Need recommendations on path to cure

[pgooden]

I have a Red Sea Nano Max XL (33 gal AIO). It has been up for almost 1 year and I have NEVER been able to get a Nitrate or phosphate reading always 0.

My Salinity is 34.6
ALK 7.8 - 8.5 (manual dosing)
Calcium 430
Temp 78-79


Also, more concerning, my PH “crashed” yesterday:

I have an auto feeder that runs 1 time/day and I supplement that with a feeding of mysis shrimp every couple of days.

I had what I assumed were diatoms mostly but it has advanced to now being purple stringy matted growth and dark brown “dusting over the substrate.

I have an anemone that has shrunk down and not happy a torch, a mushroom.

I also have a clown, lawnmower and cleaner shrimp plus various snails and crabs.

I run a nano-mat fleece roller and sometimes a protein skimmer.

I don’t want to take wild swings at this so looking for seasoned and proven advice to combat this issue and gain a stable environment.

Help is much appreciated!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It is cyanobacteria, its actually completely unknown why it shows up in our tanks, but it is generally thought to be due to increased organics in the water. It is mainly on the one side of the tank? It might be building up in a low flow spot, I notice its right under the powerhead which is often the low flow spot.

I would run the skimmer full time to pull the doc's out (dissolved organic compounds) and do a few water changes. Double check on the flow along the sand bed, make sure detritus is not building up.

I would suggest to try to beat it naturally, but if you are having trouble you can use chemiclean. Cyano is a bacteria not an algae, and chemiclean is another bacteria which counters the cyano. I've used it a couple of time with good results. But you have to solve the underlying issue's though, or the cyano will come back. Good luck.

 

[pgooden]

Thanks. Any thoughts on why I can’t get any Nitrate or phosphate readings? I mean dead zero on Hannah and salifert tests. I would have thought if I had high organics I would be getting readings or an explosion of algae but I don’t. And I do weekly 10% water changes and siphone the sand every time.

I had the same thoughts on flow and why I added that power head to the tank.

 

[G_Lows]

I have the same tank and somewhat the same issue. I’m running the nano mat and no skimmer. I think it’s hard to have a good bio load in these small tanks due to size and lack of fish population (just my 2 cents). I am dosing tropic Marin plus NP to raise my levels. Once they get to the desired level I will switch to Tropic Marin NP bacto-balance, and likely phos-feed at that time.

Cyano will also consume these nutrients in your water giving you false readings on your tests.