Too much Co2

[tarponjim]

I sent a sample of my water out to be tested at Coral Reef Research because of a hair algae problem I've been battling, but winning. I did the usual - phosphate removal, shortend photo period, etc. They told me my biggest problem is high Co2 and high Co2 partial pressure(pCo2). They checked for 26 parameters and I only have one out. I'm not sure how to correct, especially since my other parameters are fine. Any help would be appreaciated.
Thanks, Jim.

 

[robbinson]

I don't know about the C02 solution - but I won the battle of the ugliest hair algae out break anyone has probably seen: I was frustrated with this problem for months - researched the hell out of it - in my case - determined that nitrates were the most likely culprit. I ultimately solved the (very costly) problem by (i) manually removing all live rock, scrubing as much of the algae off as possible and returning the rocks to the tank, (ii) 1 week of daily 20% water changes, (iii) removed my entire sandbed and replaced it with fresh sand, (iv) ran the tank with lights off for 5 days (long enough to break the hair algae cycle and kill most of the remainder but short enough that my corals all survived) and (v) upgraded my skimmer from a precision marine venturi to an ETSS Gemini 800.

In addition - I added an armly of scarlet hermits, turbo and cerith snails and mithrax (emerald) crabs - as well as a lawnmower blenny. My purple tang (long time resident of the tank never touched the hair algae).

Hope some of that info is helpful to you.

 

[tarponjim]

Thanks,
I've about won the algae battle. I did most of the same things. Only I have next to zero nitrates. I had a small (<.02) amount of Po4 but removed with my Po4 filter. I had read on a site about how they test your water so you can check your calibration or get help with a problem. I knew I had a problem with my Co2 because on their test kit you need to use your ph and alk to get a # for total alk which co2 % is a part of. With all my parameters being within range (great), I'm not sure as how to adjust. Can it be as simple as add an airstone to my sump? I live in Florida and my a/c runs 24/7. I've heard of that being an issue. It's like having a glass lid on your tank. I was hoping someone had some experience with this.?????

 

[Marcosreef]

Hello,

My reef is in my basement where the A/C runs all day too. I also have a problem with excess CO2 in the room.

What you can do is get some fresh air into the room at night, when it's a bit cooler at night.

Dosing limewater also is a very good option, and will help with the CO2 and problem algaes too.

Carbon Dioxide Article

Carbon Dioxide Tests Article

Indoor Air Quality Article

Marco

 

[aquarist=broke]

determined that nitrates were the most likely culprit. I ultimately solved the (very costly) problem by
(i) manually removing all live rock, scrubing as much of the algae off as possible and returning the rocks to the tank,
(ii) 1 week of daily 20% water changes,
(iii) removed my entire sandbed and replaced it with fresh sand,
(iv) ran the tank with lights off for 5 days (long enough to break the hair algae cycle and kill most of the remainder but short enough that my corals all survived) and
(v) upgraded my skimmer from a precision marine venturi to an ETSS Gemini 800.

I totally see the above as a real cure for the hair algae blues. I also had problems, but they're mostly gone now. I almost used the same formula as robbinson did.

1. I just manually pruned my rocks while they were in the tank. No scrubbing either. They are some things that grow on the rock that I feel don't profit from getting a few seconds of air or from a mean scrubbin'.

2. Instead of a week of water changes, I mixed the saltwater and did the whole tank water change. I rearranged the rocks as low as they could go, and drained.

3. I mixed the hell out of the sand before I changed the water. There was a really dark dark colored water from this. I also wouldn't recommend doing this with any "animals" in the tank. My tank is pretty void of life that you probably have.

4. I just pretty much shortened the photo period from 12 hours to 10. I never kept them in the dark.

5. Upgraded my skimmer to a Berlin Classic. Thing really gets the scum out.

I hate to admit it, but I think that I had this hair problem from adding too much at one time. I purchased a few chromis one week. Then I added an anemone a couple weeks later. Then I begin feeding this anemone Shrimp and such making my nutrients soar. Water changes are now the only thing that gets them down.

Good luck with the bastard hair algae.
Before:

Last month:

 

[Nathan1]

Might I ask what your pH is since you say you have a CO2 problem?

Dripping kalkwasser is a great way to reduce your CO2 (and consequently increase your pH), but it's a pain. Opening a window might help too, as well as getting a proper skimmer. A skimmer will help "blow off" some excess CO2 from your water if your room isn't saturated with CO2 to beging with.

-Nathan

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
With good skimmer, excessive CO2 should not a problem. As Nathan said, kalk will help. What skimmer do you have?

However, I want to add that algea problem is almost never due to excessive CO2. Unlike freshwater plant tank, CO2 is not the limiting factor for algea growth. Organic nutrient and inorganic nutrient like phosphate is the main reason, not CO2.

 

[Chucker]

Curious about the methodology used here.... Was the sample filtered before it was sent? How much time did it spend in transit to the lab? What temp was it kept at?

 

[randy holmes-farley]

I agree with O P. I think that people who blame CO2 for algae problems are inappropriately extrapolating from freshwater systems.

 

[wade1]

Another thing not usually considered in CO2 issues is the time of sampling. If you have hair algae issues, the algae will produce a great deal of CO2 and release it into the tank. Which came first? The CO2 increase or the algae? Hmmm...


Wade

 

[O P Ing]

hi.

If you have hair algae issues, the algae will produce a great deal of CO2 and release it into the tank.

:?
Do you mean when the algea is decomposing?

 

[randy holmes-farley]

I should add that the reason that CO2 is not usually a factor in the growth of things like microalgae and macroalgae in seawater is that they use bicarbonate as the carbon source, not CO2. Bicarbonate is typically present in seawater at concentrations far, far higher then H2CO3/CO2, and these organsims have adapted to take advantage of that fact (a fact that is not usually true in freshwater).

 

[tarponjim]

Wow. Thanks for all the replies. Marco provided some good articles. I think I understand ph/alk/Co2 a little better. I do have low and falling Ph at times. I need to get some fresh air in here.
If you go to the NatuReef site, ( a popular brand in here in Fl) www.natureef.com, at the bottom is a link for the water sampling. They do a great job. I was just confused as to how to rectify my high Co2 levels.
As far as the hair algae. As I said -I've about got it licked. I did the usual as it seems you guys do too. I already have low Po4 and nitrtates, so it wasn't hard eliminating them, and my light bulbs are fairly new. As far as manual removal - it's a 180 gallon tank. I brushed the rocks(it's packed) and syphoned into a sock in my sump - twice a week. Me and my wife perfected that years ago. One brushes and the other syphons with the syphon thing you use to clean you substrate and into a sock in your sump. Of course I have tons of snails, hermits, emerald crabs, a kole tang, lemon peel angle, and a few other algae eaters included in my reef. But they will only eat when the algae is short and fresh.
I can't remember any more questions. Thanks to all. I need to reread Marco's articles on indoor air and Co2/Ph.
Jim.