cant control nitrates while removing HA

nrosdal · #1 11-10-2009, 05:05 AM

I have been in the process of cleaning up my tank of allot of hair algae for the past while. I installed a turf algae scrubber a bit over a month ago to help with water nutrient levels, and it did. also started dosing vodka which hasn't seemed to help or hinder the process. I then continued adding a bunch of snails, a few crabs, and a lawnmower blenny to get rid of the hair all over my live rock in hopes that it wouldn't grow back with my N and P levels now under control. That is the case for the most part. But since my little critters have been devouring truck loads of algae my phosphates have jumped(which i have counteracted with some gfo, water changes, ect.) But, my nitrates have gone off the charts and will not drop no mater how many water changes i have been doing.

i am in the process of getting a piece of cheato from one of the nice members here to add to my fuge/turf scrubber ... is there anything you can recommend to help with the nitrates for the short term until all my hair is gone from display and done being digested my my lil pals?

thanks

Nick

BlueAbyss · #2 11-10-2009, 04:34 PM

Sounds like your 'fuge (and scrubber) aren't keeping up with the nutrient input. There are a few things you can do...

1. Cut back on feeding. If you feed pellets or flake, stop and switch to drained frozen (mysis works well).

2. Get a skimmer, if you don't already have one.

3. Chemipure Elite works well if you have a small tank, it gets expensive if you tank is larger.

4. Change your 'fuge so it's focus is nutrient export.

whatcaneyedo · #3 11-10-2009, 06:27 PM

If you have anything like filter sponges/pads or bio balls take them out of the system immediately.

nrosdal · #4 11-10-2009, 11:15 PM

feeding has been cut back for my fish but the clean up crew is feasting on so much algae that their waste is giving some major nitrate issues. i have my skimmer running a little wetter then normal to help export a little extra waste and the only foam pad i have in the tank is a small one on the skimmer return to kill the bubbles and is cleaned very regularly.

blueabyss... what did u mean when u said to Change your 'fuge so it's focus is nutrient export.?

my ats is for exporting nutrients as is my skimmer and i am adding cheto in hopes that will help. any other suggestions? i was considering putting some rubble or a sand bed in the fuge but have read so many conflicting opinions on that subject that i left it bare.

whatcaneyedo · #5 11-11-2009, 12:06 AM

A larger/better skimmer might solve your problem. What do you currently have? What is the volume of your system and what fish do you have in it?

SmallFry · #6 11-11-2009, 12:38 AM

Just wondering - could the lack of phosphate because of the GFO be limiting the rate of growth (and nitrate take up) in your turf scrubber? I was under the impression that algae requires both nitrate and phosphate to grow..

nrosdal · #7 11-11-2009, 12:39 AM

equip:
my skimmer does kinda suck(coralife 125) tank is a 120g tall ,20gal sump ,10 gal fuge ,1200gph mag drive pump

livestock:
11"vlamingi tang, 4-5inch hippo tang, 2-3inch chromis, 2-3inch lawnmower blenny, snails/crabs ect..

nrosdal · #8 11-11-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmallFry

Just wondering - could the lack of phosphate because of the GFO be limiting the rate of growth (and nitrate take up) in your turf scrubber? I was under the impression that algae requires both nitrate and phosphate to grow..

it might if i keep with it later on.. but for right now i am using it to get me below the 1ppm mark because tank was well over 5 when i started. growth is very good on turf still and i will discontinue use pretty soon as my last test had me at just a hair over 1ppm of phosphte.

nrosdal · #9 11-13-2009, 04:17 PM

well, nitrates have dropped off to 50 and then to 10. tank is only 10% algae covered... turbo snails are like magic creatures. another week and i think i should be green free and hopefully back to 0 nitrate. soon to be looking for frags in the kelowna area!!

whatcaneyedo · #10 11-13-2009, 06:03 PM

Your turbo snails are eating the hair algae? Thats interesting to know, I thought they only ate turf algae. But now that you mention it I did have a turbo snail for several years and no bryopsis problem until recently after its death. Tuxedo Urchins also work well for me but I cant keep them in my display tanks because they always go up to the overflow and get their insides sucked out.

Presently both my phosphate and nitrate levels are nearly undetectable but I still have an issue with bryopsis. However I find if I remove it from a spot (with a butane torch) it doesnt grow back. ATM my coral growth is actually out-competing it for space so with a little manual removal I seem to be winning the race.