Algae Bloom

[Anonymous]

Ok

I got a major alge bloom the past two days. Did a 10% water change tonight and began looking for the source of the problem. The basic water test are

PH=8.4, NH3=0, NO2=0,NO3=5.0.
So I picked up a Calcium, KH, and Phospate test.

Calcium was a little low. 300 ppm
KH was running 200 ppm
Phospahte 1 ppm

Looks like Phosphate is causing my main problem but some of the other water specs are off. Any suggetions how to proceed. I was buying my DI water, however starting this past week I strated using a ne RO/DI unit. Tested the water from the unit and no phopate=0

The only thing in the 50gal tank is live rock, and 3 Inches of fine grain sand. Only thing that happened the power head came off the glass and made a major sand storm in the tank. Skimmer is pulling off about 2 cups of green stuff a day.

Thanks to all

 

[Anonymous]

What are the tank inhabitants and what do you feed?

 

[Anonymous]

Guy

I have nothing in the tank except whats on the LR and not feeding at all. The fish died from the first ammonia spike of about 7 ppm early in the process. (Bad advise from LFS and poor research)

Water is clear, Canister filter running carbon, Skimmer pulling off about a cup of green stuff everyday, allge is rust colored and growing rapidly the past 72 hours. Did add 260w of compact lighting.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

New lights will cause an algea bloom as will disturbing a sandbed, also tho, it sounds like your still cycling? How long has the tank been set up?

Another point. A 10% water change is only 5g and not going to do that much.

 

[Anonymous]

An ammonia spike of 7ppm is plenty high to kill most of the animals living in the live rock. It could take months for all the nutrients from the rotting organic material to leech out of the rock.

My suggestion is to get new rock and not let ammonia climb above 0.5ppm during the next cycle. If you keep the current rock I believe you're going to have algae trouble for a long time.

 

[Anonymous]

The rock was put in after the spike that killed everything. The LR has not seen anything above .5 ammonia.

 

[Anonymous]

The rock was put in after the spike that killed everything. The LR has not seen anything above .5 ammonia.

That's great news! That means the PO4 you're measuring is just in the water column. IMO you'll see a bit more algae until water changes remove the remaining Phosphate but after that your cleanup crew (snails??) should be able to handle most of the algae.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you

 

[Anonymous]

OK

I added 10 snails and 4 hermit crabs. Cut lighting to 8 hours. I was also given a small rock with small group of Brown Zoas.

Thanks all

 

[Anonymous]

The clean up crew seems to be doing a good job. I think I am on the right track. I will keep you posted.