Scribe
Active Member
Ok, so I've been battling algae problems of different types throughout my mixed reef experience over the years, but now I'm fighting all kinds at once, and I'm tempted to bring in some chemicals reinforcments, but I've always been of the belief that it's better to battle it naturally. So I've got some Valonia, Hair Alage in the sump, turf algae on one rock, and either cyano or dino's on the sand. The Tang seems to like the turf algae and the valonia is minor....long since learned my lesson about messing with it too much. Anyway all my chemicals seem to be in check. The only algae that is really bothering me is the cyano/dino's....not sure which it is to be honest. It's like a reddish brown, that gets stringy and has air bubbles in it....or what look like air bubbles.
I thought the water movement might have been a problem so I took off my Tunze 6060 which was breaking down, and added the MP20 and the Hydor at opposite ends of the tank. The MP20 is making tons of movement, so I don't think this is the problem. I've been doing bi-weekly water changes with RO/DI, but have since read about cyano/dino's thriving on nutrients, and water changes will only feed the cyano. Last night I vaccumend up most of it off the sand bed through a filter sock into the sump, and since bleached the filter bag, so it's ready when it's time to do again...hoping that isn't tonight, but most likely will be or tomorrow. I'm trying to raise my ph slowly by adding kalk to my top off, as well as cut down on feeding. I don't think my lights are on that long really, but I'm probably going to scale them back as well. As far as lights go the bulbs are all under 6 months old. I did add 10lbs of live sand to the front of the tank where the new wavemaker and powerhead blew it clean. RO/DI unit is only about 6 months old. Ordering a TDS meeter so I can keep check on that.
Any thoughts on what I can be doing to fight this battle royale of Algae? Like I said I'm only real concerned about the cyano/dino. I'll try to get some pictures up if that will help. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Salinity 1.025
Ph 8.0
Phosphates 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates (test kit comes tomorrow)
Calcium 450
Mg 1350
KH - 7.0
Alk 2.51
Temp - 82 -83.5 - no chiller
It's a 90 gallon tank with a 40 gallon sump. Set for about 10 years
Lights 2x 250w MH - on from 5pm-12am - 2 xT5 Actinics on from 4:30 pm - 12:30 am
Protein Skimmer ASM G1X
Mag 9 return from sump
Hydor Koralia (sp) 1500
MP 20
inhabitants
Yellow Tang
3 blue green chromis
yellow headed goby
Snails (Turbo, Cerith, Astrea, Nassarius, Banded Trochus)
Shrimp (2 or 3 peppermint shrimp)
I thought the water movement might have been a problem so I took off my Tunze 6060 which was breaking down, and added the MP20 and the Hydor at opposite ends of the tank. The MP20 is making tons of movement, so I don't think this is the problem. I've been doing bi-weekly water changes with RO/DI, but have since read about cyano/dino's thriving on nutrients, and water changes will only feed the cyano. Last night I vaccumend up most of it off the sand bed through a filter sock into the sump, and since bleached the filter bag, so it's ready when it's time to do again...hoping that isn't tonight, but most likely will be or tomorrow. I'm trying to raise my ph slowly by adding kalk to my top off, as well as cut down on feeding. I don't think my lights are on that long really, but I'm probably going to scale them back as well. As far as lights go the bulbs are all under 6 months old. I did add 10lbs of live sand to the front of the tank where the new wavemaker and powerhead blew it clean. RO/DI unit is only about 6 months old. Ordering a TDS meeter so I can keep check on that.
Any thoughts on what I can be doing to fight this battle royale of Algae? Like I said I'm only real concerned about the cyano/dino. I'll try to get some pictures up if that will help. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Salinity 1.025
Ph 8.0
Phosphates 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates (test kit comes tomorrow)
Calcium 450
Mg 1350
KH - 7.0
Alk 2.51
Temp - 82 -83.5 - no chiller
It's a 90 gallon tank with a 40 gallon sump. Set for about 10 years
Lights 2x 250w MH - on from 5pm-12am - 2 xT5 Actinics on from 4:30 pm - 12:30 am
Protein Skimmer ASM G1X
Mag 9 return from sump
Hydor Koralia (sp) 1500
MP 20
inhabitants
Yellow Tang
3 blue green chromis
yellow headed goby
Snails (Turbo, Cerith, Astrea, Nassarius, Banded Trochus)
Shrimp (2 or 3 peppermint shrimp)
