One large water change or split it?

[ndz98]

I've had some algae issues this past week and I believe it's from a high level of p04. I have about 33 gallons of water total between my DT and sump. Should I do one 10 gallon water change or should I split it into two? I usually do 5 gallon water changes once every 3-4 weeks. I will probably do them about once a week until I get the algae under control again.

 

[sa6hir]

Keep doing small amounts every 4-5days till you get the P04 under control, then for maintenance doing 5 gallon a week should be good. Once you feel like you have it under control then you could possibly get away with water change every 2weeks. Getting P04 under control with water changes is not a real fix u need to establish why it's high and get to the root cause now that will solve the problem. How's well is your skimmer working, how much do u feed maybe split food into small portions.

 

[jsker]

@sa6hir is right on target, also if you can run some GFO run it. Heck us a nylon and tie a little bit of GFO and put it into the flow of your system;)

 

[ndz98]

@sa6hir is right on target, also if you can run some GFO run it. Heck us a nylon and tie a little bit of GFO and put it into the flow of your system;)

I just put a new bag of chemi pure elite in my sump a couple days ago so hopefully that will help some.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Water changes will only remove po4 in the water column. It won't remove PO4 from the sandbed or rock if it's leeching. In addition to changing out water, you should vacuum the sandbed. If that doesn't cure it, run some GFO to help absorb any po4 leeching. Keeping Alk, PO4 and NO3 stable will help keep po4 from leeching also.

 

[ndz98]

Keep doing small amounts every 4-5days till you get the P04 under control, then for maintenance doing 5 gallon a week should be good. Once you feel like you have it under control then you could possibly get away with water change every 2weeks. Getting P04 under control with water changes is not a real fix u need to establish why it's high and get to the root cause now that will solve the problem. How's well is your skimmer working, how much do u feed maybe split food into small portions.

I'd say the skimmer is doing alright. It pulls some dark stuff out of the water every day. I'm probably going to pull it out and clean it soon just to make sure it's working as efficient as it can be. I forget exactly but don't people usually clean salt water things with vinegar? Also I am going to try to feed a little less and see if that might be part of the problem.

 

[jsker]

I just put a new bag of chemi pure elite in my sump a couple days ago so hopefully that will help some.

Give it about a week

 

[ndz98]

I'm gonna pull my skimmer out and give it a good clean today to make sure it's running as efficiently as possible. Correct me if I'm wrong, but, you use white vinegar to clean with right? Do you fill a tub with white vinegar and let it sit in it or do you just pour it on the thing you're cleaning?

 

[ndz98]

Pulled the sump and skimmer out and cleaned them really good today and replaced about 5 gallons of water too. Skimmer sounds and looks to be running much more efficient now. The chaeto is also moving and tumbling around much better. Hopefully it will grow better and not get so much gunk caught up in it. Guess we will play the waiting game and see if this helps with my problem.

 

[AXO]

If I were you id consider running NOPOX, vodka, or vinegar. Ive had superior luck avoiding algae with it. I have absolutely none in my tank.

 

[ndz98]

If I were you id consider running NOPOX, vodka, or vinegar. Ive had superior luck avoiding algae with it. I have absolutely none in my tank.

How do you use any of those? I've never had to before.

 

[AXO]

How do you use any of those? I've never had to before.

I would google vodka dosing or go to your lfs to buy some Red Sea NO-PO-X its got dosing directions and basically starves the algae.