Removing excess nutrients...HOW??

[wetone]

Have been getting outbreaks of green hair on my LR and now some brown and red film on top of the sand. I have added a new Precision Marine Bullet 2 skimmer and a new RO/DI for top off and water changes. I have done about 70G worth of water change in 8 weeks since getting new RO/DI. My hair algae has slowed considerably since those additions, but there is still some "fuzzy" green algae growing. I did a phos test on some water with the pellet food I feed in there and it dis show some PO3 traces.
I have a 75G with 100lbs LR in the main tank and 40G sumps with 5" DSB in sump and another 40lbs LR. There is only about 1" of sand in the main tank. Lights are 2 250W MH and 2 110W VHO actinic, all have been replaced in past 4 months. My params show 0 nitrate and phosphate. PH = 8.2, DKH is 9.5, Cal = 395.

All corals are doing great...4 fish get fed once a day, sometimes small pinch of pellet or frozen brine, mysis etc.

My question is how do I rid tank of these excess nutrients which seem to be causing these blooms, even though my params look ok.....HELP

 

[Anonymous]

It really sounds to me as though you're doing what you can. It may just take a bit more time to culture a full compliment of benthics, both aerobic and anaerobic. If the skimmer is giving you the nasty stuff fairly regularly I would wager it's doing its job.

Part of the issue at the moment is that these nutrients are "fixed" in the algal blooms. Believe it or not, abalone will consume most, if not all, of this. However, with something like an abalone you would have to forgo all other microalgae feeders.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

[Marcosreef]

Hello,

You can try using a phosphate absorbing media, preferably a iron (ferric) based one such as RowaPhos or PhosBan.

Algaes will utilize PO4 very quickly, making testing very difficult.

Marco

 

[Rich-n-poor]

the brown and red film on the sand could be cynobacteria, caused by the phosphate siphon it off and use a phosephate removing compound.

a few small scarlit hermits will take card of the green stuff

rich
_________________
BMW Motorrad

 

[sammystingray]

Ever consider a refugium? I failed at keeping my nitrates at zero for 8 years before I started using macro algae to feed off of nutrients....all levels are zero now. From my experience, this is much more effective than a DSB, and they will use ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, etc.....they clean it all. Also, my advvice is high water movement throughout the whole tank....this stops nutrient pockets, and keeps lots of O2 in the water, and algae hates O2...it's a waste product of theirs of course.

 

[brewerbob]

Ok, stupid question time. What is a refugium? I've seen it a couple of times now on this forum? I'm a newbie so be gentle...

 

[Anonymous]

A refugium is a protected part of the system where many beneficial organisms can grow without being scarfed up by the residents of the display tank. Lots of us have our sump set up as a refugium. They can grow macroalgae, which absorbs nutrients which can eventually be removed from the system by thinning the macros. Also 'pods and other small critters can thrive in the 'fuge, some of which get swept into the display tank to serve as an excellent supplemental food source for the display animals.

That is a very brief summary, with a little research you can find out a lot more. Refugiums can be as varied as our display tanks are.

 

[brewerbob]

Sounds like you are keeping two tanks. My sump has a heater and pump. I will add a protein skimmer when it comes in. I don't think I'm going to have anything that will eat anything else. Should I bother with refugium?

Plans:
damsels (5 at the moment)
clown/anemone
shrimp/hermies (cleaners)
and some corals

 

[wetone]

Sammy
I'm in the process of turning 1 of my 2 sumps into a refugium, it is a 30G rubbermaid with a 5" DSB, and some LR, I need to get lights and macro's.
I guess I dont fully understand the PO4 thing. If I am adding water changes,Kalk and top off from a brand new RO/DI showing no PO4, I feed very little (I think) then where does it come from???? Or is still leftover from my old RO only with old filters and continual water changes will help, as well as a better cleanup crew to remove any stagnant detritus

 

[wetone]

Sammy
I'm in the process of turning 1 of my 2 sumps into a refugium, it is a 30G rubbermaid with a 5" DSB, and some LR, I need to get lights and macro's.
I guess I dont fully understand the PO4 thing. If I am adding water changes,Kalk and top off from a brand new RO/DI showing no PO4, I feed very little (I think) then where does it come from???? Or is still leftover from my old RO only with old filters and continual water changes will help, as well as a better cleanup crew to remove any stagnant detritus

 

[Riotfishdude]

after trying everything to get over my algae problems,i bought a turkey baster and started blasting out the crevices in my live rock,even though i have 6 powerheads in my tank there is always tons of detritus in the rock that was feeding my algae,now i give them a blast out every few days (just takes a few minutes) and have solved my problem.....Riot.....