Algae issues...

[dherrera83]

I am dealing with dalgae issues, mostly diatoms and some very little red slime (no GHA). According to the API test kit it seems everything is in the clear but i been told its wrong far too often. I changed all RODi parts but not the membrane since its only 6 months old. This has been going on for the last 2 months.

Dont know whats going on and i cannot afford to by better test kits since i just purchased an mp10 to increase flow. IT doesnt seem to be hurting corals or fish but it just doesnt look the way it use to. I was algae free for about a whole year even during the summer.

Currently i change the sock everying 3days depedning on the visible use sometimes once a week. I only use RODI water and changed all filters but membrane. Run GFO and carbon in two reactors; dont know what else to add. Even added a chemi pure bag to see if it does anything.

It hasent taken over but its just in small areas in the tank and its just annoying since i am use to seeing a clean tank as in my tank thread.

Will update with pics later tonight.

Any and all advice or help would be appreciated or if you know of a lab that offers testing please let me know.

Thanks!!

 

[skene]

Have you tried vacuuming out the sand bed... what you want to do is try and get rid of as much nutrients as you can out of the system. There may be a lot of detritus laying in there. What you can also do is when you are doing a water change, you want to blow off the diatoms off the rock or back wall with a powerhead then vacuum from there.

 

[dherrera83]

Thanks I'm going to do just that... But it seems its only on the sand bed...

 

[James]

Check your phosphates with a hanna meter. API kits are giving you false readings. A set of good test kits (salifert, elos) is invaluable.

 

[Turbovr3six]

Tank size and bioload? Do you have any other flow in the tank other than the MP10? What skimmer are you running? Has the performance changed at all since you've noticed the problem? How often do you change out the reactors medias? What kind of lights are you running? How old are the bulbs? No LFS near you that will test the water with a better kit?

 

[HanKami]

maybe a little clean up crew can help out with the small area

 

[tentacles]

FWIW diatoms aren't algae, they're microorganisms (protists), so they need to be treated a little differently. See if you can have someone test the TDS of your RO and all of the major parameters using better test kits until you can get your own (I'd offer, but I'm on LI). Try sucking everything out when you do WCs, it sounds like an issue of water quality and flow.