Will a GFO reactor keep red slime algae from returning?

[FugeTown]

I drain mine into the washer and we using the waste water for laundry. About 6 gallons of filtered water will have enough waist for a full load of laundry Now if one has a front loader, that would be a different story on the amount of waste per load.

Go figure I have a front loader HE washer lol but that's a good idea to use the water so your not wasting water.

 

[jsker]

Just checked out your thread wow your tank looked far worse than mine did I only had some cyanno on the sandbed not on my rocks, I do feed my corals coral frenzy which is loaded with phosphates and I'm going to continue to use it thus another reason I thought the gfo might be a good option for me , but a very light use of it. Here's a pic of my tank check it out doesn't look that dirty.you can see the little bit of cyanno left on the sandbed but maybe I could blast my rocks with the powerheads like the other guy recommended cause they do have some detritus on them but my snails help some.

I feed heavy and run GFO, I tested yesterday and had 0 phosphates and tested low on my alk. I am going to retest today to make sure were I am at.

 

[jsker]

Go figure I have a front loader HE washer lol

LOL , you can still use the waste for wishing, fill toilets for flushing

 

[FugeTown]

I feed heavy and run GFO, I tested yesterday and had 0 phosphates and tested low on my alk. I am going to retest today to make sure were I am at.

Nice , I'm actually not running any media filter at all only a protein skimmer I used to use a canister filter but changing each compartment was a big hassle for me, but I do have a sufficient amount of live rock for a 40 gallon breeder that's probably clogged with detritus and I'm sure could help a lot if it was more porous

 

[jsker]

It will take a bit, but do a daily clean of the skimmer and what ever else type if filter and you will notice a big difference.

 

[Peter K]

Yea I'm guilty of not cleaning my skimmer housing enough, the reason I'm not a big fan of ro water is it's a big waste of water 1 to 4 ratio I can't let that much go down the drain. I'll check out your thread though.

Fugetown do you own your own RO/DI unit? (Adding a second membrane can really cut down waste - we are at roughly 1:1 in terms of waste water to product water right now)

 

[250mixreef]

I've always used gfo to control po4 and always battled cyano. I stopped using it for about a year and went the whole time with out a trace of cyano even with elevated po4 .I decide to start using rowa due to a lot of algae on the glass and some sprouts of GHA and 2 weeks later I was dealing with cyano again. Maybe just a coincidence but I think the added iron in gfo fuels cyano

 

[FugeTown]

Fugetown do you own your own RO/DI unit? (Adding a second membrane can really cut down waste - we are at roughly 1:1 in terms of waste water to product water right now)

No I don't own a ro unit I use bottled distilled water for top offs probably one water change a month. I live in an apartment and don't feel like plumbing a unit in and have to remove it when I leave.

 

[FugeTown]

I've always used gfo to control po4 and always battled cyano. I stopped using it for about a year and went the whole time with out a trace of cyano even with elevated po4 .I decide to start using rowa due to a lot of algae on the glass and some sprouts of GHA and 2 weeks later I was dealing with cyano again. Maybe just a coincidence but I think the added iron in gfo fuels cyano

Iron is a trace element used by corals I guess too much of it would obviously be a bad thing hence the word trace

 

[FugeTown]

It will take a bit, but do a daily clean of the skimmer and what ever else type if filter and you will notice a big difference.

You don't think a daily skimmer cleaning is overkill ?

 

[jsker]

You don't think a daily skimmer cleaning is overkill ?

Not at all, this will get all the waste nutrients out that the cyano is feeding on.

 

[bgoldb]

A UV sterilizer has worked very well for me and should be considered. I am actually surprised that more people don't sing its praises. It addresses algae and bacteria and I am not sure of the downside other than killing copepods which is probably not the main source of food for your fish or corals anyway.

 

[FugeTown]

A UV sterilizer has worked very well for me and should be considered. I am actually surprised that more people don't sing its praises. It addresses algae and bacteria and I am not sure of the downside other than killing copepods which is probably not the main source of food for your fish or corals anyway.

Thank you I'll check those out sounds like a good way to keep it from coming back

 

[bgoldb]

Just make sure you are using 0 TDS RODI water as well for your water changes and ATO.

 

[JoshH]

You did say earlier that you had good success fighting it off with a refugium. Maybe a HOB refugium from CPR would be worth trying? or an algae reactor of some kind.

 

[FugeTown]

You did say earlier that you had good success fighting it off with a refugium. Maybe a HOB refugium from CPR would be worth trying? or an algae reactor of some kind.

You know that "algae reactor" diy project that works like a fuge with chaeto algae might be a perfect option for me as a nutrient export.

 

[JoshH]

You know that "algae reactor" diy project that works like a fuge with chaeto algae might be a perfect option for me as a nutrient export.

I was thinking the same thing, they are pretty inexpensive and are proven to grow chaeto well.

 

[Fragzilla]

From my experience Cyanobacteria only comes about after a major change in the macro nutrient profile.

Another factor people need to think of when assessing the Cyanobacteria is if it is even cyano they are seeing as dinoflagilates look very similar but indicate the opposite problem, phos too low.

From 4 years observation I see red cyano when phos is up and nitrates are down, and I see green cyano when phos is low and nitrates are up. I've only had problems with corals, zoas in particular from the red cyano, the green stuff doesn't seem to cause much issue other than it looking a bit too green in my tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A UV sterilizer has worked very well for me and should be considered. I am actually surprised that more people don't sing its praises. It addresses algae and bacteria and I am not sure of the downside other than killing copepods which is probably not the main source of food for your fish or corals anyway.

Downside is a killing of bacteria int eh water column, which otherwise might be skimmed out whole before spilling their guts, or provide food for filter feeders.

Lack of upside is a UV typically doesn't solve an algae problem because the algae isn't passing through the UV.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

From my experience Cyanobacteria only comes about after a major change in the macro nutrient profile.

What does the term "macro nutrient profile" mean to you?