Ok, I'm feelin better tonight. So concerning this cursed HA on the rock. I just scrubbed it off real good,rinsed in new seawater & applied some peroxide with a turkey baster to the affected areas . they are soaking in another barrel of new water . I'll put them back in tomorrow. As for "why" the algae is popping up? I think, it's from Po4 leaching from some of this old rock & live sand. Even some new dry base is showing a few small patches. There is also a lot of tiny patches growing on the back glass! I don't dare scrub it off . All those tiny sprouts would just float around and spread all over the tank. So I gotta kill it where it's at. I'm surprised how little light this stuff needs. The back glass is covered with plastic cardboard stuff .( like a big budweiser sign Ya see at the store. I cut it to fit and painted it black ) . Zero light getting in from that direction. Very little light getting in from the front. It's like twilight at that end of the family room. I realize the tank is still young and will go thru it's phases however I "must" keep this Ha from getting a foothold. I believe that the anaerobic bacteria that lives in the rock has to change the the nutrients floating around in the water before it can eat it and grow. While the algae can just take it in as is. So it can grow much faster and take over . If I don't get a handle on this now ,I'll always have algae problems. I do run 2 lights at opposite ends for 2 hours a day . I plan to cut lights on to just 1 hour a day. so I can see in there at least and get some snails . Last test on the 23rd showed No3 at 5 Po4 at zero .
Thanks for following along. All OP's are welcome !
On a side note, after installing the T5 fixture over the 75,the corals have responded very well however even though I can't find any No3 or Po4, the Ha is overrunning the sand bed. so it's coming out ! I've never run a bare bottom . Why not give a try?
