Tank acking funny

bigkai · May 14, 2013

Ok my tank is acking all messed up I can't keep my alk above 7.5. the ph is 8.5 cal is 420 salt 1.025 temp 78.8 iv been running bio pellets for about 4 months now and I run gac and I'm haveing a major hair algae problem and starting to see some shrinking in some of my coral. I do a 10% water change every 2 weeks and change the gac monthly shoud I get rid of the bio pellets? or what?

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mike007 · May 14, 2013

What is your nitrate and phosphate readings? Most algae proplems are caused by high nitrates and high phosphates. Overfeeding most common cause.

bigkai · May 14, 2013

They read 0 and I stoped feeding 2 weeks ago

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bigkai · May 14, 2013

Anyone think it has to do with the bio pellets I added them thinking they would help out with algae control but not seen any real great inprovements in anything I think I'm going to take them off line tonight

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mike007 · May 14, 2013

If you have algae problems it is caused by excessive nutrients. You need to test your ro water and see if it contains phosphates. Bio pellets will not cause these problems. You have to figure out where the nutrients are coming from. Nutrients are fertilizers and feed the algae.

D_Reep1106 · May 14, 2013

Also the recent batches of Red Sea coral pro salt have been reported to cause hair algae my tank was started with Red Sea coral pro salt and I had hair algae like crazy. I switched to reef crystals and almost over night I Sara major change. Idk if this is what you use but it may be a helpful hint

mike007 · May 14, 2013

Redsea salt does not cause algae problems. Other issues are the cause.

bigkai · May 14, 2013

I might just do a big water change and hand pull as much algae as I can and do a black out for 5 to 7 days no light its just all ways scary doing that lol but it has worked for me in the past

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PsychedeliKoral · May 14, 2013

What are your MAG levels? Impossible to raise alk with low mag. Low mag can also be linked to the algae out break; im guessing low mag...test your levels 1300-1600ppm and watch your alk and cal stabilize. Increasing your water change volume and frequency might be enough to keep your params inline otherwise dosing mag will work. Keep an eye on your inverts but you should be fine uder 1600ppm.

PsychedeliKoral · May 14, 2013

Do a big water change(at least 20%) and test for mag. Lights out method is usually used when dealing w/diatoms or cyano and doesnt seem to have much effect with gha; however keeping your magnesium in line does.

D_Reep1106 · May 14, 2013

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/re...oral-pro-salt-causing-hair-algae-problem.html

I follow what I have researched and what i experienced when I used it for the first time. I had a diatom bloom and all my parameters settled out after my cycle. I've never had to deal with hair algae on any other of my tank setups until this one and the only difference is the salt. Same water same dry rock and dry sand the only difference is salt.

bigkai · May 14, 2013

I use brightwells mag the tank is a 120 tall with 10 g refug and 15 g sump whats the max I cam dose the mag at and oh ya I don't have any more mag test kits left I guess I need to pick one up

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bigkai · May 15, 2013

Think this might be the problem this a valve the was on the top off water be for the kalk reactor

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o2manyfish · May 15, 2013

That's a fitting that is oxidizing externally. The salty humid air near your equipment is causing that.

Unless that was above your sump and leaking into the sump that isn't the issue.

Dave B

cdness · May 15, 2013

If I remember correctly, when carbon dosing whether you are dosing sugar, vodka, or bio-pellets, you should keep your alk a little lower to avoid burning the tips of corals. The recommended is around 7 - 8 on carbon dosing where up to 10 - 11 if not dosing... Mine dropped from 10 to 7.5 over a few days after turning on the pellets and it will not go up from there.

jservedio · May 15, 2013

Even if N and P test at zero, it doesn't mean you don't have any. Algae uses up N and P very, very quickly - if you have bad algae, you have N and P problems. You need to find the source of it - if you aren't feeding it has to come from somewhere. My tap water is LOADED with phosphates - so if you don't test your RODI water, that could be a source of it. Are you using a TDS meter on your RODI water?

Also - test for copper. If you were using copper fittings anywhere that could be a problem. Did you test for ammonia or nitrite?

saskbowser · May 16, 2013

My tank is still fairly new, and I'm new to this hobby. I've been dealing with cyano this week. Noticed lots of red and bubbles forming together on the rocks. I knew it was cyano right away and have been vaccuming the hairs out every couple of days, toned down the feeding, DID NOT changed my light timers. 4 days has passed and there is less bubbles forming, only on 1 rock left, some hair algae sticking out, but I will be vaccuming and do my first WC since the bloom.

I was expecting it all over my tank once it started, but I'm confident it is going to go away.