Im not able to get my nitrates and phosphates up. I’m feeding frozen and pellet foods twice daily. Tried shutting down the skimmer for a few days and only got an algae bloom and no nutrients. I’m starting to think about dosing. Any suggestions
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Is this a newer tank? Might need to raise the nutrients and let it get ugly for a while.
You are talking about increasing the refugium light up to 16 hours correct? I'm currently dealing with the same issue. My tank is 9 months old and I've had a weird algae the whole time. It goes in cycles. I can clean it out by hand, and the tank will act like it's about to get better, but the algae never fully clears up. Then comes back again.. I've cut back my lighting in the display to 6 hours. Turned my lights on Acclimation mode. (Running AB+ on hydra 26) I've reduced feeding. The algae that I'm seeing is not your typical GHA. Its brown and ugly as all get out. Nitrates and phosphates both measure 0. On accusation I can get a reading of .003 ppb phosphorus, but it's only once every 5 times of testing and I test once a week.Is there space for the chaeto to grow or is it rather confined in the refugium? If not, you need to prune.
I would recommend a manual removal of the hair algae (or introduce something that heavily consumes it). If that doesn't fix it, I would recommend increasing the timing on the lights (up to 16 hours). If that doesnt fix it, increase your lighting wattage.
looks like cyanobacteria.You are talking about increasing the refugium light up to 16 hours correct? I'm currently dealing with the same issue. My tank is 9 months old and I've had a weird algae the whole time. It goes in cycles. I can clean it out by hand, and the tank will act like it's about to get better, but the algae never fully clears up. Then comes back again.. I've cut back my lighting in the display to 6 hours. Turned my lights on Acclimation mode. (Running AB+ on hydra 26) I've reduced feeding. The algae that I'm seeing is not your typical GHA. Its brown and ugly as all get out. Nitrates and phosphates both measure 0. On accusation I can get a reading of .003 ppb phosphorus, but it's only once every 5 times of testing and I test once a week.
I agree that I see cyno setting on top of some algae. It's very noticeable in the first picture.. the actual algae is very dark. Almost brown in color. The black substrate makes it look even darker.looks like cyanobacteria.
I have multiple test kits all ready the same.I would get a friend with another test kit, then try another brand of test kit. Compare results. When I have an issue, I generally confirm numbers with 2 different testers.