Sand turns green everytime

[Dom]

Based on the pictures, I'd speculate that this tank may be suffering from a lack of nutrient export. We accomplish nutrient export by:

1. Water Changes: FAITHFUL, weekly 20% water changes go a long way in getting excessive nutrients out of the tank. In your case (180 gallon tank), that would be a faithful 36 gallon water change weekly.
   • How often do you do water changes?
   • How large are your water changes?
   • Are you using RODI water?
2. Refugium: This is an area of your sump (or perhaps a hang on back accessory) where conditions are such that macro algae is encouraged to grow. The theory being that if we create conditions in the refugium which promote algae growth, there will be little nutrient left in the water for algae to grow anywhere else.

Dom.

 

[roggy23]

Is this tank at or near a window?

Are you using tap water from the faucet or RODI water ?

REDUCE WHITE LIGHT INTENSITY AND SCHEDULE

Not near window...
Rodi white lights and reds at 0

 

[roggy23]

Based on the pictures, I'd speculate that this tank may be suffering from a lack of nutrient export. We accomplish nutrient export by:

1. Water Changes: FAITHFUL, weekly 20% water changes go a long way in getting excessive nutrients out of the tank. In your case (180 gallon tank), that would be a faithful 36 gallon water change weekly.
   • How often do you do water changes?
   • How large are your water changes?
   • Are you using RODI water?
2. Refugium: This is an area of your sump (or perhaps a hang on back accessory) where conditions are such that macro algae is encouraged to grow. The theory being that if we create conditions in the refugium which promote algae growth, there will be little nutrient left in the water for algae to grow anywhere else.

Dom.

Thanks..I do 10 gallon water changes weekly..I just added a phytotank chaeto reactor lights running 10pm to 6am

 

[roggy23]

Even worse....its harboring nirates too.
Rinse the used sand and the new sand til it all comes out clear.

This tank needs a ripclean....nothing else.

Thanks will do

 

[Reef.]

I don’t think a cuc is the answer here, unless they hold a “who can eat the most in a day” competition every day for a week.

Looks like your po4 is higher than you think.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not near window...
Rodi white lights and reds at 0

Ahhh- red- there’s the issue
Red promotes algae and supports algae hence its use for growing charro and in algae scrubbers

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not near window...
Rodi white lights and reds at 0

If you mean not using red- good
Whites lights only- you’ll have to reduce run time of hours per day
What light is this? Addition of blue strip or different lighting may be warranted

 

[roggy23]

If you mean not using red- good
Whites lights only- you’ll have to reduce run time of hours per day
What light is this? Addition of blue strip or different lighting may be warranted

4 ai primes Mainly blue and uv lights on. 12pm to 3 ramp up 3 to 8 peak 8 to 10 ramp down. I'll send out my ai prime schedule light settings when home

 

[Dom]

Thanks..I do 10 gallon water changes weekly..I just added a phytotank chaeto reactor lights running 10pm to 6am

Yes... I feel your weekly water change is too small.

Your doing approximately a 9% water change weekly, which is small for a 180 gallon tank.

I would suggest doubling your weekly water change to 20 gallons weekly. Over the next month, that will be 4 water changes.

After 1 month (4 water changes), see if there is any improvement. I'd guess that you will see a noticeable improvement.

Dom

 

[Dom]

If you mean not using red- good
Whites lights only- you’ll have to reduce run time of hours per day
What light is this? Addition of blue strip or different lighting may be warranted

So a weekly 10 gallon water changes is ok for a tank this size?

 

[roggy23]

Yes... I feel your weekly water change is too small.

Your doing approximately a 9% water change weekly, which is small for a 180 gallon tank.

I would suggest doubling your weekly water change to 20 gallons weekly. Over the next month, that will be 4 water changes.

After 1 month (4 water changes), see if there is any improvement. I'd guess that you will see a noticeable improvement.

Dom

Ok