[CAreefer]

Posted previously regarding a brown clump/hair algae problem. Received Phosphate, Silicate and Nitrate (Salifert) kits today and all test were zilch. All 3 were absolutely clear with no color change whatsoever. PH has been running 8.0 at night and 8.25 at end of photo period. MH bulbs are less than 6 months old and on Ice Cap ballasts. But the brown algae continues to flourish. PH of reactor effluent is 6.6. I would like to test the effluent to see if minute traces of phos. are being released by the media, however, the test kits say if alk is 20 meq/l test will be inaccurate. effluent is over 30. Any suggestions as to what could be causing the algae problem?

TIA
Marshal

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[clown-t]

what kind of water are you using,tap,ro,ro/di water. are you using a bunch of additives?

[CAreefer]

Thanks for the reply, I am using a kent mixima 60 hi- s unit with an additional Hi-S di unit. I use no additives and feed sparingly, frozen prime reef, reef strog, mysis and brine shrimp. about every 2 weeks a pinch of the formula 1 or 2 flake. Oh, and 3 drops lugol's solution once a week, but problem was there prior to.

Thanks
Marshal

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[Neal359]

i am having the sam eproblem i have perchesed some emerald crabs to help with it (and all my numbers are good)

[tendar]

We are having the same problem at the LFS in one of our reef systems.Debating and just pulling out the sand in the tank since it is only maybe a 1" deep. We are having problems with our ro/di unit which could be the problem. We are getting the ro/di fixed tomorow.

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[naser]

everyone should try a low level test kit for either nitrate or phosphate. not sure about the phos though? i know i had the same problem and i got a low level test kit and there she blew!!!! everything was 0 before witha standard tester@

[Doug1]

If you have an algae bloom, you have high levels of nutrients. In spite of the test results saying low to no readings, the algae has bound up the nutrients in their cells. If they arent present you wont get growth like that
If your RO/DI is working well and you feed sparingly perhaps you have nutrient release from live rock, how old is this tank?


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[naser]

before i upgraded to a better skimmer. i had low to zero nitrates and phosphates. still had alge. the fact is that alge need nutrients to grow. switch to flake food the frozen kind usaully release all kinds of muck from the water they are frozen in.

[clown-t]

sounds like it's time for a refugium to supple your nutrients to your refugiums algae instead of your tanks algae.

[CAreefer]

I do have a refugium on my current set-up. However, I do agree I need a better skimmer. According to the instruction sheet, I can use the salifert kit at a lower res. will try and see if something different shows up. Thanks for all the info.

Keep Reefin
Marshal

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[cwa46]

CAreefer,

You said you had a refugium. Is there macro algae growing in it and how much. If you have an effective export system, your problem will eventually go away.