The cause of algae outbreak

[BlueWorldJeff]

I've been battling algae on my sand bed and rocks since i think my tank went through a mini-cycle about 2 months ago when I was vacuuming my sand bed during water changes. I do water changes every other week and do about 30 gallons and now, just vacuum the algae off the surface of the sandbed. My tank is 180 + 30 for sump. Looks like cyano, diatoms and everything else that could grow, is

Please don't mind the dirty glass, haven't cleaned it this week. This is from about 2 weeks without a water change:




I've also been chasing better water parameters as well. I want to get my Alk down under 8 to about 7.5-8 and get my calcium up to 420 and magnesium around 1350+. Alk had reached almost 9 before I started cutting my dosing.

I've dropped my alk dosing and my alk now registers about 7.7, but I havent been able to raise my calcium or magnesium. They stay at 370 and 1200 respectively. I have been raising the drip on the calcium as well as dumping cups of calcium 2 part and magnesium 2 part in at a time.

Could the algae be related to the low calcium and magnesium? I keep my phosphates under .10, closer to 0.0-0.4 and nitrates stay at 2 ppm.

[kissman]

Nitrates and phosphates are higher than what you are seeing in tests. The algae is consuming some of them


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[BlueWorldJeff]

I use 1/2 cup of GFO in a TLF150 reactor and a AM250 Skimmer, but I do feed heavy

[CAPT_Dave]

You might look into Carbon Dosing. Tons of info on RC and a very good article on Reefkeeping.com on benefits and getting started safely.

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[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by CAPT_Dave

You might look into Carbon Dosing. Tons of info on RC and a very good article on Reefkeeping.com on benefits and getting started safely.

He seems to be already maintaining a low nutrient environment..sufficient/hard working bacteria is already there..
Phosphates are a bit high though so upping the GFO/replacing it sooner to get them down in the .03ppm area might not be a bad idea..

But the "sand stir" he did can bring stuff up and cause an issue like this that should pass with time. (not sure of age of tank)
Pretty trippy looking though..

But yes.. needs to get that mag up some (not that its tied to the algae issues)

[CAPT_Dave]

+1 on the trippy looking tank. Makes me think of those African Boabab Trees, aka Tree of Life. Very cool.

Perhaps patience. I'm not very good at that myself but I keep reading about successful reef keepers who are....

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[BlueWorldJeff]

My phosphates tested at 0 with a Hanna on monday. could be higher if algae is consuming it. tank was established in September with dry sand and established live rock.

I did add live rock in December, but made sure to cure it for more than one month

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[BlueWorldJeff]

should I take plastic tubing and siphon the slime algae out into a filter sock?

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[ajoe]

You might consider cutting back on the white light a bit. What lights are you running?

[BlueWorldJeff]

I use rapid led onyx lights, 3 channels. I'll turn white down but it's only at 60% max during the day

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[BlueWorldJeff]

could direct sunlight be a factor? my wife works in the room with the tank and has the window blinds open. this time of year the sun hits the tank from like 8-11am

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[ajoe]

Originally Posted by BlueWorldJeff

could direct sunlight be a factor? my wife works in the room with the tank and has the window blinds open. this time of year the sun hits the tank from like 8-11am

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It certainly isn't helping your situation. I would consider dropping the intensity of the whites down a bit and try to limit any ambiant light coming into the room. Algae loves light and controlling that is your best tool to controlling it.

[Timfish]

If your system was started last September you're still in the maturing process. I would not be using anything to get rid of phosphates (average on reefs is .13 mg/l) and doing small weekly water changes focusing on siphoning out the cyano and top layer of sand. The sand I would rinse and return to the tank.

[BlueWorldJeff]

I think I am
going to try the patience route first. get my parameters in line, 420 CA, 8 stable alk, 1400 mag, .10 or less PO4 and 10 or less NO3. I'll suction the algae off the sandbed with water change every other week and see what happens.

My seneye is saying I have high ph, like 8.5 at night. is tg as t from the algae and photosynthesis?

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[BlueWorldJeff]

if my calcium is at 380 and alk at 7.8 and mag at 1200, cou k d I raise my ca and mag all in one dose? like 4 cups calcium 2 part and mag 2 part?

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[BlueWorldJeff]

Originally Posted by BlueWorldJeff

if my calcium is at 380 and alk at 7.8 and mag at 1200, cou k d I raise my ca and mag all in one dose? like 4 cups calcium 2 part and mag 2 part?

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or should I just do a massive water change?

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