Hair Algae and Culligan Filter PLEASE HELP LOSING MY MIND!!!!!!!

janderson8 · 07/09/2006, 08:08 PM

About 3 Month ago I made the switch from LFS water to a Culligan system just for my fish tank. I am using a mixed bead filter and a carbon filter. About 2 weeks after the switch I got my first hair algae ever in a year old system.

The water comming out of the filter reads 000 on a TDS and 0 for Phosphates and nitrates.

My question is, is there any thing else in the culligan water that can be feeding the algae if it reads 0 across the board???

PH 8.15
SG 1.025
NITRATE < 10ppm
PHOSPHATES 0
NITRITES 0
Calc 435
DkH 6-7

I have a fuge and I have macro in the fuge.

xtrstangx · 07/09/2006, 08:11 PM

If you have 0 TDS coming out, then you pure H20, nothing else.

Have you recalibrated your TDS meter ever? If that carbon filter is the last thing on the system, then it adds TDS back to the water.

janderson8 · 07/09/2006, 08:26 PM

No I have not recalabrated. My water prior to going through the culigan system is 189 ppm and when it comes out it is 0. So what is feeding my HA???

outy · 07/09/2006, 08:28 PM

the 10ppm nitrates

janderson8 · 07/09/2006, 08:41 PM

So that is enough to feed it?

physicslord · 07/09/2006, 10:25 PM

Yeah, 10ppm is enough. I suspect silicates or something else too.

outy · 07/10/2006, 12:08 AM

is the culligan a total ro/di? its funny how it happens within 2 weeks of the new filter system.

janderson8 · 07/10/2006, 05:42 AM

That is what has me totaly baffeled!!! IS I never had a spot tell I changed. It is not the RO DI system it is what they called a mixed bed filter the culligan manager said it would be even better than the system the LFS uses. Is there any other way to test for the silicates too?????

Thanks every one for your help

outy · 07/10/2006, 11:03 AM

if silcates that cause diatoms [brown algea] are getting through so is allot of other bad junk besides.

the culligan guy is a salesman and doesnt know what hes talking about when it comes to reef tanks

drinking water is one thing, the stuff at the LFS is labratory
grade pure water

get a good ro/di unit at purleyh2o and a tds meter should be under 200 for both and use the culligan for drinking water.

remember ro/di is so pure you really dont want to drink it

07/09/2006, 08:08 PM	#1
janderson8 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 949	Hair Algae and Culligan Filter PLEASE HELP LOSING MY MIND!!!!!!! About 3 Month ago I made the switch from LFS water to a Culligan system just for my fish tank. I am using a mixed bead filter and a carbon filter. About 2 weeks after the switch I got my first hair algae ever in a year old system. The water comming out of the filter reads 000 on a TDS and 0 for Phosphates and nitrates. My question is, is there any thing else in the culligan water that can be feeding the algae if it reads 0 across the board??? PH 8.15 SG 1.025 NITRATE < 10ppm PHOSPHATES 0 NITRITES 0 Calc 435 DkH 6-7 I have a fuge and I have macro in the fuge.

07/09/2006, 10:25 PM	#6
physicslord Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Santa Cruz Posts: 469	Yeah, 10ppm is enough. I suspect silicates or something else too. __________________ a border collie is my pilot animal Current Tank Info: 12 gal. JBJ nanoDX, BB, 2x24W PC lighting, JBJ ballast, Maxijet 400 powerhead, Hagen Tronic 100W heater, Red Sea 60 skimmer with Hagen Elite 802 pump.

07/09/2006, 08:11 PM	#2
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	If you have 0 TDS coming out, then you pure H20, nothing else. Have you recalibrated your TDS meter ever? If that carbon filter is the last thing on the system, then it adds TDS back to the water.

07/09/2006, 08:26 PM	#3
janderson8 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 949	No I have not recalabrated. My water prior to going through the culigan system is 189 ppm and when it comes out it is 0. So what is feeding my HA???

07/09/2006, 08:28 PM	#4
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	the 10ppm nitrates

07/09/2006, 08:41 PM	#5
janderson8 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 949	So that is enough to feed it?

07/10/2006, 12:08 AM	#7
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	is the culligan a total ro/di? its funny how it happens within 2 weeks of the new filter system.

07/10/2006, 05:42 AM	#8
janderson8 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 949	That is what has me totaly baffeled!!! IS I never had a spot tell I changed. It is not the RO DI system it is what they called a mixed bed filter the culligan manager said it would be even better than the system the LFS uses. Is there any other way to test for the silicates too????? Thanks every one for your help

07/10/2006, 11:03 AM	#9
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	if silcates that cause diatoms [brown algea] are getting through so is allot of other bad junk besides. the culligan guy is a salesman and doesnt know what hes talking about when it comes to reef tanks drinking water is one thing, the stuff at the LFS is labratory grade pure water get a good ro/di unit at purleyh2o and a tds meter should be under 200 for both and use the culligan for drinking water. remember ro/di is so pure you really dont want to drink it