Help with 90 gallon FOWLR system

[gon4x4n]

I guess first I'll let you know what I have:

-Reef Pure RO/DI 4 stage

-90 gallon AGAR with there overflow float setup in the corner

-2.5" Live sand base and around 90# of live and base rock

-CPR wet dry with a 4" diameter skimmer which is driven by a Rio 600, all bio media has been removed

-water flows from the wet dry to a sump area (10gallons or so) that has 4" of live sand and rock with a 36" 2) 20 watt bulb light, one white one 03 then pumped back up to the tank with a RIO 2100
-for in tank water movement I have 2 Aquaclear 800 powerheads

-2)AGA 48" 2 tube florecent strip lights (so 4 bulbs) all 40 watt so 160watt total of lighting, (bulbs need to be replaced there over a year old)

-for fish I have a small Emperor Angel, Flame Angel, Sixline Wrasse, and 2 tank raised clowns.

So time for my questions, I've been getting a lot of a redish-brown algae on the glass sand and rocks, I can do a partial waterchange and scrub the walls and a day later it is back, my initial thoughts where my bulbs are old so maybe I should just replace those, but then I thought maybe of switching to a Power compact instead.

Or maybe my skimmer isn't good enough ( although I tossed on a CPR backpack skimmer along with my other one and didn't appear ot help)

Or the RIO 2100 is getting old and there isn't enough water movement anymore.

My clean up crew is getting fairly sparce, I don't think I have any hermits left and maybe 20 snails.

Any thoughts? Suggestions on lighting, pumps or cleaning techinuques would be great. I would like to add some more fish but don't want to until the tank starts looking better.

Thanks so much!

 

[Anonymous]

ANN look good? - What's the TDS of your product water on the RO/DI?

20 snails..... - How many of what kind?

How much of your rock is base rock and how long has it been in the system?

BTW - I've only heard bad about RIO's. The one powering your skimmer MIGHT be ok, but from everything I've heard, you're likely to run into a meltdown on the return pump that could poison your tank.

 

[gon4x4n]

I'll have to check the tds tonight, It has been reading low the last few times I checked it and I just replaced all cartriges in the RO/DI unit.

The snails are, and I'll probably butcher the names, about 15 Asterea and 5 Nassarius. I had double the amount but the hermits I don't have anymore killed them.

The tanks been running a couple years and thats why I'm thinking maybe it is time to replace pumps, add a few more pounds of Live sand and Rock.

I guess I shouldn't have called it base rock, it was all Live rock just some a lot better than the other, Its been in the system the whole time.

I was thinking about changing to a Power Compact lighting fixture, but it seems like there is quite a few people that say NO florecents are fine for a FOWLR.

Thanks for your help

 

[billyzbear]

I'm no pro but have been reading alot. How long are your lights on? I had the same starting. I had the both lights on for 12 hours a day(day and blue dusk). I cut down on the daylights by a couple to few hours a day while leaving the blues on the same 12 hours and it really helped. Your clean up crew is small for your size tank. I had a Rio 2500 for my return when I bought the tank used but have replaced it with a Quit One 4000 that I found on sale and man the tank is some much quiter and much better turn over rate. How many power heads do you have? I would think a tank your size you would want atleast 4 maxijet 1200. One other thing a tank your size a CPR bakpak is small the prefilter/overflow box for it mite help.

 

[gon4x4n]

Hey thanks for the insite, I do have a corner overflow and it runs 2 skimmers, both Rio 600 driven a Bakpak and a 4" skimmer in the sump.

I only have 2 Aquaclear 802 powerheads for water movement along with the return water from the sump.

I think I do leave my lights on for too long sometimes even 14 hours.

I just got a good deal on 2 175 watt Metal Halides so I will adjust the lights on timing when I get those running.

What size is your tank that you use a Quiet One 4000?

Thanks

 

[billyzbear]

My tank is only 32g. The overflow is one of those that hang off the back. The overflow was making gurgle noise so I increased my flow to get ride of it. I did have to throttle the pump back just a little with a gate valve. Now the only noise I hear is my skimmer. Where did you get the lights? MH aren't needed for a FOLR setup are you going to add corals?