Sorry this is a bit long, but I figured I should give the full rundown on my setup to make it easier to help diagnose the source of my issues so I can get this thing in line.
So my sw tank (40G) is still relatively young, going on 3.5 months old now. So far everything has been going well aside form my battling pesky algae/cyano issues. all my livestock is doing well and corals do seem happy and healthy but have been seeing some loss of color intensity. My issues thus far have been repeat mini diatom outbreaks anytime I mess with the sand bed (caribsea live sand 2.5" deep) and reoccurring cyano development. The diatom bloom starts on the bed in the area I disturbed, then jumps to the rock and will last for 3-5 days then fade out. The cyano starts as spots on the rock then starts spreading but never covers everything in a mat like appearance like the first bloom that covered the majority of the bed and was treated with ChemiClean. I also have lime green algae that is on all the light facing rock that only my tuxedo is able to get off.
For maintenance and normal running I do weekly 10% water changes and run my crappy light (saving for a AI Hydra) for 8 hours a day with 2 additional hours of moon light. Filtration is a 306 canister with the BioHome Ultimate (used this stuff on my FW tanks and have always had great success with it) on the bottom two trays and the top loaded with poly-filter, Chemi-Pure Elite, and Purigen. Water flow in my tank is fairly high with the filter wave maker producing a combined 700 GPH with plenty of surface agitation. I dose with seachem reef complete, trace, lugol's iodine, and Kent Alk buffer. My levels are very stable with no unusual swings.
PH: 8.0-8.1
Salinity: 1.021-23
Alk: 216
Cal: 420-440
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: .05
Phos: 0
I had not been testing for Magnesium at this point and my LFS doesn't normally test for it and when asked they stated their test kit for it was out. So I got a Salifert MG test kit and got a reading of 450. I ran the test two more times just to be sure I did it right and got the same reading.
I went to the LFS and talked to the owner about it and he said that it is fine and that every few years the reef community picks a new hot button and the current one is Magnesium. He stated that for decades no one knew about or tested for magnesium and that as long as my calcium and alkalinity were stable (which they have been) then I did not have an issue there. He said that my main issue is with my sand bed being too deep and is becoming anaerobic because I am not cleaning the bed it is causing an organic build up that is leading to my algal blooms. He also said that the rock and my filter media being highly porous sintered glass will handle the anaerobic bacteria and the bed is best to be aerobic and my regular water changes will keep the nitrate levels in check. His recommendation was to increase iodine, remove about 1/2 the sand bed over the next few weeks so it can be vacuumed and blast the rock with my powerhead prior to water changes to get all the detritus in the water column and let it settle on the bed prior to cleaning.
So I'm conflicted all the research I have done for months prior to and since converting to salt all tell me that magnesium levels should be around 1350. But I have contrary information from a highly experienced reefer that's pointing me in a different direction. I obviously want to attack the source of the problems instead of treating the symptoms.
Who's right? Are my issues the result of a high organic buildup that's leading to the reoccurring blooms or my having a possible Magnesium deficiency? Of a combination of both?
Thanks in advance
So my sw tank (40G) is still relatively young, going on 3.5 months old now. So far everything has been going well aside form my battling pesky algae/cyano issues. all my livestock is doing well and corals do seem happy and healthy but have been seeing some loss of color intensity. My issues thus far have been repeat mini diatom outbreaks anytime I mess with the sand bed (caribsea live sand 2.5" deep) and reoccurring cyano development. The diatom bloom starts on the bed in the area I disturbed, then jumps to the rock and will last for 3-5 days then fade out. The cyano starts as spots on the rock then starts spreading but never covers everything in a mat like appearance like the first bloom that covered the majority of the bed and was treated with ChemiClean. I also have lime green algae that is on all the light facing rock that only my tuxedo is able to get off.
For maintenance and normal running I do weekly 10% water changes and run my crappy light (saving for a AI Hydra) for 8 hours a day with 2 additional hours of moon light. Filtration is a 306 canister with the BioHome Ultimate (used this stuff on my FW tanks and have always had great success with it) on the bottom two trays and the top loaded with poly-filter, Chemi-Pure Elite, and Purigen. Water flow in my tank is fairly high with the filter wave maker producing a combined 700 GPH with plenty of surface agitation. I dose with seachem reef complete, trace, lugol's iodine, and Kent Alk buffer. My levels are very stable with no unusual swings.
PH: 8.0-8.1
Salinity: 1.021-23
Alk: 216
Cal: 420-440
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: .05
Phos: 0
I had not been testing for Magnesium at this point and my LFS doesn't normally test for it and when asked they stated their test kit for it was out. So I got a Salifert MG test kit and got a reading of 450. I ran the test two more times just to be sure I did it right and got the same reading.
I went to the LFS and talked to the owner about it and he said that it is fine and that every few years the reef community picks a new hot button and the current one is Magnesium. He stated that for decades no one knew about or tested for magnesium and that as long as my calcium and alkalinity were stable (which they have been) then I did not have an issue there. He said that my main issue is with my sand bed being too deep and is becoming anaerobic because I am not cleaning the bed it is causing an organic build up that is leading to my algal blooms. He also said that the rock and my filter media being highly porous sintered glass will handle the anaerobic bacteria and the bed is best to be aerobic and my regular water changes will keep the nitrate levels in check. His recommendation was to increase iodine, remove about 1/2 the sand bed over the next few weeks so it can be vacuumed and blast the rock with my powerhead prior to water changes to get all the detritus in the water column and let it settle on the bed prior to cleaning.
So I'm conflicted all the research I have done for months prior to and since converting to salt all tell me that magnesium levels should be around 1350. But I have contrary information from a highly experienced reefer that's pointing me in a different direction. I obviously want to attack the source of the problems instead of treating the symptoms.
Who's right? Are my issues the result of a high organic buildup that's leading to the reoccurring blooms or my having a possible Magnesium deficiency? Of a combination of both?
Thanks in advance
