What to do?

[reefer4eva]

I been fighting hair algae in my tank since I did an emergency transfer from my 28 nano to the 34 solana due to cracking the 28 biocube.i tested the water regularly and my nitrates are 0 my phosphates are at .025 at its highest if that.my question is (which I probably know the answer just want other opinions)I plan on to redue the aquascape anyway so should I cook the live rock that is currently in my tank or just get new rock?my problem is either which route I take will probably take a toll on the system and I'd hate to loose any corals.my tank is an SPS dominant tank that is thriving and growing under LEDs.i tried vodka dosing as well as peroxide dosing with some great results and I'm almost positive it's my 18plus year old live rock that is leaching phosphates to cause this.my tank has a 2 inch sandbed also that I'm not sure if I should change as well or should I just remove some and replace with new?

 

[Buck0land]

Are you running GFO?

 

[reefer4eva]

If my nitrates and phosphates are at zero most of the time a GFO reactor would be useless and with it being only a nano tank and weekly water changes I don't see the need for one

 

[fishman1069]

You are getting a 0 reading for phosphates because all the gha is hiding the true readings. I would run Gfo and keep up on water changes and manual removal.

 

[mbg75]

You are getting a 0 reading for phosphates because all the gha is hiding the true readings. I would run Gfo and keep up on water changes and manual removal.

+1

If you have algae issues, then the phosphate is there.

 

[reefer4eva]

Ill try Running GFO

 

[E.intheC]

Also, that's a LOT of rock and not a lot of flow for the tank. I'm sure there are tons of dead spots where detritus is able to build up.

 

[reefer4eva]

The pic is an old pic I have 2 more hydor's in the tank

 

[E.intheC]

Take a look at "rock cooking". It has nothing to do with raising temperatures, but it's essentially keeping the rock in a dark vat with sufficient flow and GFO or similar and doing water changes. This should help with the phosphates that are built up.

 

[reefer4eva]

I know for sure it's the live rock either way I'm going to get a gfo reactor or make one.im just afraid of shocking the system by taking out some rocks (being that its only a nano)to cook them.i think I might be better off getting new rock and cooking it to the point it would be beneficial to replace what I have without doing harm to the system.

 

[fishman1069]

I know for sure it's the live rock either way I'm going to get a gfo reactor or make one.im just afraid of shocking the system by taking out some rocks (being that its only a nano)to cook them.i think I might be better off getting new rock and cooking it to the point it would be beneficial to replace what I have without doing harm to the system.

If you're going to replace the rock, that's the way to do it

 

[Paul B]

There is hardly any algae in that tank. What you have is normal, I would not use Vodka, not use GAC, not cook any rock, not use peroxide and not change water. I think that about covers what not to do.
I also think that the people who do all those things have the most problems. Leave the thing alone and let the tank stabilize by itself. None of my rock is younger than 18 years old so if I don't have to worry about phosphates, neither do you.
"I" would let that algae grow for a while, just keep it off your corals "and" if you don't do any of that drastic and un needed stuff it will eventually settle down and you will not have to do anything. A little hair algae is actually a good and normal thing and nothing to go nuts about. I also know that 97% of the people on here will disagree with me, but those will be the people with the most problems. 99% of the people will also "not" agree with me that 99% of the people who use that stuff have problems.
100% of the people on here would just hope that I would shut up or go away. :scratchch

 

[reefer4eva]

There is hardly any algae in that tank. What you have is normal, I would not use Vodka, not use GAC, not cook any rock, not use peroxide and not change water. I think that about covers what not to do.
I also think that the people who do all those things have the most problems. Leave the thing alone and let the tank stabilize by itself. None of my rock is younger than 18 years old so if I don't have to worry about phosphates, neither do you.
"I" would let that algae grow for a while, just keep it off your corals "and" if you don't do any of that drastic and un needed stuff it will eventually settle down and you will not have to do anything. A little hair algae is actually a good and normal thing and nothing to go nuts about. I also know that 97% of the people on here will disagree with me, but those will be the people with the most problems. 99% of the people will also "not" agree with me that 99% of the people who use that stuff have problems.
100% of the people on here would just hope that I would shut up or go away. :scratchch

My whole back wall is all brown green hair algae that I scrap off once a week.and I agree with you.my whole thing is I rushed the aquascape due to cracking my last tank and I hate the way the aquascaping looks right now but I deal with it until I find the right rocks to use.I vodka dosed for a short period only cause upon setting up the 34 solana emergency transfer I couldn't have my corals and rock sit In a Rubbermaid tote for more than they did.I used the remaining water that was in the 28 nano and used the sand from there awell and this I believe is what caused this whole dilemma in the first place...the tank went thru a mini cycle and that was my reason for vodka dosing which definitely helped I didn't loose anything thru a cycle.

 

[SanmanReefer]

I agree with Paul, I wouldn't dose anything to the tank. I don't even run GFO, I run carbon. Keep up with the water changes and eventually you will win the battle. I would do 10% weekly water changes for at least 3 months, it may take less than that and you should be good.

 

[SteveZ15]

i dont dose anything to remove algae but I do run rowa I added a small amount changed a week later added more changed 2 weeks then added more.. it usually lasts 4-6 weeks when I start to see some algae on the sand bed then I change.But like the people above stated water changes some manual removal and it usually runs its course and fades away.Why do I run gfo? because I am new to reefing and have some nice sps so I was more concerned about phos levels,I dont have any problems so I keep using it because works for my tank.

 

[reefer4eva]

It's not getting out of control by no means its only on my back wall and the usual on the glass that i need to clean daily .iwent from doing 5 gallon water changes weekly to 10 gallon water changes for the last 2 months.i definitely plan on a redoing the aquascape with less rocks which will have better flow thruout and less clutter.and most definitely get and cook the new rock and new sand that I will gradually add....so much easier having a large tank!i never had any problems with my 125 or 90 gallon

 

[drej424]

Long Island Andy showed me some kind of reactor that works great on nitrates. He's on this forum and I'm sure he could explain it to you if you pm him. I'm sorry I don't remember the specifics about it. It comes in different sizes, so maybe there's one for a nano.

Denise

 

[reefer4eva]

Thanks....I'm already in the process of making one that will fit in the return chamber of my solana.i made one in the past so I'm familiar with the concept