Hey all, Looking for validation and/or recommendations on my next steps.
Current setup:
150g DT 55g Sump
3x AI Hydra 32's
Theiling compact rollermat
Reef Octo 200 Regal SSS Skimmer
2x Gyre XF350
Aqua UV 40w UV Sterilizer
So my tank is just over a year old. I would like to think its moderately stocked:
Tangs
-chocoloate
-bluehippo
-blond nasso
-purple
-powder brown
-maculacepes
Foxface
wrasse:
Male leopard
Female Leopard
Adorned
Red Flasher(went missing about 2 months ago)
Solorensis(went missing about 3 weeks ago)
2 oscilarious clowns
Dragon Goby (Brown Banded)
1 cleanershrimp
a few turbo snails/hermit crabs (~ 3 each)
all rock started as white rock or purple reef rock
water parameters started as expected....all 0's for a while and then when Nitrates and Phosphates were registering they held pretty steady....Until the red hair algea started....I suffered through red hair algea for what seemled like ages but was actually like 3 months....I would scrub the rock, overflows, powerheads, all of it several times/ week and towards the end daily. during this time i started to notice Nitrates creep up to around 35.....once the red hair algea started to disappear the nitrates went up to 75.... (this is when i added the protein skimmer) this has brought them back down to around 55 (phosphates around .39) but now the red hair algea is coming back.
Red hair algea is probably my least favorite....and its been creeping in on my near killing my zoas.
my next step was going to be taking a section of my sump that really isnt being used and turning it into a refugium... I got a refugium light from BRS and ordered some Cheato from ReefPro which should be here Thursdays and I am hoping it will help lower nitrates and kill/reduce the red hair algae....what are your thoughts/suggestions?
I think my LFS is at a loss for suggestions or help....she didnt think a refugium would help but everything Ive seen would align to it helping out a ton.
additional point.... Mag is around 1400
Current setup:
150g DT 55g Sump
3x AI Hydra 32's
Theiling compact rollermat
Reef Octo 200 Regal SSS Skimmer
2x Gyre XF350
Aqua UV 40w UV Sterilizer
So my tank is just over a year old. I would like to think its moderately stocked:
Tangs
-chocoloate
-bluehippo
-blond nasso
-purple
-powder brown
-maculacepes
Foxface
wrasse:
Male leopard
Female Leopard
Adorned
Red Flasher(went missing about 2 months ago)
Solorensis(went missing about 3 weeks ago)
2 oscilarious clowns
Dragon Goby (Brown Banded)
1 cleanershrimp
a few turbo snails/hermit crabs (~ 3 each)
all rock started as white rock or purple reef rock
water parameters started as expected....all 0's for a while and then when Nitrates and Phosphates were registering they held pretty steady....Until the red hair algea started....I suffered through red hair algea for what seemled like ages but was actually like 3 months....I would scrub the rock, overflows, powerheads, all of it several times/ week and towards the end daily. during this time i started to notice Nitrates creep up to around 35.....once the red hair algea started to disappear the nitrates went up to 75.... (this is when i added the protein skimmer) this has brought them back down to around 55 (phosphates around .39) but now the red hair algea is coming back.
Red hair algea is probably my least favorite....and its been creeping in on my near killing my zoas.
my next step was going to be taking a section of my sump that really isnt being used and turning it into a refugium... I got a refugium light from BRS and ordered some Cheato from ReefPro which should be here Thursdays and I am hoping it will help lower nitrates and kill/reduce the red hair algae....what are your thoughts/suggestions?
I think my LFS is at a loss for suggestions or help....she didnt think a refugium would help but everything Ive seen would align to it helping out a ton.
additional point.... Mag is around 1400