[The Fire]

Hi all, I'm new here but just have a question. My system is a FOWLR 55 gallon, a 3 stage bio wheel filter(no bio wheels to avoid high nitrates), a Super Skimmer, and store bought water becasue my tap water was not working out. It contains a pair of clowns, a yellow tang(a baby still), a pacific striped tang, (still little, both the tangs get along fine), and 4 blue/green chromis. I know the tangs will outgrow my system but I will get a bigger system when they start getting big. I only have about 12 pounds of liverock but I'm updating to a reef soon so I will add it then. My nitrates are only about 15 to 20ppm, The problem is that I constantly have to keep scrubbing alage off the glass. It is not brown alage, or hair alage, it is multi-colored. I think it is just from the liverock, I would think my nitrates are to low to be causing it, but I just wanted a second opinion. Help is greatly appreciated

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

A problem with measuring nitrates with algae present is that you aren't getting a good reading. The algae is consuming some of the nitrates in order to live. If you have algae AND you have measurable nitrates as you have, then you have a nitrate abundance because, not only is the nitrate there you measure, but there is additional nitrate being consumed (that you didn't measure) by the algae.

This post may provide some help: Nitrates - Origin & Controls

[returnofsid]

I totally agree with what Lee said...and would add that a nitrate reading of 15-20 isn't "only," it's actually pretty high. Way to high for a reef system. You want a reef system to have ZERO nitrates.

[Bianca]

Originally Posted by The Fire

Hi all, I'm new here but just have a question. My system is a FOWLR 55 gallon, a 3 stage bio wheel filter(no bio wheels to avoid high nitrates), a Super Skimmer, and store bought water becasue my tap water was not working out. It contains a pair of clowns, a yellow tang(a baby still), a pacific striped tang, (still little, both the tangs get along fine), and 4 blue/green chromis. I know the tangs will outgrow my system but I will get a bigger system when they start getting big. I only have about 12 pounds of liverock but I'm updating to a reef soon so I will add it then. My nitrates are only about 15 to 20ppm, The problem is that I constantly have to keep scrubbing alage off the glass. It is not brown alage, or hair alage, it is multi-colored. I think it is just from the liverock, I would think my nitrates are to low to be causing it, but I just wanted a second opinion. Help is greatly appreciated

I had same problem. I had lots algae but not green algae the super high phosphate brown algae.
The water in area I live is known for its 'magic" as far as houseplants,gardens go aka HIGH Phosphates .
I bought a cheap DI system that aquarium pharmaceutical makes .
Dripped cold water at less than 5 gallons per day in my big water storing plastic bale and worked great algae went away .
I mention this because I see you buy store bought water which I did to before I 'made" it at home.
The store bought water ranged from no phosphate to some phosphate same company .