Algae Problem.....and others (1 Viewer)

[PSXerholic]

I need to add sand to the DT. Would it help, hurt or no effect to add live sand?

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Add live sand will help to get nutrients down, so....wait......we try to do the opposite !!!!!
Don't play with the sand bed right now.

That can be done later. You go gravel, shallow bed or deep sand bed.
Your choice and stick with it. More substrate means typically more stability on the long run.

Personally I use DSB always, however, raising a sand bed need to happen slowly, and always even in my case tumbles the biology around. So that's something for later.


-Andre

 

[malira]

Add live sand will help to get nutrients down, so....wait......we try to do the opposite !!!!!
Don't play with the sand bed right now.

That can be done later. You go gravel, shallow bed or deep sand bed.
Your choice and stick with it. More substrate means typically more stability on the long run.

Personally I use DSB always, however, raising a sand bed need to happen slowly, and always even in my case tumbles the biology around. So that's something for later.


-Andre

The tank had a shallow sand bed. It's getting more shallow. Probably part of the cause of my problem.
Ok I'll wait.

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[PSXerholic]

The tank had a shallow sand bed. It's getting more shallow. Probably part of the cause of my problem.
Ok I'll wait.

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How many inches you have left?
It's normal that sand beds disappear, lol.

They all have to be replenished here and there. Do not put more then 1" layers on at a time.
Low level critters and aerobic bacteria die off in deep sand beds when replenished, causing a temporary bioload spike until the lower level matures from an aerobic to an anaerobic zone. That's why you make changes on sand slowly.

-Andre

 

[PSXerholic]

How many inches you have left?
It's normal that sand beds disappear, lol.

They all have to be replenished here and there. Do not put more then 1" layers on at a time.
Low level critters and aerobic bacteria die off in deep sand beds when replenished, causing a temporary bioload spike until the lower level matures from an aerobic to an anaerobic zone. That's why you make changes on sand slowly.

-Andre

The other option is to suck out all remaining sand, partially in a tank (1/3 rule at a time), and replace or fill in a complete 4-5" sand bed completely.

 

[malira]

Anywhere from an 1/2 inch to just over 1 inch.

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[malira]

Malira,

looks good so far from a progress perspective.
Not too much headache about the Cyano or Spirulina at this point.
We try to ride it out.

This afternoon, you can turn the skimmer back on.
Dose Phyto feast and measure the Phosphates.

Try to figure out the required DIESEL brew dosage to maintain 1 - 2,5ppm No3.
That makes it easier to maintain an overall Redfield ratio while PO4 is momentarily difficult to raise.

-Andre

I just checked phosphorus it's 33 ppb. How do convert to PO4?

NO3 - 2
Alk - 8

GHA continues to die off, algae also. Cyano still going strong. Corals have stopped dying. Not quite coloring yet. I am encouraged.

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[PSXerholic]

I just checked phosphorus it's 33 ppb. How do convert to PO4?

NO3 - 2
Alk - 8

GHA continues to die off, algae also. Cyano still going strong. Corals have stopped dying. Not quite coloring yet. I am encouraged.

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Way better then and some nice Po4 levels so far.
But that won't stay like that. Watch it now closely to see the trending.
At some point the tank is saturated and then the PO4 will go high if you miss that point at the moment.

Keep the checker and glasses always "dry and cleaned under tapwater" with the tank water in it, prior putting it into the Checker!
Make sure the 3 minute countdown is activated and you should be set !!!

To convert phosphorus ppb, to phosphate ppm, you multiply the measured ppb by 3.066 and then as the phosphorus is in ppb divide it by 1000.
The multiplication factor of 3.0061 is the ratio between the different molecular masses of PO4 and P. (94.971Da and 30.974Da = 3.0661)

When setting up your nitrates and phosphates, make sure you are in the Redfield ratio, which provides the lowest risk of algae issues.
Changes from outside to the ideal balance will take about 1-2 weeks until full in effect, so be patient.
A full grown sand bed full of diatoms to a white bed, took me multiple times up to 4 weeks with slow progress.

-Andre

 

[malira]

So if I did the calculations correctly ppb × 3.066 ÷ 1000 = ppm

P - 33 ppb = PO4 - .101 ppm

Then reading the redfield ratio chart I have NO3 - 2, I need a PO4 reading of .20 ppm.

I'm almost there.



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[malira]

Way better then and some nice Po4 levels so far.
But that won't stay like that. Watch it now closely to see the trending.
At some point the tank is saturated and then the PO4 will go high if you miss that point at the moment.

Keep the checker and glasses always "dry and cleaned under tapwater" with the tank water in it, prior putting it into the Checker!
Make sure the 3 minute countdown is activated and you should be set !!!

