Algae Problem.....and others (2 Viewers)

[malira]

My alk dropped a little from 8.08 to 7.5 over 3 days.
It was gradually brought up. I may need to add a little more kalk. I will see if alk has dropped today.

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[Paul Buie]

When you dose stuff like that, it is a bandaid. It will usually throw something off. Any algae you grow is likely bringing your levels down.

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I agree. Anybody want what I have left? Lol. Took me 3 months to get things balanced with water changes after 3 doses. My guess is it made one or more of my trace elements get out of whack like Andre mentioned. To top it off, my tank is LPS with a "throw down" Monti frag that Nick gave me, said "you gotta have this". Lol. My tank is a super forgiving set up. That monti is actually growing like crazy. I cannot recommend vibrant. I'm not a fan. I am going to start dosing some bio digest products tho......

 

[malira]

I agree. Anybody want what I have left? Lol. Took me 3 months to get things balanced with water changes after 3 doses. My guess is it made one or more of my trace elements get out of whack like Andre mentioned. To top it off, my tank is LPS with a "throw down" Monti frag that Nick gave me, said "you gotta have this". Lol. My tank is a super forgiving set up. That monti is actually growing like crazy. I cannot recommend vibrant. I'm not a fan. I am going to start dosing some bio digest products tho......

I'm using it on my 10g aio. It's an lps tank. I don't even check the numbers. I go by looks and things are growing. I have a hammer that is actually adding heads and a plate growing. But I know my numbers are wacky. It did get rid of the algae.

But on the 90g I'm letting Andre guide me.
As far as the biodigest I'm using it. I guess it's working because the tank is healthier but there was so much wrong with my tank I trust it's doing what it's supposed to be doing.

How will you judge or know if it is having an impact on your tank?

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[Paul Buie]

I ordered 5 Triton tests. Need to see what vibrant did, and evaluate the other additive. I'm not convinced my ca reactor is adding everything I want anyway. Had to go kicking and screaming into the 21st century, but with that Triton test, I gave in. Lol

 

[PSXerholic]

I ordered 5 Triton tests. Need to see what vibrant did, and evaluate the other additive. I'm not convinced my ca reactor is adding everything I want anyway. Had to go kicking and screaming into the 21st century, but with that Triton test, I gave in. Lol

You likely have seen the most recent quick video of my tank.
Seen is only a part of it, means plenty of smaller colonies and some bigger ones.
My Calcium Reactor can't keep up with the elements consumptions, so dosing support is needed.


-Andre

 

[Reefahholic]

I knew supplementing would be needed in addition to a calcium reactor.

So how does one supplement? Either manually or via Dosing pump.

IMO, most will eventually use a dosing pump in the end. So why not eliminate the calcium reactor all together? One piece of equipment for keeping parameters in check seems to be more logical with less headache.

I may be wrong. I know they are easy and consistent once setup and running, but so is a GHL.

 

[PSXerholic]

I knew supplementing would be needed in addition to a calcium reactor.

So how does one supplement? Either manually or via Dosing pump.

IMO, most will eventually use a dosing pump in the end. So why not eliminate the calcium reactor all together? One piece of equipment for keeping parameters in check seems to be more logical with less headache.

I may be wrong. I know they are easy and consistent once setup and running, but so is a GHL.

GHL ?
Garden Hose Licker ?

-Andre

 

[malira]

Parameters from 4-17

NO3-3 to 4
PO4-.12 ppm
Ca-390
Mg-1300
K-428

HA started coming back.

From today 4-20

NO3-5
PO4-.03 ppm
dKH-139

I have not dosed anything since 4-11. 9 days and counting.
I will test calcium and magnesium tomorrow.

I noticed that with my PO4 near
.12 ppm and higher the algae came back. Nitrates were near 4.

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[Paul Buie]

You likely have seen the most recent quick video of my tank.
Seen is only a part of it, means plenty of smaller colonies and some bigger ones.
My Calcium Reactor can't keep up with the elements consumptions, so dosing support is needed.


-Andre

Agree. I can tell a 25% bimonthly water change is not enough with the reactor. Growth is great 1st week, but consumption is high and second week I can tell something is getting depleted. My Alk, Ca and Mag for the most part are in range for 2 weeks, but they drop a bit by the time I change water. I do have to dose Mag about every 2 months. Who knows what is going on with what I don't test... Will put a bit more effort into understanding my routine and my water chemistry, and see if I can find a way to keep up with additives. I was trying to keep this one simple and fairly low maintenance. Lol. I try to keep things as low tech as possible if it is working. Looks like more work...


Thanks Andre!

Said biweekly, meant bimonthly. Lol. Corrected. Lol

 

[reeftopia]

Added the fluconazole 48 hrs ago bryopsis is disappearing at a rapid clip some areas totally clear alresdy.

 

[malira]

Added the fluconazole 48 hrs ago bryopsis is disappearing at a rapid clip some areas totally clear alresdy.

Wow that's fast.

