Rust color on my sand

[Dave12678]

Hey guys I have some rust color algea that popped back on my sand. I haven't had this for 8 months and it came back. The tank has been setup for over a year, I use only ro water and have cut my feeding in half over the past 3-4 months to lower my nitrates, which are less then 10 now. I got some phos-zorb but didn't want to use it just yet, I have cheato and some sensitive coral I don't want to risk it. I don't know what to do at this point I increased my flow to 1450 gph and the tank is a 54g corner. I have to flow coming from the back corner into the front of the tank where the rust looking algae is, so I am pretty sure it isn't flow. Is there anything I can do to stop this or could I use the phos-zorb with cheato and sensitive coral? Any input will help

Thanks
Dave

[HammerDude33]

i don't know about phos-zorb, but phos-ban is safe to inhabitants. all it does is absorb phosphates.
dave, when was the last time you changed your bulbs? if they are a year old, that might be part, or all of the problem.

[rbursek]

What is your Phospate levels?

[Aquarist007]

You increased the flow but is the pattern helpful to the filtration system
Flow should be pushed downward and across the substrate where it picks up organic laden water and then rise to the surface of your tank towards the overflow or skimmer

Once a week take a turkey baster to the rock and substrate to get all the organics etc back into the water column where with the better flow you have they will be carried to the overflow or skimmer

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by rbursek
What is your Phospate levels?

Rbursek--he's got nitrate levels so this will cause it too. Phosphate levels are so hard to detect and most of the time the cyano or algae is consuming them as fast as they are being produced that you don't get a reading

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by HammerDude33
i don't know about phos-zorb, but phos-ban is safe to inhabitants. all it does is absorb phosphates.
dave, when was the last time you changed your bulbs? if they are a year old, that might be part, or all of the problem.

if it is ferrous oxide based it is not harmful to anything(in a very trace amount)

[Aquarist007]

Dave:
I get reaccuring cyano on the top of my chaeto in the fuge. I skim it off and then turn the lights off for 2 or 3 days--that gets rid of it

[Aquarist007]

[i Is there anything I can do to stop this or could I use the phos-zorb with cheato and sensitive coral? Any input will help

Thanks
Dave [/B]

are you going to use it in a phosban reactor? Much more effecient then in a bag in the sump. The water is forced through the entire medium rather then taking the easy way around the outside surface--much more effecient adsorption
In the reactor the phosban media has to slightly heavy to main contact with the surface area of the water. You are able to do this in the reactor because you can control the flow of water into it. There are also two filters that stop the odd stray piece of phosban from entering the tank

[Dave12678]

Thanks for the replies. Capn I do not have a phosban reactor just yet, I plan on getting one very soon. When I clean my tank I do get any waste that builds up in the rock work. I do get red slime algea on my cheato to that I remove. This is just driving me crazy because it was clear for so long them BOOM. I did change my bulbs 2-3 months ago but I didn't change the antinics could that be the problem?

thanks again
Dave