Calcium Problems/Brown Diatom Problems

[Khoranic]

Hello, i am new to these forums, i am having a little trouble raising my calcium levels. I'm new to the reef tank, all i have so far are some Green Star Polyps. All my tests seem to have come back correct besides a slightly high Carbonate Hardness. I am not able to get my Calcium level above the 320 ppm no matter how much liquid calcium supplement i add. I am also experiencing LARGE amounts of brown hair algae/brown diatoms.. do not know why. I have a 30 Gallon Tank with a 30" Coralife PC 65w Actinic & 65w 10,000k bulbs, i have cut the light down to 6 hours a day. I have both a Fluval 305 Canister & Emperor 400 Hang on back for filtration. My temperature is at a constant 76 degrees fareinheit. Two clown fish, Two damsels, an anemone and about 25 Hermit Crabs + 5 snails.

Here are my most recent test results.

PH - 8.4
Nitrate - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Phosphate - 0 ppm
Calcium - 320 ppm
Carbonate Hardness - 12 dKH/214.8 ppm
Alkalinity - Tested under normal coloration on Red Sea Kit
Salinity - 1.024

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks alot

[Parrothead]

A few more details are needed to help you out

Tank size in gallons
How long has it been set up
Do you have live rock and sand
Do you have a protein skimmer

Let us know.........

[Khoranic]

A few more details are needed to help you out

Tank size in gallons
How long has it been set up
Do you have live rock and sand
Do you have a protein skimmer

Let us know.........

30 gallon tank
Setup for two years
both live rock and live sand... not sure how many pounds of rock but my tank is filled.
I do not have a protein skimmer

[Parrothead]

Get a skimmer, that will more than likely solve quite a few of the issues you are dealing with

[Khoranic]

I just don't really understand why my calcium will not raise or why I'm having this algea problem.. there are no narrate silicate or phosphates for it to feed off of..

[Doodaa]

What is your magnesium level? Your Alkalinity (Calcium Hardness) is a little higher than normal. Magnesium, Alkalinity, and Calcium are all related. If one is out of whack, the others are hard to compensate. A general rule is magnesium should be about 3x the calcium level.

Your nitrates and phosphates are 0 because the algae is taking it all in. Parrot's right...a protein skimmer will help in this area.

[Khoranic]

What is your magnesium level? Your Alkalinity (Calcium Hardness) is a little higher than normal. Magnesium, Alkalinity, and Calcium are all related. If one is out of whack, the others are hard to compensate. A general rule is magnesium should be about 3x the calcium level.

Your nitrates and phosphates are 0 because the algae is taking it all in. Parrot's right...a protein skimmer will help in this area.

I'm not sure of my mag level.. I will test it tomorrow and get back to you guys with an answer

[MyNameIsJoe]

khoranic,

You ever get your calcium up and stable. How?

Just thought i'd ask. prolly not at forums anymore......