tired fustrated and algae

Myka · #1 09-30-2009, 12:57 AM

Ugh...I feel your pain. Been there.

Start by getting the alkalinity around 8, magnesium around 1350-1400. I would just use the kits you have. Be very diligent in testing. Shake up each ingredient well before use (powders and liquids). Rinse the test tube in tank water several times before use (shake it out well). Be accurate in your 5 mL of tank water (or whatever it is) by using the calibration on the syringe, not the test tube. Be sure all the bubbles are out of the syringe when measuring. Hold droppers at a 45 degree angle when dispensing. Use a credit card to gently pack and flatten scoops of powder. Etc...

Try dropping your calcium to about 410-415 ppm which will be a balanced ratio with your 8 dKH alkalinity. Right now your balance if off.

Trim your Chaeto so it can move easily (you will prob toss 2/3 of it...keep the nice clean green stuff), and put a powerhead into that chamber so that the Chaeto ball rolls in the water so those brown dinoflagellates can't grow. What type of light are you using on the Chaeto? On for what hours?

Have you calibrated your refractometer/hydrometer lately? What brand salt are you using? Have you tested the TDS of your RO/DI lately? Calibrated the TDS meter?

Where did you get your live rock from? How did you treat it when you first got it?

e46er · #2 09-30-2009, 01:07 AM

RODI water no TDS meter (i know I know) the water in Vancouver is really clean to start with and the filters arnt that old but i will grab a TDS meter

salt is seachem reef salt

i recalibrated the refractometer about 3 weeks ago............how often are you supossed to recalibrate it?
i got my live rock from a guy on bcaquaria and basically just threw it in the tank to start the cycle............
fuge light is on flip cycle of the actinics so 9pm -130 pm
its a 13W energy saver which claims the output of a 60W
6700 K 900 lumens

ill clean out the fuge and throw in a power head

now kind of a stupid question but how do i lower the Calcium? i wasnt dosing anything for it............

Myka · #3 09-30-2009, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46er

RODI water no TDS meter (i know I know) the water in Vancouver is really clean to start with and the filters arnt that old but i will grab a TDS meter

They're cheap, only like $20.

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46er

salt is seachem reef salt

You know, I have heard of others who have issues with low alkalinity, high calcium, and are using Seachem Reef Salt. I would consider changing salts. I have never been a fan of the Seachem. I would recommend either IO or H2Ocean depending on your budget. Both are tried and true. I haven't used the H2Ocean firsthand yet though. I have two more pails of IO to go through before I try it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by er46er

i recalibrated the refractometer about 3 weeks ago............how often are you supossed to recalibrate it?

I calibrate mine every few months. I don't use it very often though. I use my refractometer to calibrate my hydrometer, then use the hydrometer for daily checks because it's faster. I calibrate the hydrometer monthly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 346er

i got my live rock from a guy on bcaquaria and basically just threw it in the tank to start the cycle............

The guy had it in his tank previously? Did he have any algae issues? Were there any algae on the rock when you got it? Anything aside from coralline?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 346er

fuge light is on flip cycle of the actinics so 9pm -130 pm
its a 13W energy saver which claims the output of a 60W
6700 K 900 lumens

Do you have a reflector for it? If not, consider finding something like this: http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46er

now kind of a stupid question but how do i lower the Calcium? i wasnt dosing anything for it............

I think you gotta change salts. Seachem is notorious for overly high calcium.