Red algae

[Slyguy00]

thanks reef pilot, i will look into that for sure

[Reef Pilot]

What do you call super high nitrates? And how often and how much do you change water?

[Slyguy00]

well for now i have the crappy nutrafin max test set so its not exactly the most accurate test set. and i consider high like 20 and above. However i just washed my test tubes, and water syringe really good and re tested, and now it shows 5 or less nitrates, but it still is higher than my nitrites. Just proves how accurate it is. I do a 5 gallon water change once a week.

[Reef Pilot]

Even N03 of 20 is not really high, unless you have SPS corals. Fish certainly don't mind. But you should get a better test kit.

What do you use for P04? Many of the cheaper ones do not measure accurately at the low end. Salifert or a Hanna LR checker work well. I used to think I had no phosphates or very low until I got a Hanna Phosphate checker.

Having said all that, one of my tanks used to have high nitrates (40+ consistently) and high phosphates (over 1.0), but I still did not have a cyano problem because of my MB7 dosing. It adds beneficial bacteria to your system which out competes cyano.

You'd be better off changing 10g of water every 2 weeks.

[Slyguy00]

Thanks for all the input. I will be getting a new test set next week. I need a more accurate mag, all and calcium test anyways. Hagen six. I will deff be looking into that mb7. And really? You think it would be more beneficial to my tank to do 10 every two weeks instead? why is that?

[Reef Pilot]

You get a bigger vol turnover in your tank with 10 g every 2 weeks instead of 5 every week. Do the math.

Or think of it this way. If you changed 50% of your tank every week, or 100% every 2 weeks, which will provide a more complete turnover of your water? Of course that is not practical or recommended, but just wanted to use that example to help make the point.

[Slyguy00]

Makes perfect sense. I will start doing that next time. Thanks for the advise!