Nutrient Issues?

[goose0211]

I'm starting to think I have the balance between Nitrates and phospahtes a little out as am starting to see some hair algae growing.

All has been well for a year or so and most params have been stable until recently

Tank is 250litre
Nitrates - generally around the 2-5 mark - Salifert mainly
Phosphates - 0 - they have bee mostly around 0.02 to 0.06 - Hanna ULR phosphate
Alk - approx 6 - mainly been at 8 but dropped of and trying to raise back up - Salifert
Calcium stable at 430 - Salifert
Mag - rarely test as always shows very high results which i dont think is right
Salinity 35 - Hanna checker

I dose a very low amount of nopox - prob about 0.2 ml a day after dilution and have been for about a year which keeps nitrates where they are
I run rowaphos on and off if the phosphates creep up
Carbon also running in a media reactor - only last months or so - Started it to help keep water 'cleaner'

Any advice to keep the algae at bay as reluctant to increase nopox in case nitrates bottom out - reluctant to keep running rowaphos as Phosphates at 0.

Thanks!

 

[Rmckoy]

For some reason I don’t know. .
Rowaphos works but if you shut it off or don’t use it for a while it isn’t any good to start and stop .
It apparently does something to the media itself ?

I’d try getting alk up above 7
Mine is stable at 7.5dkh

 

[reefinnewb]

Honestly at those numbers, i'd get a larger CUC. Keep the p04 above 0 and n03 where it's at and you should be fine.

What is your source water? RODI ? What is the TDS?

EDIT: As stated above. Try and get your Alk a bit higher.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree that trying to deter algae with low nutrients can cause more trouble than benefit, and manual removal plus getting organisms that consume it can be a better bet.