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[Reefahholic]

Added the fluconazole 48 hrs ago bryopsis is disappearing at a rapid clip some areas totally clear alresdy.

Feels amazing huh! I hate algae!

 

[malira]

What are your ALK levels?
Also I hope you noticed your CA is below the bottom line ;-(
MG need to be lifted asap as well.

This is a lot of stress for all the Coral.
Remember the ALK, CA and MG are the easiest ones and gotta have to be stable and spot on.
Unfortunately playing with all these levels together can cause whitening or dull, pale effects.

-Andre

Andre,

My parameters from today.

Alk - 144 = 8.06 steady
Phos- 15 ppb = .046 ppm have not dosed in two weeks I only feed cubes.
Nitrates - 2 I have not dosed in 2 weeks.
Calcium - 400
Magnesium - 1360

My algae is not going away.

I'm not sure where I need to be.
I think a little higher Phosphates?


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[PSXerholic]

Andre,

My parameters from today.

Alk - 144 = 8.06 steady
Phos- 15 ppb = .046 ppm have not dosed in two weeks I only feed cubes.
Nitrates - 2 I have not dosed in 2 weeks.
Calcium - 400
Magnesium - 1360

My algae is not going away.

I'm not sure where I need to be.
I think a little higher Phosphates?


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Malira,

looks good so far.
Still get CA up to 420-430 somewhere.
Now since the nutrients are acting balanced and stable it's time then to move on and install a new set of Chaeto algae into your Refugium.
So as we have discussed, Refugium seems for you the best choice.
Reach Out to Emixa, he had awesome Chaeto last time I needed some for a buddy.

Well, Algae wont disappear for a while, expecting a few more weeks at least.
There are for sure other ingredients that are keep them alive ;-)

Keep the Biodigest weekly and set up your Refugium to export other waste products as well, that fuel Algae.
Time now to move on with the tank and bring it to normal.
Keep Nutrients where they are in the meantime, if needed keep dosing as you did.

Take things very slow and steady, as you did in the last weeks, you did see (even while slow) progress.
Your tank is now sort of in the beginning phase right after the cycle ;-)

-Andre

 

[PSXerholic]

By the way, if you need to do something to bring down nutrients in case the Chaeto is behind, dose 0.5ml Vodka daily per 100G.

-Andre

 

[malira]

Malira,

looks good so far.
Still get CA up to 420-430 somewhere.
Now since the nutrients are acting balanced and stable it's time then to move on and install a new set of Chaeto algae into your Refugium.
So as we have discussed, Refugium seems for you the best choice.
Reach Out to Emixa, he had awesome Chaeto last time I needed some for a buddy.

Well, Algae wont disappear for a while, expecting a few more weeks at least.
There are for sure other ingredients that are keep them alive ;-)


-Andre

Two quick questions. What is best way to get calcium up? I been reading and heard tales of it screwing with the alk. Also raising magnesium to raise calcium.

Also do you need to qt chaeto?

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[PSXerholic]

Two quick questions. What is best way to get calcium up? I been reading and heard tales of it screwing with the alk. Also raising magnesium to raise calcium.

Also do you need to qt chaeto?

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In reality you do need to QT anything.
However in your case, buy from a trustful source and take the risk.

I would recommend in your case to do ESV Calcium Chloride, in combo with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda for ALK.
Magnesium I can recommend the Brightwell Magnesion dry powder.

This is a good 3 part combo that can be used for getting the tank back up and as soon you can't keep up with the dosing you will need to think about dosing pumps.

Typically ALK is the first pump you need, while CA can be done manual daily. MG typically need in the beginning weekly corrections.
After a few weeks or months CA consumption becomes annoying and you buy the second dosing pump to cover CA.
Few weeks later, you wish you would have invested in a 4 channel dosing pump!
Now you start needing daily MG dosing as well on a dosing pump.

When Nutrients are in check, the basic ALK, CA and MG parameter keep in check with above methods.
Occasionally check Potassium and Strontium if possible or keep a Pink Birdsnest Coral for Strontium (I can frag off mine ;-)


Well that's it for now. Do Balling light basically and have a Rock solid scheme for now.
Also think to invest into a PH probe.


-Andre

 

[PSXerholic]

Oh, by the way.
Utilize the Spectra Pure Silica Buster/color changing DI combo cartridge to keep Silicates low in the system.

We live in a Silicate loaded area of the city ;-)

-Andre

 

[malira]

Oh, by the way.
Utilize the Spectra Pure Silica Buster/color changing DI combo cartridge to keep Silicates low in the system.

We live in a Silicate loaded area of the city ;-)

-Andre

Dis lowering the alk, lower the calcium? I used tho keep alk at 9 - 9.5 and the calcium was 430 to 440.
Is fresh air in the skimmer the easiest way to raise the ph?

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[Reefahholic]

Micro-Bubbling, skimming, and good surface agitation helps keep my PH on point. Of course ALK affects PH too.

IMO, tanks that I've observed suffering with low PH usually have a few of the following: Weak flow, minimal turn-over, no skimmer, no surface agitation, HOB filters, etc.