Simon Lipscombe
Community Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2016
- Messages
- 38
- Reaction score
- 20
Hello everyone,
I'm currently battling a good size outbreak of (what I believe is) GHA and Turf Algae in my reef tank. I've taken many, many measures to try and fend it off, but I just can't seem to keep it away.
I'm running a refugium with Chaeto and Grape Caulerpa, GFO in a Phosban reactor, and zeolite in a media bag in my sump. I know not all algaes will always utilize ammonia, but it was inexpensive so I thought I'd try the zeolite anyway. I also run a protein skimmer, purigen, and carbon.
I've cut feeding down drastically to only 1 or 2 times a week, and I've turned my photo period down to 6 hours a day, with my lights being dimmed to 50% of their normal intensity.
I have a lawnmower blenny, a few blue leg hermits, 4 emerald crabs, and some turbo/nerite snails. I did notice after I added the emeralds that certain areas that were smothered with the algae were now clean, but it's still not enough to fend it off entirely.
I use 0 TDS RO/DI water for topoff and water changes, with a food grade bucket that I cleaned with vinegar prior to use.
I do a 20% water change weekly using Fritz RPM salt. My tank is a 24 gallon, and I'm running a single Kessil AP700 over it on barely 20% intensity max, ocean blue 4 setting (slightly more blue than white).
My phosphate and nitrate read at zero (obviously with all the overkill filtration and the algae absorbing it instantly), yet the algae and my corals continue to grow. My thoughts are that I probably have nitrate and phosphate leaching out of something in the tank, I just don't know what. The rock I'm using is well established Real Reef live rock, and the sand I'm using was brand new CaribSea Bahamas Oolite live sand when I set the tank up.
Not to mention I get hands-on in the tank to remove algae twice a week. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for me? I'm at a bit of a loss here.
I'm currently battling a good size outbreak of (what I believe is) GHA and Turf Algae in my reef tank. I've taken many, many measures to try and fend it off, but I just can't seem to keep it away.
I'm running a refugium with Chaeto and Grape Caulerpa, GFO in a Phosban reactor, and zeolite in a media bag in my sump. I know not all algaes will always utilize ammonia, but it was inexpensive so I thought I'd try the zeolite anyway. I also run a protein skimmer, purigen, and carbon.
I've cut feeding down drastically to only 1 or 2 times a week, and I've turned my photo period down to 6 hours a day, with my lights being dimmed to 50% of their normal intensity.
I have a lawnmower blenny, a few blue leg hermits, 4 emerald crabs, and some turbo/nerite snails. I did notice after I added the emeralds that certain areas that were smothered with the algae were now clean, but it's still not enough to fend it off entirely.
I use 0 TDS RO/DI water for topoff and water changes, with a food grade bucket that I cleaned with vinegar prior to use.
I do a 20% water change weekly using Fritz RPM salt. My tank is a 24 gallon, and I'm running a single Kessil AP700 over it on barely 20% intensity max, ocean blue 4 setting (slightly more blue than white).
My phosphate and nitrate read at zero (obviously with all the overkill filtration and the algae absorbing it instantly), yet the algae and my corals continue to grow. My thoughts are that I probably have nitrate and phosphate leaching out of something in the tank, I just don't know what. The rock I'm using is well established Real Reef live rock, and the sand I'm using was brand new CaribSea Bahamas Oolite live sand when I set the tank up.
Not to mention I get hands-on in the tank to remove algae twice a week. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for me? I'm at a bit of a loss here.
