algea problem please help pics inside

[john90009]

iv had this 75 gallon with 40 sump with macro in the sump and a overrated octopus skimmer running for a few months actually like 5 months. i transferred everything other then the sand and water from my old tank, this sand is the special grade all dry sand and i made all new salt water. my problem is not im getting these diatoms that seem to be turning into brown strings every day. my cheato doesn't seem to grow neither does my red macro algea but this algea and also green scum coms back every day. Tested my nitrates there zero i dont have a phosphate meter so im not sure i use rodi which pumps out 000. my reeflux bulbs were used for 3 months probably but have been sitting in storage for about a year + . so here are the pics any help please it seems like it could possibly be stunting the coral growth or even hurting the corals im not sure. i run carbon and gfo. weekly waterchanges 6 gallon

pink lemonade is growing threw it all tho.

 

[KathyC]

What percentage of water do you change weekly and how often do you change your GFO?

Can you list all of your parameters including what you are dosing ?(assuming you are dosing due to all of the coralline growth in there)

Also assuming the chaeto is in your sump - what kind of light do you have down there for it & how old is that bulb?

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

Position your koralia so it is blowing across the sandbed.... Check your magnesium level, your chaeto not growing is a sign of low magnesium. Cutback on your lighting at least 2 hours and your feeding.. If feeding mysis... rinse with RODI and then drain it. Also test your waters Nitrate level. Do weekly water changes to reduce the Nitrate levels if that is indeed the problem. Same for PO4.

Correction... saw that you are testing for Nitrate... invest in a PO4 test kit and continue with weekly water changes and try the above mentioned.

 

[john90009]

im changing 6 gallons weekly on an 85 gallon system, i changed my gfo out every month and a half id say. mag 1320 i did used to have it up at 1400, calcium is 420 alk for some reason is at 10 now so i have to cut back on my alk dosing, i guess the corals are pissed and not taking up the alkalinity. Im only adding calcium and alkalinity by two part. the cheato bulb is a compact fluorescent in a glass and metal reflector housing thing that i got from home depot and that bulbs only a few months old. im torn between what to do im being told siphon it out and replace with new salt water and to not do weekly water-changes because its being fueld by the nutrients in the fresh salt water. then again i was always told fresh clean water will fix most likely anything : /

 

[batt600]

Whats your P04 and do you use a RODI and do you have a tds meter if so is it reading 0.00 out

 

[KathyC]

Whats your P04 and do you use a RODI and do you have a tds meter if so is it reading 0.00 out

Tested my nitrates there zero i dont have a phosphate meter so im not sure i use rodi which pumps out 000.

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

Hmmm... any filter socks?? If so, change out weekly or anytime you may see it clogged or when water starts to rise above what your used to seeing. Cut back on your lighting period as mentioned earlier for 2 weeks and see if that helps. I would increase the water change to 10 gallons. If using a sump/fuge, make sure to siphon out detritus from there also. 5 gallons from main DT and 5 from the sump/fuge.
Also as mentioned earlier try repositioning the koralia to blow across the sandbed to circulate detritus material from the deadspots around rocks so it may float up and go into the sump, or you can use a turkey baster to blow off any detritus material from the crevices of rock. Thaw any frozen foods with RODI water and then rinse again with RODI. Hope this helps some. You can also try Special Blend... i hear it works well. I don't know I've never tried it. What you mentioned about cutting back on the dosing is correct. Just keep an eye on thoose levels because it can fluctuate fairly fast with coral consumption and RODI top offs. GL!

BTW.. I would definately change out the GFO every 3-4 weeks. The earlier the better. That may be your problem right there. Small reactors need cleaning sooner. The material does collect in there, build up and leach back into the system causing the bloom.
I got this answer from a small guardian angel from MR!! ^^^^ She know's who she is!!!

 

[Eznet2u]

It looks more like the beginning stages of Cyanobacteria to me. If that is the case...just follow the advice you've been given.

Oh, and cut back on your feedings.

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

it looks more like the beginning stages of cyanobacteria to me. If that is the case...just follow the advice you've been given.

Oh, and cut back on your feedings.

+1

 

[tentacles]

It does indeed look like cyano, unfortunately. I have had success dosing special blend. What I would recommend is doing a few larger water changes to get your params in check, then dose the accordingly. I still dose a small amount every couple of weeks and haven't had a problem since .

(also +1 on what everyone else said regarding filter socks, feeding, lighting, etc.)