Please review my water perameters and help me correct.
- Thread starter EmilyB
- Start date
I agree. Do several 20% water changes. Also be aware that there are about 20 different units used to measure hardness, so make sure you are looking at the right one. Don't add supplements. The algae bloom would probably occur regardless of how careful you were adding fish. It is normal aobut 3 months into it, so don't panic and screw with things. I have never met a water problem that was so extreme that it couldn't be corrected with some partial water changes.
Resist the temptation to dump in some bottle of quick fix. Most of these are worse than worthless.
Resist the temptation to dump in some bottle of quick fix. Most of these are worse than worthless.
Hi Bryan,
Things don't look all that bad to me. An alk reading of 4.3 is a little high, but is OK. Many people, including myself, run SPS tanks that high. Your calcium is a little low, but you don't have many calcium hungry inhabitants and 370ppm is an OK level for your tank. If the only algae is the brown dusting type that covers everything including the sand and it is now starting to disappear, that is normal and will tend to go away with no intervention on your part.
Water changes, as already mentioned, are always a good thing, as long as you are using RO/DI water. If you are using tap water, the water changes can tend to promote additional algae growth.
One other thing you might consider is that you do not have any herbivorous fish. They can be helpful in keeping future algae problems under control.
Take care,
---Ken
Things don't look all that bad to me. An alk reading of 4.3 is a little high, but is OK. Many people, including myself, run SPS tanks that high. Your calcium is a little low, but you don't have many calcium hungry inhabitants and 370ppm is an OK level for your tank. If the only algae is the brown dusting type that covers everything including the sand and it is now starting to disappear, that is normal and will tend to go away with no intervention on your part.
Water changes, as already mentioned, are always a good thing, as long as you are using RO/DI water. If you are using tap water, the water changes can tend to promote additional algae growth.
One other thing you might consider is that you do not have any herbivorous fish. They can be helpful in keeping future algae problems under control.
Take care,
---Ken
Two non-chemistry related suggestions-
Add more light- your current lightiing setup will limit what you can keep. Switch out those two powerglos for VHOs if possible.
Change your plumbing- most people plumb their refugium to drain into their display tank. This ensures that none of the critters are chopped up by your return pump before they reach the main tank.
Add more light- your current lightiing setup will limit what you can keep. Switch out those two powerglos for VHOs if possible.
Change your plumbing- most people plumb their refugium to drain into their display tank. This ensures that none of the critters are chopped up by your return pump before they reach the main tank.
Sorry if this is a long post I just wanted to make sure I gave you everythig that might be relevent.
My system:
Tank= 70g
Sump= 15g +-
Light= 1 VHO 90w 50/50, 1VHO 90w super atinic, 2 30w power glow 10k bulbs.
DSB= 4" seeded with live sand from other tanks.
LR= 40lbs
Base rock= 70lbs+-
Refugium= 5 gallons w. 3" DSB, 6 types of Macro, live rock, pods etc. Drains to sump.
About 2 weeks ago my tank started to grow brown diatom algea everywhere. It is now getting under controll.
Age of tank= 3 months
Corals= Leathers, shrooms, frog spawn, green star polyps,button polyps, sea mats, pulsing xenia, gold crown todstool.
Livestock= CB shrimp, hermits, snails,brittle star, tigertail cuke, 2 blue/green chromis, clown, Pajama cardnal, yellow headed jawfish, yellow coris wrass, royal pseudochromis (?)
Here are my specks:
SG= 1.0255,
Calcium= 370,Salifert
PH= 8.6, Red Sea (I think this test is very innacurate, I had it tested by someonelse and it registered 8.2)
Alk = 4.34 meg/L Salifert
Nitrite= 0
Nitrate= 2
Ammonia= 0
What seems out of range most is Alk. What should I do to raise Calcium and lower Alk?
I believe I sucked at adding fish slowly and that is what caused my algea bloom.
Again sorry for the long post, but I really do appreciate all of your input.
Bryan
My system:
Tank= 70g
Sump= 15g +-
Light= 1 VHO 90w 50/50, 1VHO 90w super atinic, 2 30w power glow 10k bulbs.
DSB= 4" seeded with live sand from other tanks.
LR= 40lbs
Base rock= 70lbs+-
Refugium= 5 gallons w. 3" DSB, 6 types of Macro, live rock, pods etc. Drains to sump.
About 2 weeks ago my tank started to grow brown diatom algea everywhere. It is now getting under controll.
Age of tank= 3 months
Corals= Leathers, shrooms, frog spawn, green star polyps,button polyps, sea mats, pulsing xenia, gold crown todstool.
Livestock= CB shrimp, hermits, snails,brittle star, tigertail cuke, 2 blue/green chromis, clown, Pajama cardnal, yellow headed jawfish, yellow coris wrass, royal pseudochromis (?)
Here are my specks:
SG= 1.0255,
Calcium= 370,Salifert
PH= 8.6, Red Sea (I think this test is very innacurate, I had it tested by someonelse and it registered 8.2)
Alk = 4.34 meg/L Salifert
Nitrite= 0
Nitrate= 2
Ammonia= 0
What seems out of range most is Alk. What should I do to raise Calcium and lower Alk?
I believe I sucked at adding fish slowly and that is what caused my algea bloom.
Again sorry for the long post, but I really do appreciate all of your input.
Bryan
What is the brown dusting. I have just converted my fresh water to salt 2 weeks ago and with in the last couple of days I seem to be getting that brown dust on my substrate? I have not yet finished my 1st cycle so I hope it goes after that. All I have is some live rock and 2 Damsels.
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