphate checker. Any suggestions

You can get a Hanna low phosphate tester for $49. It is harder to maintain calcium and alkalinity levels with lower Spefic Gravity. When my SG goes from 1.026 to 1.025 I just add a cup or two of fresh saltwater. As the water evaporates it goes back to 1.026. You could do a similar method. Much easier on live stock. Slow is always better. I use a Hanna calcium tester and like it alot now that I figured out how to use it. You could add Calcium cloride to increase your calcium level. BRS has a calculator to tell you how much to add. I use their calcium cloride packs and their calculator to dose.

I also have a doser for my tank. I use kalkwisser in the dosing tank. Anyway, how big is your tank and do you use a skimmer?

 

[Miller535]

I agree with the phosphate being not actually zero. I’m going to raise my salinity when I do my next water change (probably tomorrow. I don’t understand how my calcium is that low because my Last water change was yesterday and I really don’t have any corals sucking up that calcium. I don’t have access to an ultra low phosphate checker. Any suggestions

I do not understand it, so I can't explain it. But calcium and alk have a push and pull affect on each other. So high alk can drive down calcium

 

[Terry Mattson]

I do not understand it, so I can't explain it. But calcium and alk have a push and pull affect on each other. So high alk can drive down calcium

Yup. Was wondering how that dkh got so high. Dosing? Additive. Agree it is out of balance.

 

[MattR]

Yup. Was wondering how that dkh got so high. Dosing? Additive. Agree it is out of balance.

I do not understand it, so I can't explain it. But calcium and alk have a push and pull affect on each other. So high alk can drive down calcium

You can get a Hanna low phosphate tester for $49. It is harder to maintain calcium and alkalinity levels with lower Spefic Gravity. When my SG goes from 1.026 to 1.025 I just add a cup or two of fresh saltwater. As the water evaporates it goes back to 1.026. You could do a similar method. Much easier on live stock. Slow is always better. I use a Hanna calcium tester and like it alot now that I figured out how to use it. You could add Calcium cloride to increase your calcium level. BRS has a calculator to tell you how much to add. I use their calcium cloride packs and their calculator to dose.

I also have a doser for my tank. I use kalkwisser in the dosing tank. Anyway, how big is your tank and do you use a skimmer?

I have been struggling to figure out how the dkh is so high either. I use a tropic marin pro reef salt which should be coming in way lower (mix per instructions). It is a im nuvo 10, set up with a media basket containing fiilter floss with sponge in chamber one. ceramic media and purit in chamber 2 and a heater and sicce 0,5 return pump in chamber 3. Only additives are vibrant 1x per week and kent puffer in the ato reservoir to increase my ph (which it has been doing).

 

[Miller535]

I have been struggling to figure out how the dkh is so high either. I use a tropic marin pro reef salt which should be coming in way lower (mix per instructions). It is a im nuvo 10, set up with a media basket containing fiilter floss with sponge in chamber one. ceramic media and purit in chamber 2 and a heater and sicce 0,5 return pump in chamber 3. Only additives are vibrant 1x per week and kent puffer in the ato reservoir to increase my ph (which it has been doing).

That kent buffer is 100% why your dkh is so high. Alk in the form of sodium carbonate is one of the main ingredients.

I used that same buffer once upon a time and stopped because it drove my DKH sky high, and drove my calcium down to around 320.

 

[MattR]

That kent buffer is 100% why your dkh is so high. Alk in the form of sodium carbonate is one of the main ingredients.

I used that same buffer once upon a time and stopped because it drove my DKH sky high, and drove my calcium down to around 320.

Makes sense to me! So should I stop using it? use it only during water changes? only in my ato? My ph was on the low side (7.2) and it did raise it but clearly with other side effects

 

[Miller535]

Makes sense to me! So should I stop using it? use it only during water changes? only in my ato? My ph was on the low side (7.2) and it did raise it but clearly with other side effects

I would stop using it. I would look to figure out why your PH is low. What did you use to get the 7.2ph? I have heard Randy say it's almost impossible to be below I think 7.5? I think

 

[MattR]

I would stop using it. I would look to figure out why your PH is low. What did you use to get the 7.2ph? I have heard Randy say it's almost impossible to be below I think 7.5? I think

Red sea... could be an error but a retest yesterday, as the numbers stated, was a ph of 8

 

[ahiggins]

in my opinion, its a wonder you didnt already have hair algae. Especially with the stock pump...i also have the nuvo 10 and thats one of the first things i changed was getting the upgrade to sicce 0.5.
So i wouldnt attribute it ONLY to not having flow but it sped up your issues.

 

[Miller535]

This is a really good read about PH that helped me out, if you have the time.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/

 

[MattR]

in my opinion, its a wonder you didnt already have hair algae. Especially with the stock pump...i also have the nuvo 10 and thats one of the first things i changed was getting the upgrade to sicce 0.5.
So i wouldnt attribute it ONLY to not having flow but it sped up your issues.

i agree! It was one of those things that "I was going to get to later" but never did. I also attribute vibrant to a good preventative measure

 

[MattR]

This is a really good read about PH that helped me out, if you have the time.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/

Will do! Im honestly just at the point where I am so frustrated that I just want to give up on this tank. Everything was fine and then boom. nope

 

[Miller535]

Will do! Im honestly just at the point where I am so frustrated that I just want to give up on this tank. Everything was fine and then boom. nope

No, No, don't do that. There is nothing unfixable with your tank.

 

[MattR]

No, No, don't do that. There is nothing unfixable with your tank.

I think I want to run an ICP test and get an accurate description of everything going on. Ill be going on vacation on the 1st of next month for about 2 weeks. Maybe not touching the tank is whats needed. Nothing is dying just mad.

 

[Miller535]

I think I want to run an ICP test and get an accurate description of everything going on. Ill be going on vacation on the 1st of next month for about 2 weeks. Maybe not touching the tank is whats needed. Nothing is dying just mad.

ICP has been VERY helpful for me at getting things fixed. I would highly recommend Triton