Nuisance Alge

[nick003]

Before posting, I searched the site for answers related to dealing with nuisance alge. There was a three part article which I found very informative but I wanted to discuss this problem as it relates to my aquarium.

I'm running a 20gal nano reef with a 5gal sump. Taking into consideration substrate and live rock, I'm estimating the total water volume to be about 22gal. The tank has been up and running 2 years this month. It contains 1 colt coral, 1 tomato clown and one damsel. I'm reluctant to add anything else as I don't feel the water chemistry is ready for more inhabitants.

The display tank and overflow box are the trouble areas of the tank.

I do a 5gal water change once per week using a 4 stage RO/DI filter. I can tell you that Nitrates read ZERO. I used to think this was a good thing until reading the three part article on this subject. Now I realize the reason for the ZERO reading may be because the nitrates may be the source of nutrition.

I believe that a big source of the problem may be the protein skimmer. It just doesn't produce enough airation for a good foam; and that is after I added a wood air stone to increase the amount of foam.

I'd like to set up a 70-90gal reef but not until I am able to corect this problem in the smaller tank. I'd hate to set up a larger tank only to run into this problem again.

Guidance please?

Thank you in advance.

Nick

[Reefing Madness]

First off, what your looking for in your RO/DI water is TDS of 0 (Total Dissolved Solids), you should get a TDS inline meter, not expensive. You may not read Nitrates in the new water but, have you read for phosphates? Second, what kind of CUC (clean up crew) do you have in the tank? How old are your lights? Do you over feed the tank? All these can contribute to your issue.

[nick003]

I have a TDS meter and can test RO/DI water by taking a sample as it is not an in-line meter. Out of the tap, I recall a number of 27. I'll have to check out of the RO/DI. I never checked out of the filter as it is new (maybe produced 50 gallons since I got it). I can't give you an exact number on the phosphates, but I can tell you that they have been within "acceptable limits" according to the results card. My clean up crew consists of about a half-dozen turbo snails, 2 snails that bury themselves in the sand and anbout 4 crabs.

Over-feeding is one of the first things I considered. I feed 1/4 cube of frozen brine shrimp (thawed in water) at most, once ever other day. sometimes, I will substitute flake food. I don't believe over-feeding is the problem.

I did notice that my protein skimmer doesn't seem to be producing foam lately. At one time, it worked well after the break-in but not anymore. I don't know if there is something wrong or if DOCs are very low.

[Reefing Madness]

No such thing as acceptable phosphate reading. If its not 0 then you can get an algae problem. If your not running a DI canister as your last stage with the RO, then its possible there is you rproblem. Also, there is such a thing a clean water algae, its called Bryopsis. And i would stop substituting flake food, that stuff is horrible for fish. Try Mysis Shrimp and or Squid chunks, these are much better.
What kind of skimmer are we talking about? Have you takin it apart and cleaned it up? Most times, the air intake line is clogged with salt creep and just need to be cleared out.