To convert phosphorus ppb, to phosphate ppm, you multiply the measured ppb by 3.066 and then as the phosphorus is in ppb divide it by 1000.
The multiplication factor of 3.0061 is the ratio between the different molecular masses of PO4 and P. (94.971Da and 30.974Da = 3.0661)

When setting up your nitrates and phosphates, make sure you are in the Redfield ratio, which provides the lowest risk of algae issues.
Changes from outside to the ideal balance will take about 1-2 weeks until full in effect, so be patient.
A full grown sand bed full of diatoms to a white bed, took me multiple times up to 4 weeks with slow progress.

-Andre

So I should keep dosing 10 mls of phytofeast?

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[malira]

So here is the redfield ratio.

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[malira]

Do you see better polyp extension when using the Phyto feast?

-Andre

Yes. For the first time in over a month I see polyps. I dosed 10 mls of phytofeast waited about 10 minutes and got my ophek and magnifying glass and I SAW POLYPS! !!!!!!!!!

Man I am so jazzed. [emoji448] [emoji445]

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[PSXerholic]

Yes. For the first time in over a month I see polyps. I dosed 10 mls of phytofeast waited about 10 minutes and got my ophek and magnifying glass and I SAW POLYPS! !!!!!!!!!

Man I am so jazzed. [emoji448] [emoji445]

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Great, that means there is some kind of recovery mode going on now ;-)

Next thing is to keep working on the nutrient levels.
So we got them up finally, that's great.

Careful now, from experience I would reduce the Phyto feast by half daily and move on with 5ml per day.
The tank likely will have now saturated with Po4 to start raising while dosing.
5ml daily and watch Phosphorus next day.

Now it's time to stay on the lookout for your nitrates as well.
Measure the low range No3, and figure out the dosing to maintain about 2-3ppm No3.
That is a healthy range for now, prior going to ULN some day.

Remember, for now some colors would be wonderful, do not shoot for the ultimate acro colorization now, lol.

-Andre

 

[PSXerholic]

BTW, effects on colors by nutrients, I typically see within 5-7 days, not instantly.
Just to make you aware of the potential waiting time ;-)


-Andre

 

[malira]

Great, that means there is some kind of recovery mode going on now ;-)

Next thing is to keep working on the nutrient levels.
So we got them up finally, that's great.

Careful now, from experience I would reduce the Phyto feast by half daily and move on with 5ml per day.
The tank likely will have now saturated with Po4 to start raising while dosing.
5ml daily and watch Phosphorus next day.

Now it's time to stay on the lookout for your nitrates as well.
Measure the low range No3, and figure out the dosing to maintain about 2-3ppm No3.
That is a healthy range for now, prior going to ULN some day.

Remember, for now some colors would be wonderful, do not shoot for the ultimate acro colorization now, lol.

-Andre

Thanks, I know slow and steady. Thanks for the guidance and patience.

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[malira]

Malira,

looks good so far from a progress perspective.
Not too much headache about the Cyano or Spirulina at this point.
We try to ride it out.

-Andre

PO4 - .06 - .10
NO3 - 3 - 5
dKH - 7.8 - 8
Ca - 410
Mg - 1300
K - 390

The cyano is getting thinker and spreading.


Dosing 10 mls of phytofeast daily.
5 mls of nitrates every 3 days.


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[Paul Buie]

Those are good parameters there Malira. Keep working with Andre, hopefully you can find a nice balance you can live with. There are so many parameters we can run our tanks at depending on our situation, husbandry, and what we want. No particular method is right for everyone. Keep at it and great job. Good luck!!! ����

Would say more but wifey has thin lizzy cranked at the house and wants to dance. I'm out!

 

[Reefahholic]

Yes. For the first time in over a month I see polyps. I dosed 10 mls of phytofeast waited about 10 minutes and got my ophek and magnifying glass and I SAW POLYPS! !!!!!!!!!

Man I am so jazzed. [emoji448] [emoji445]

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Are you using the phytofeast to bring up the NO3 level?

 

[malira]

Are you using the phytofeast to bring up the NO3 level?

No the PO4.

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[PSXerholic]

PO4 - .06 - .10
NO3 - 3 - 5
dKH - 7.8 - 8
Ca - 410
Mg - 1300
K - 390

The cyano is getting thinker and spreading.


Dosing 10 mls of phytofeast daily.
5 mls of nitrates every 3 days.


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Ok, so what is the Po4 level ?
I would like to dose less of the Nitrates every day!
We may go to no3 of 1.5 - 2, but need the Po4 level to determine which is the key parameter we are working on, that causes the trouble.

-Andre

 

[malira]

.......

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