!!!!!!need Some Professional Help!!!!!!

geo6028 · 09/09/2008, 09:40 PM

I have a 10 gallon reef tank that is growing green/yellow on the sand and the glass. i scrub it and it comes back hours later?

specs:

-10 gallon tank

-30-35lbs. live figi rock

-1.5 inch live sand bed

-backpack protein skimmer (prizim skimmer)

-aquaclear 50 hang-on filter (inside the filter i have a sponge and two carbon socks. i stopped using the phosban sock because i was told it releases nitrate back into the tank, and if removed it would help lower nitrate. should i keep using phosban????

amonia=0
nitrite=0
nitrate=10-20 is that the cause maybe

1) if anyone can please explain to me what can be the reason for this nasty green/yellow growth in my take and what i can do to get rid of it
2) what is phosphate, how is it produced, how do i handle it and can the water be tested for phosphate levels?

pdelcast · 09/09/2008, 09:48 PM

A good place to start looking for answers:

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...st2003/chem.htm
Broken link?

Also:

Problem Dinoflagellates and pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

Phosphorus: Algae's Best Friend
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...pt2002/chem.htm
Broken link?

Try this one:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm

ALSO -- a 10 gallon saltwater tank can be very challenging. Bigger is easier (usually!) It would be useful to bone up on everything you can, and remember... CHANGE things VERY slowly on a small tank.

HighlandReefer · 09/09/2008, 09:57 PM

How often are you doing water changes and how much water do you change?

Are you using RODI water or tap water to do water changes with?

Do you have a clean-up crew in your tank?

How long are you leaving your lights on?

Are you skimming wet?

bertoni · 09/09/2008, 10:39 PM

Moved to New to the Hobby as more on topic here.

Algal blooms in new tanks are fairly common. This one might be caused by overfeeding, though.

09/09/2008, 09:40 PM	#1
geo6028 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: florida Posts: 32	!!!!!!need Some Professional Help!!!!!! I have a 10 gallon reef tank that is growing green/yellow on the sand and the glass. i scrub it and it comes back hours later? specs: -10 gallon tank -30-35lbs. live figi rock -1.5 inch live sand bed -backpack protein skimmer (prizim skimmer) -aquaclear 50 hang-on filter (inside the filter i have a sponge and two carbon socks. i stopped using the phosban sock because i was told it releases nitrate back into the tank, and if removed it would help lower nitrate. should i keep using phosban???? amonia=0 nitrite=0 nitrate=10-20 is that the cause maybe 1) if anyone can please explain to me what can be the reason for this nasty green/yellow growth in my take and what i can do to get rid of it 2) what is phosphate, how is it produced, how do i handle it and can the water be tested for phosphate levels?

09/09/2008, 09:48 PM	#2
pdelcast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 256	A good place to start looking for answers: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...st2003/chem.htm Broken link? Also: Problem Dinoflagellates and pH http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php Phosphorus: Algae's Best Friend http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...pt2002/chem.htm Broken link? Try this one: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm ALSO -- a 10 gallon saltwater tank can be very challenging. Bigger is easier (usually!) It would be useful to bone up on everything you can, and remember... CHANGE things VERY slowly on a small tank. __________________ Patrick Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef - Acans, Zoas, Acros, Montis == 300 gallon reef to be mostly SPS Last edited by pdelcast; 09/09/2008 at 09:54 PM.

09/09/2008, 09:57 PM	#3
HighlandReefer Team RC Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highland, Maryland Entomologist Posts: 14,591	How often are you doing water changes and how much water do you change? Are you using RODI water or tap water to do water changes with? Do you have a clean-up crew in your tank? How long are you leaving your lights on? Are you skimming wet? __________________ Cliff Babcock Intestests: Digital Microscopy; Marine Pest Control; Marine Plants & Macroalgae Current Tank Info: 180 g. mixed reef system

09/09/2008, 10:39 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Moved to New to the Hobby as more on topic here. Algal blooms in new tanks are fairly common. This one might be caused by overfeeding, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni