ident Algae how to treat?

[banditpowdercoat]

OK, Like the title says. WHat is this brown stringy like algae and how do I get rid of it? I allways Use RO/DI water. But my DI I think us old. I need a refillable canister.
Thx in advance

[Myka]

Heavy diatoms looks like. Read the Guide in my signature. Works for most algaes.

[banditpowdercoat]

Hmm. Is there a test one can get/do for the source water? I make 35G at a time of RO. and its about 10ppm on my meter. 400-700 out of tap. Were on well water..

We have been feeding less and less. My Zoo's have been thriving though. So there is excess nutrients. Cant find all my snails, But they like to go into the sand.

Im going away tomorrow for 3 weeks. Wife is home, but I go out to work. I have 30G of SW made here, I'll do a LARGE change, and try to siphon as much as possible

[Myka]

You can go to most drinking water supply stores and have your water tested, but it's not cheap!!! I think they start around $70. You would be best off adding more stages to your RO/DI like adding a second RO membrane, and possibly a second DI. Use your TDS meter to check the water that comes out of your RO before it goes into the DI. If you have more than 20 ppm going into the DI you're burning that DI out, and should definately add a second RO membrane. The water you add to your tank should be 0 ppm tds, or at the very most 2 ppm. How many GPD is your unit? Some of the faster ones are less efficient.

[banditpowdercoat]

It's a 50GPD unit. membrane hasn't been changed in a while too.

I just did a 15g change. checked notrates and Phosphates of change water, both were 0. running sump into a double filter sock for now. ALOT of fillament flaoties in the water. I brushed off the rock, siphoned as much as I could but still plowing off rocks once tank settles. Also, when I siphined the sand, there was black and brown hairs in the sand? Like a shag carpet, just below the surface of the sand. I bet that's not good HUH?? Assuming it's poop? I dont have much for sand sifters, but didnt want a bare bottom. maybe i should rethink that??

[Myka]

Ooops double post.

[Myka]

Ya, get that RO sorted out so that you're getting less than 2 ppm tds.

Get some sand sifters for your sand. An Orange Lip Conch or a Fighting Conch would be a good choice for a 45g tank. Sounds like trapped sulphurous areas in the sandbed. You can fix it by stirring the sand yourself, but only do a 2x2x2" patch each day. Release too much in one go and you'll poison your tank. The black patches will stink too.

You definately have excess nutrients in the tank, so take a good look at what's going in there.