Cyno mat on sandbed

[Cbones1979]

appears to be cyano Mat on sandbed. Just did water change. Tested water and everything is in their usual levels. Running lights 9 hours daily. Stated fuge with chaeto last Friday so figured algae would have company. Do another water change?

 

[Andrew9909]

How old is the tank? Parameters?

 

[Cbones1979]

How old is the tank? Parameters?

Tank going on 2 years.

1.025 sal
400 ca
10 alk
8 ph
15 no3
.5 p04

 

[Magellan]

Is your po4 normally that high?

 

[Andrew9909]

Yeah, po4 definately seems high.

 

[Cbones1979]

Yeah, po4 definately seems high.

That was right before water change. Changed water yesterday. Just started testing reef measurements Thursday.

 

[dru312]

Your not running the white lights 9 hours are you? The white should only be run 4-5 hours a day max and blue (420 nm) 9-12 or so total.

I think you would benefit greatly from an algae scrubber.

 

[Andrew9909]

I'd check it again and see where your at. Phosphate being that high can definately cause some issues.

 

[Cbones1979]

I'd check it again and see where your at. Phosphate being that high can definately cause some issues.

How do you reduce your Phosphates?

 

[Andrew9909]

Water changes, refugium with chaeto, phosguard, phosphate rx, to name a few. Just do a little research on lowering phosphate. There is a lot of info out there.

 

[Cbones1979]

Water changes, refugium with chaeto, phosguard, phosphate rx, to name a few. Just do a little research on lowering phosphate. There is a lot of info out there.

I’ll watch it. I have/do 2 of the above som I’m on the right track.

 

[Cbones1979]

Just checked water after change
1.025
420 Ca
10 Alk
8.0 ph
10 NO3
0 PO4

 

[Cbones1979]

Here’s a better picture

 

[NanoSteam]

That just looks like diatoms to me... also that's a huge phosphate swing to me if you went from .4 to 0 from just a water change. You sure the test kit is correct?

 

[Cbones1979]

That just looks like diatoms to me... also that's a huge phosphate swing to me if you went from .4 to 0 from just a water change. You sure the test kit is correct?

The first number I was iffy so I went higher. I’m sure phosphates were near 0 yesterday

 

[ScottB]

Since you are 2 years into this tank, it is high time to own a Hanna ULR Checker to test your phosphates. If your water was really 0 in PO4 your corals would starve and die. It is a very good idea to know how low (or high) your phosphates are -- particularly if you run low nutrient.

 

[Cbones1979]

Since you are 2 years into this tank, it is high time to own a Hanna ULR Checker to test your phosphates. If your water was really 0 in PO4 your corals would starve and die. It is a very good idea to know how low (or high) your phosphates are -- particularly if you run low nutrient.

So this? Must have been off on the 0 reading as corals are looking better now than ever before

Fat and plump like my women

 

[Cbones1979]

.

 

[ScottB]

.

Yup that will do nicely. If you want to be even MORE precise, you can buy the Hanna ULR Phosphorus Checker which measures out to parts per billion. (But then you have to convert the value back to Phosphates in parts per million.)

Unless your goal is to run ultra low nutrient, the Phosphate one you linked is perfect. Just keep the cuvettes (vials) super clean in either case.

 

[Cbones1979]

Yup that will do nicely. If you want to be even MORE precise, you can buy the Hanna ULR Phosphorus Checker which measures out to parts per billion. (But then you have to convert the value back to Phosphates in parts per million.)

Unless your goal is to run ultra low nutrient, the Phosphate one you linked is perfect. Just keep the cuvettes (vials) super clean in either case.

I’ve been using api saltwater and reef testers. My wife has the eye for color matches but it’s still hard to gauge