My algae tank - New thread

[Anonymous]

Here is a recent shot of my tank. I started a new thread for my tank. This is in regards to my RO/DI/DI not getting the water pure.
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steaming Forum

 

[Anonymous]

Hang in there buddy. The way my tank looks they could be brothers.

 

[Ben1]

Huh that is pretty bad, sorry. I don't nkow it must be from the rock if everything else is covered. I wouldnt know how long that would last but knowing the stuff you have tried on this tank I feel for ya. Have you tried GFO, like ROWA?

 

[Anonymous]

I had a bad algea problem and to tell you the truth I put in a lwanmower blenny and he ate it all withing a week or two.

 

[Anonymous]

I have tred the lawnmower blenny to watch it die as well. Never touched the stuff.

I was running a phospab reactor with Rowaphos in it.

Other than that I have pretty much left the tank alone beside the weekly WC's and topoff.

I pull it out during a WC and it comes right back.

Depending on what the water company says, which will be that they see the water in parameters.

So its a coin flip right now. Dump the whole thing and with no more reef or get new LR and hope thats the answer. I dont believe the LR is the casue because I dont see people swapping LR in their tanks every 3 years.
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Kidney Disorders Forum

 

[melas]

Ever think of setting up a smaller tank with all new materials? ie: fresh liverock, sand, pumps, etc. Just a 20 or 30 gallon to see if its the rock itself. . . just a thought. If you have any reefer friends nearby with well established live rock maybe you could buy a few pounds from them. That way you know what you are getting and you will not have to go through the "curing" process. Just a thought. At that point, if you have similar problems you will know its either your husbandry procedures or the RO water. Good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

You simply need more plant life you like and less you don't.

With ro/di or without rop/di you still have a bioload and therefore nutrients that must be consumed. With the refusal to use a refug or add other plant life you like means you're stuck with plant life you don't like.

 

[Anonymous]

Bob - That is BS. There are many tanks with no refugiums or plants in their tank and the tnaks do NOT have algae problems.

Dont say coraline. Coraline is dying off due to this mess.
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hash

 

[Ben1]

Usually when coraline dies off it isnt b/c of the HA. It can live under hair very well. When it dies it is b/c it isnt able to calcify. P04 blocks the calcification process, so when you see a die off in coraline it is usually related to a rise in p04. How are the SPS doing?

Atleast you know Bob is full of it with the "plant life" stuff. Every consider a Ozonator w/ orp controller?

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with the reason for the coraline die-off. There is no coraline on the LR.

The SPS were doing ok, not great but ok.
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Ferrari Wiki

 

[Anonymous]

I like the idea of trying a smaller tank with new LR. I don't know Rob, with all the stuff you did with this tank, have you changed out your LR for new? Is this the last thing to "change out"?

~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

Yes its the last thing besides the water source.

Anyone know of any places to send water for testing?
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BMW Z9

 

[melas]

My father works at the Chemistry department for Shippensburg University. I can check with him about getting a grad student on it. . . they obviously have every test imaginable with lab quality equipment and results. . . not sure where you are though in relation to south/central PA. water samples need to be shipped in a cooler overnight to get optimum/accurate results. . .my suggestion would be to take it to a local University. You should have no problem finding someone to help you. . .especially over the summer when there's not much else going on.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm still convinced it's your rock. I don't know how you would test that though.

Maybe sacrificing a small piece, pulverise it, mix with RO/DI water and test the water for PO4. The problem is, you'd need a baseline for what's normal PO4 in live rock.

I think that whatever is wrong with your rock is also preventing your animals from thriving.

You've done everything else right from what I can see, including ignoring Beaslbob's advice.

 

[Anonymous]

IMO testing the water would be a waste of time.

1) there is nutrients for hair algae. test: hair algae is growing.

2) say all tests are 0.0. conclusion hair algae is consuming the nutrients.

So a test would be a waste of time.

 

[Anonymous]

IMO testing the water would be a waste of time.

1) there is nutrients for hair algae. test: hair algae is growing.

2) say all tests are 0.0. conclusion hair algae is consuming the nutrients.

So a test would be a waste of time.

Um, not if you test it before you put it in the tank.

I'm starting to think maybe your LR is leaching PO4 or something into the water too now.

~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

Up until a few months ago, i never had hair algae problems..then all of sudden bam! It started growing in my skimmer...Some of it broke loose and got into my main tank. And its been a nagging problem since...Bob dont be a f'ing tool! Get the plant life going :roll: What do you call that then? I want to kill that crap off!

 

[Anonymous]

IMO testing the water would be a waste of time.

1) there is nutrients for hair algae. test: hair algae is growing.

2) say all tests are 0.0. conclusion hair algae is consuming the nutrients.

So a test would be a waste of time.

It also may be the case that the nutrients aren't in the water at all, but in the rock.

 

[Anonymous]

PO4 is very difficult to test for at this time. It gets 'used' very quickly, so even if it is your problem, it prolly won't show up in the water.

My gut tells me its your rock - that its 'filled' the ways sandbeds
'fill', and it sounds like your rock is the perfect candidate for 'cooking'.

If it were me, I would replace the rock - with less than you have now.

YMMV, and I am so bummed for you have to go through this.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, Rob, my heart goes out to ya at the same time I admire the intestinal fortitude.