[GoinSalt]

I didn't know where else to put this post.

I currently have a 100g FOWLR but an going to be turning it into a reef tank but I want to make sure i have everything in order first.
pH 8.0
Am 0
Trite 0
Trate 20

I recently upgraded my lighting to 480 watts of VHO -- two act, 2 10k. The increased lighting seems to have caused an algae bloom outbreak. I get brown algae on the sand and am starting to see some cyno as well. Did have some hair algae but got a yellow tang and he cleaned it right up.

I currently am not using RO/DI but plan to get a unit shortly. Will this solve my algae problem? I've read that fighting conches will eat the algae on the san but the LFS told me that they would also eat my snails. True?

I'm also guessing that by getting the RO/DI it will drop my trates down to the zero area I need to successfully keep corals. Is this a safe assumption?

Anyway, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Nate

[Samper]

It sounds to me like you haven't had this system setup very long. The diatom bloom which is the brown algae is normal and should go away with time. The cyano is always present but can be controlled with more flow. RO/DI water will help but regardless you're gonna have to go through various stages. RO/DI water isn't what keeps your nitrates at 0 but it's the best start we can give our water since it's so pure. Good mechanical filtration such as a skimmer will help remove particles before they start to break down....a refugium with macroalgae will also aid you as will water changes/siphoning detritus.

I don't know about the conch question.

[GoinSalt]

Actually, the system's been set up for ... let's see ... I had it set up for 8 moths before it crashed over Xmas. I restarted it in January so it's been about six months since the restart. I didn't have a problem with all the algae until I put up the new vho lights.

The brown algae on the sand doesn't look like diatoms, but maybe it is. I have a remora pro skimmer, do 15 percent water changes every week. I do use a wet/dry filter (I know, I know) but my trates aren't that bad for a FOWLR. They've consistently been at 20 or less for the last couple of months.

I don't think I overfeed. I alternate between flake and mysis, but sometimes I feed only once a day because I get home from work so late at night. I currently have a coral beauty, a yellow tang, bar goby, cinnamon clown and a couple of chromis -- pretty light bioload for 100g, I believe.

Also have about 20 astrea snails and 20 nassarius. I know I should have about 1/gal. If I beef up my clean up crew, would it help with the algae?

Any other suggestions Reeflanders?

Nate

[Reefland]

I think RO/DI water will be beneficial to your system and may help reduce the aglae. Mainly, I think your system will just have to get used to the new lighting and fight off the algae blooms from them.

[Poseidon]

Yup new lights almost always bring more algae! I would say try and ride it out and see what happens! As far as the Conch goes Strombus Alatus DO NOT EAT SNAILS! However crown Whelks do! They can look very similar, as a matter of fact there was a thread not long ago that had some confusion in it about Conch or Whelk for sale!