Wretched algae!

[steveoxford]

Hi folks

As you can see im in Oxford. renowned for lousy water for marines (sky high phosphates)
Is any one else in the area suffering from hairy alge problems over the last 4-5 months?
My tank up until then was doing great with calc algae going mad!
I am using shed loads of phosphate remover and turned down the lights but its still growing.
Jusr wondered if any one else has problems?
I bought a very expnsive phosphate kit and I think my reading is o.o3 which is low but not enough me thinks.
any thoughts anyone or is it just patients?

Chers
Steve

[Gillybaby]

Hi Steve, welcome to the board ;)

Are you using RO water or treated tap water? Phospate reading from RO water should be 0 so if you are using RO you might want to do a phosphate check on that cause this could an indication that the filters need changing. If you are using tap water, I would suggest you invest in an RO unit as no amount of phospate remover is going to counteract high levels of phosphate being added to the tank on a regular basis.

These are just my first thoughts - there are a lot more experienced folk out there who will be able to advise in more detail. In the meantime, could you possibly add a detailed list of your system eg tank, sump, equipment, stock, current water parameters etc? This will help us get a handle on the problem.

Ta

[liquidlogic]

Ro water for marines or more or less a standered thing imo. after all its the quality of water for the creatures. thats if ur using tap water

if ur already using ro water check / change the membrain. or if ur buying it from a shop test it because many shops dont replace the membrain ..

[steveoxford]

Hi folks
Thanks for the interest
My tank.
vision 260. Standard lighting(marine tubes) + T5 arcadia bar with one actinic one 14 k tube
Berlin set up. 30 kg live rock + a massive venturi skimmer (unfortunately it is so loud I had to run it as an air driven one with 1200 litres of air an hour + ozone.
I constantly use phosphate remover in a reactor linked to a 1200 litre per hour external pump.
24 watt UV
Auto top up with Kalk wasser in top up water. 5 pumps in tank for circulation
I always us RO and have changed the sed+carbon + de ioniser filter. TDS now reading 00.
I have one of those very expensive phosphate kits that is extremely accurate but the only trouble is it is hard to see the colour changes at low levels of phosphate. My RO water and tank water appear to read the same at 0.03 ppm. PH average is 8.1.8.2 by end of day. I use proper ph 8,2 buffer regularly ORP reading since installing the skimmer + oxone has gone from 189 (very poor) to 330 pretty good.
KH is 7.4 and I have got the clacium up to 400 ppm. My calcareous algae is definitely making a comeback but button and xenia polyps fighting a losing battle against the hair algae. I am manually removing it as well. I have about 10 snails and 20 + hermits.

Thats all folks

[Gillybaby]

Mmmmm, that is a pickle your in ;) Not sure about your phosphate reading and why its like this. The algea could be feeding on nitrates as well, what is your current reading? One of the chemistry guru's will hopefully chip in and help with this part.

However, IMO you are in need of more clean up crew. James would be able to advise of the best critters for hair algae but I've found the Turbo fluctuosus snails and Mexican Red Tip Hermits to be the most hard working.

You could also try growing macro algae to out do the hair algae and absorb any excess phosphates/nitrates. If you don't have a sump, a ball of chaeto would do fine floating around on the surface of your tank cause it doesn't put down roots. If you feel you need some, give me a PM as I have some spare.