green lime and algae problems

C

cesar9059

AC Members
Dec 12, 2006
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Hi everyone I am having some problems with my system so I apreciate some help. I don't know why, but some of my populations aren't helthy. In the last month I loose 2. I am having a big problems with algae. All my sand bed and rock are brown. In the last water change I brush all my rock and remove a lot lot of algae and dirty. Also I don't know why, but my glass are green. I easy clean this green lime but in one day it become. My deep sand bed was recently set up ( about one month ) But I am sure the it is making his job, a lot of bubble are coming frome the DSB so I suppose that is nitrogen gas.

I am using Reef Builder for alkalinity when I add water for evaporations and the oters days I use daily Kent Marine tech CB part 1 and part 2. My tank is 55 g with 18 g refugium with caulerpa and mangroves.

My other datails are:
1 Aqua C Remora Pro skimmer with mag 3 and prefilter box
2 Deep Sand Bed 3-4"
3 Refugium with sand and miracle mud
4 30% water change mountly
5 one bag of chemi pure
6 40 lbs of live rock
7 chiller and heater
8 water temperature is 78-81

My parameters are
1 amonnia = 0
2 nitrite = 0
3 nitrate = 12.5 and lowing
4 ph = 8.2-8.3
5 phosphate ~ 0
6 alkalinity = I don't know the number but my lfs tell me that is good. I think
that can be ~ 3.8-4.2
7 Calcium = 400

Please If some can help I apreciate. I am very down because my situation
thanks
 
Sounds like your having a little Cyanobacteria. This is caused most likely from your high Nitrates. Nitrates are the last step of the nitrogen cycle. You get high nitrates from 1 of 2 ways.

1. OVERFEEDING
2. USE OF TAP WATER.

If your using tap water STOP. Buy an RO unit and use good, clean water for your marine tank. Also your calcium level is a little low try using some kalkwasser to raise that some. In the ocean the natural level of Calcium is 420 so it is recommended to try and keep it around that or even 450. also you shouldnt need to use Reef builder unless your alk level is low to begin with. Your goal is to keep your Alk level at around 2.5 Meq/L. Your wasting your money by adding reef builder since most salt keeps the alk level at or around this level.

I hope this helps if not feel free to ask more questions. Oh and try adding some more powerheads to your tank as well. A good Current in the tank is key to a healthy tank.
 
USCavalry19d said:
Sounds like your having a little Cyanobacteria. This is caused most likely from your high Nitrates. Nitrates are the last step of the nitrogen cycle. You get high nitrates from 1 of 2 ways.

1. OVERFEEDING
2. USE OF TAP WATER.

If your using tap water STOP. Buy an RO unit and use good, clean water for your marine tank. Also your calcium level is a little low try using some kalkwasser to raise that some. In the ocean the natural level of Calcium is 420 so it is recommended to try and keep it around that or even 450. also you shouldnt need to use Reef builder unless your alk level is low to begin with. Your goal is to keep your Alk level at around 2.5 Meq/L. Your wasting your money by adding reef builder since most salt keeps the alk level at or around this level.

I hope this helps if not feel free to ask more questions. Oh and try adding some more powerheads to your tank as well. A good Current in the tank is key to a healthy tank.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks, I am using water from a local store. They use RO/DI filter ( a big one), and UV system.
 
well if your using RO/DI water from your LFS you should check it for nitrates before adding to your aquarium. If your LFS isnt keeping up with the filters for the RO unit then they could be selling you dirty water. if that checks out fine then that only leaves the feeding.
 
Do you think that my problems with algae can be due to the lights. I have
260 w (130w blue actnic and 130w 10 k white) I am using campact lights and are 6 month old. Maybe is time to change.
 
Well it could be if you have them on for a long period of time. Its recemmended to only have the lights on for 8-9 hours a day. But if i were you i would get those Nitrate levels down. I am honestly thinking thats whats causing your problems since thats whats is sticking out so much. in the ocean Nitrates are typically around 0.1 ppm. However, it is fine to have them at 0.2 ppm in the home aquarium. Like i said try to get those nitrate levels down and then see if the algae issue begins to subside.
 
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