Chemistry troubles

[TwelveL16]

I’ve been running a waterbox since February. The tank never once had an algae problem. It was a fully functional tank prior to me purchasing it that had been running for a couple years. I upgraded to a bigger tank June 18th using all of the same rock. I added a few pieces of cycled live rock as I needed some room for coral placement and the tank looked a little empty. I now am developing a pretty serious hair algae problem and possibly some Dino’s. Nitrates are 10 and phos is reading 0 but obviously there’s some phos if I have hair algae.

Things that changed-

Upgraded lights, have more par than I did before by about 150.

Added a better refugium light and my chaeto has exploded.

Added a fleece roller to my sump

The few pieces of the rock I added- I note the hair algae seems to be much worse on the new rock vs my old. Concerned it’s leaching something.

The brown algae I suspect could possibly be Dino’s has killed a few SPS corals.


What would you guys do? The coralline is coming very fast on the bottom panel. I have ICP test out that I should get the results this week. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[TwelveL16]

What I fear could be Dino’s developing.

 

[TwelveL16]

 

[rishma]

Edit… how have you measured nitrate and phosphate?

 

[TwelveL16]

Have you measured nitrate and phosphate?

Yep in my post says nitrates 10 phos is reading 0

 

[rishma]

Sorry, forgot the word “how”

As in what kit?

 

[JumboShrimp]

(Nice looking tank. I know virtually any algae can become a joy-killer. I sure you'll come out on top!)

 

[TwelveL16]

Sorry, forgot the word “how”

As in what kit?

Salifert and I understand salifert struggle to detect anything but phosphate in the water column. I assume there’s phosphate that’s being used up fairly quickly by the hair algae and the chaeto which is causing the 0 reading.

 

[js-3Design]

What are you dosing?

are you compensating for the traces and metals the cheato uses?

 

[rishma]

Salifert and I understand salifert struggle to detect anything but phosphate in the water column. I assume there’s phosphate that’s being used up fairly quickly by the hair algae and the chaeto which is causing the 0 reading.

Got it. In my experience and many others, bottoming out phosphate coincides with dinos. I think it’s possible that the new fuge light and new rock have pulled the phosphate very low.

I would not worry about the hair algae for now, but dinos are worth worrying about.

I’d suggest dosing phosphate.

 

[TwelveL16]

What are you dosing?

are you compensating for the traces and metals the cheato uses?

Not likely. I dose kalk in my ATO and a small amount of AFR. I was waiting till my ICP test came back to start in on the trace elements. I have these for when I get the results.

 

[TwelveL16]

Salifert and I understand salifert struggle to detect anything but phosphate in the water column. I assume there’s phosphate that’s being used up fairly quickly by the hair algae and the chaeto which is causing the 0 reading.

Got it. In my experience and many others, bottoming out phosphate coincides with dinos. I think it’s possible that the new fuge light and new rock have pulled the phosphate very low.

I would not worry about the hair algae for now, but dinos are worth worrying about.

I’d suggest dosing phosphate.

I ordered some neophos earlier I was thinking the same thing as it’s already killed two frags. Thank you.

 

[TwelveL16]

(Nice looking tank. I know virtually any algae can become a joy-killer. I sure you'll come out on top!)

Thank you.

 

[js-3Design]

Then you're metals are bottomed out. Indeed wait for the icp.
But you can already order cheato grow and a iron measuring set.

Then you can dose cheato gro by measuring iron.

Cheato looooovvveees metals.

 

[TwelveL16]

Then you're metals are bottomed out. Indeed wait for the icp.
But you can already order cheato grow and a iron measuring set.

Then you can dose cheato gro by measuring iron.

Cheato looooovvveees metals.

Alright thanks for the help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would dose phosphate or feed more. :)

 

[TwelveL16]

I would dose phosphate or feed more. :)

Thanks Randy! Was hoping you’d chime in.

 

[fushi]

Got it. In my experience and many others, bottoming out phosphate coincides with dinos. I think it’s possible that the new fuge light and new rock have pulled the phosphate very low.

I would not worry about the hair algae for now, but dinos are worth worrying about.

I’d suggest dosing phosphate.

I agree ^

I had a LCA Dino problem I couldn’t get rid for a long time, the only thing that worked was no sand, live rock and phosphate dosing.

Anyway I think you’re on the right path with the ICP, and dosing phos. I think once you start adding P both algae and corals will start to look healthier. N will probably start to lower so keep an eye out on that, any N test kit is good, but I prefer the Hannah ULR for phos.

To get rid of the algae:
1. Add more tank cleaners, sally lightfoot crabs, trochus snails, rabbit fish, urchins, etc.
2. Add some biodiversity, real ocean like rock or sand, or prodibio biodigest.
3. As soon as you have 1 & 2 in place deep clean, nylon brush, siphon hose into a filter sock in your sump. This will give 1 & 2 a chance to take hold.


For Phos I like TSP on amazon and make my own phos additive.
TSP
Calculator (use potassium phosphate as source)

Filter socks for cleaning 1 micron

 

[fushi]

December 2024 A week or so after my tank crashed with an Alk overdose
dinos and hair algae got really bad.


Today

It can all be fixed :)

 

[TwelveL16]

December 2024 A week or so after my tank crashed with an Alk overdose
dinos and hair algae got really bad.


Today

It can all be fixed :)

Very nice come back. I will take your advice. Luckily my tomini seems to enjoys the hair algae. Have a Gem and purple in QT hoping they help the tomini. Thank you for your input much appreciated.