I'm starting to get at my wit's end. The only thing in my tank that seems to grow is hair algae and I cannot figure out why.
The tank has been up for about 7 months now, last fish add was about 2 months ago. I have a RODI system I use for water. I do 10-12% water changes weekly. My parameters don't seem out of whack:
Phosphates: 0.1
Nitrates: 5
Ammonia: 0
Ph: 8.15
Temp: 78F
I have purchased 3 separate balls of chaeto and they all eventually die in a refugium running on an opposite light cycle with a GRO light (10 hours). The only thing that seems to grow in the fuge is a back sludge despite the extra powerhead in there to keep flow.
As far as the DT goes, I run the lights for 7 hours at 10%, as the fish use it for feeding triggers. I have 2 powerheads in addition to the return that is about 600-700 GPH. The hair algae grows like mad. I suck a whole bunch out every week and most of it is back during the next water change. I have not run my skimmer in at least a month (one is present).
I added 3 quarts of pods to the refugium and 3 quarts to the main tank (@Reef By Steele special - great customer service) and started dosing phyto. I cannot see any pods in either the DT or refugium, so I assume they've all died like anything non-fish despite having hotels and plenty of rock.
Does anyone have any ideas what is going on? I would prefer not to dose chemicals, but I'm getting sick of having a lousy-looking tank. If it is part of the ugly phase, so be it, but it'd be good to know either way.
The tank has been up for about 7 months now, last fish add was about 2 months ago. I have a RODI system I use for water. I do 10-12% water changes weekly. My parameters don't seem out of whack:
Phosphates: 0.1
Nitrates: 5
Ammonia: 0
Ph: 8.15
Temp: 78F
I have purchased 3 separate balls of chaeto and they all eventually die in a refugium running on an opposite light cycle with a GRO light (10 hours). The only thing that seems to grow in the fuge is a back sludge despite the extra powerhead in there to keep flow.
As far as the DT goes, I run the lights for 7 hours at 10%, as the fish use it for feeding triggers. I have 2 powerheads in addition to the return that is about 600-700 GPH. The hair algae grows like mad. I suck a whole bunch out every week and most of it is back during the next water change. I have not run my skimmer in at least a month (one is present).
I added 3 quarts of pods to the refugium and 3 quarts to the main tank (@Reef By Steele special - great customer service) and started dosing phyto. I cannot see any pods in either the DT or refugium, so I assume they've all died like anything non-fish despite having hotels and plenty of rock.
Does anyone have any ideas what is going on? I would prefer not to dose chemicals, but I'm getting sick of having a lousy-looking tank. If it is part of the ugly phase, so be it, but it'd be good to know either way.