CONFUSION algae...

[Ef3s]

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
P.H. - 8.2
Nitrate -0
phosphate -0

Tank running about 6 months.

I am getting what looks like diatom mixed with cyano and a little bright green mixed in.

Due to other stats does this mean its from silicates? So find another source for water? Or can it be leaching off my plastic powerheads..?

AND I don't think you need more info about the tank...so yeah just give an answer please ---not POST MORE SPECS POST MORE SPECS...

THANKYOU!!!

 

[Entacmaea]

Hi there, I would check your test kits as a first step and ask yourself if anything has changed in your tank (bioload, different food/feeding regime, filter change, bulb change, etc.)

And, contrary to what you suggest in your post, additional answers will help:

Are you using and RO/DI for your water? Do you have a skimmer?

 

[Ef3s]

The only change is I replaced a 55 watt actinic with a 55 watt 8k....Could this really be difference enough to ERUPT my sand in red slime??

I have an AQUA C skimmer---WHY NITRATES AT 0
I double checked both nitrate and phosphate on 2 different test kits.

I use a home RO/DI set up. I have NO tds meter so I am unsure if it's really working.... Has 3 state with DI as well... TODAY actually found a new grocery store that sells 5 gal jugs of RO/CHARCOAL/DI water instead of distilled..


Can having ONLY silicates do this?

 

[Katfsh]

How old are your bulbs?? Thats another spec you did not mention.
And from what I can tell just bc your nitrates check 0 that only means that there are no left over nitrates from what the algae is feeding on. That stuff has to be feeding on something. How big is your tank is another helpful spec along with how frequent you do water changes and how much water you change, is another helpful spec.
You give a few water parameters and expect some one to tell you exactly what the problem is. I am sure that other people here will back me up on this, that there are many factors that can be causing these problems, and it may not be one thing it may be a combination of several things, and it is not going to go away over night.
katfsh

 

[Entacmaea]

(this is me officially backing up Katfsh!)

 

[Anonymous]

Check you snail shells (if you have any). When large turbos die, this is enough to spark algae blooms in my tank (90 gallons).

 

[Brian5000]

Lighting for marine aquariums is always 10K or higher. Fresh water uses 6.5K for live plants.

Wouldn't an 8K light be more yellow and promote algea growth? I could be wrong. Can anyone else say for sure?
_________________
Scottish Forum

 

[mr_X]

i would have to agree that an 8000 kelvin bulb would promote algae. this is why you change out your bulbs, because the color shifts to a lower kelvin...right?