Red algae: out of control

nabee24 · 01/18/2008, 11:42 AM

My tank has been established for 2+ years and for about a month now, I have been battling red algae. My lights are on for 9 hours, I feed twice daily, do 5-10 gal weekly water changes with ro/di water. My lights are new. I tested my water levels and my nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, phosphate are all at 0. I siphon most of it that covers that rocks and sand bed. Tank is not near windows. I have to admit, there are detritus materials underneath the red algae, how do I get them out? Any advice? I was told that I can't mix through the sand bed when I am doing water changes.

The_Browns · 01/18/2008, 11:53 AM

Phosban Reactor

bigmatt · 01/18/2008, 12:03 PM

Get a pair of aquagloves, do not place your bare hands in the tank. Increase flow, change a good amount of water, siphon out the algae and also siphon the first 1/2 to 1 inch of the sandbed along with running a phosban reactor

Hal · 01/18/2008, 12:14 PM

What is your flow? By red algae I assume you mean cyanobacteria. It thrives under low flow.

Phosban will remove the nutrients it needs too.

nabee24 · 01/18/2008, 12:17 PM

I have a bag with phosguard and matrix carbon. The bag is placed in sump with highest waterflow. Should I still get the phosban reactor?

I have 2 mj mods already, so I should get another one?

01/18/2008, 11:42 AM	#1
nabee24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 21	Red algae: out of control My tank has been established for 2+ years and for about a month now, I have been battling red algae. My lights are on for 9 hours, I feed twice daily, do 5-10 gal weekly water changes with ro/di water. My lights are new. I tested my water levels and my nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, phosphate are all at 0. I siphon most of it that covers that rocks and sand bed. Tank is not near windows. I have to admit, there are detritus materials underneath the red algae, how do I get them out? Any advice? I was told that I can't mix through the sand bed when I am doing water changes. __________________ 90g, 15 gal sump. 1 MJ MOD, 1 vortech pump. 90lbs of LR. EuroReef RS80. 4 Giesemann 54W T5. Damsel, hawk, clown, hippo, lemon peel, midas blenny, 6 line wrasse, clean up crew, SPS, zoas, mushroom

01/18/2008, 11:53 AM	#2
The_Browns Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 1,046	Phosban Reactor __________________ Mike & Jenn Current Tank Info: 120g DT and 35g frag tank

01/18/2008, 12:14 PM	#4
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	What is your flow? By red algae I assume you mean cyanobacteria. It thrives under low flow. Phosban will remove the nutrients it needs too. __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL

01/18/2008, 12:17 PM	#5
nabee24 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 21	I have a bag with phosguard and matrix carbon. The bag is placed in sump with highest waterflow. Should I still get the phosban reactor? I have 2 mj mods already, so I should get another one? __________________ 90g, 15 gal sump. 1 MJ MOD, 1 vortech pump. 90lbs of LR. EuroReef RS80. 4 Giesemann 54W T5. Damsel, hawk, clown, hippo, lemon peel, midas blenny, 6 line wrasse, clean up crew, SPS, zoas, mushroom

01/18/2008, 12:03 PM	#3
bigmatt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 193	Get a pair of aquagloves, do not place your bare hands in the tank. Increase flow, change a good amount of water, siphon out the algae and also siphon the first 1/2 to 1 inch of the sandbed along with running a phosban reactor