auqua man
Well-known member
I am concerned that I have high nutrient level in my tank. Not shure if I am over feeding. How do I know if the nutrients are high.
Am I overfeeding? or underfeeding?
- Thread starter auqua man
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LakeEd
Achilles
Test your Nitrates and Phosphates. Usually, if nutrients are high, it will show up in both of those.
auqua man
Well-known member
Nitrates are 5 ppm Phosphates are 0 but I still have an algae problem?
LakeEd
Achilles
Your Nitrate level of 5 is good... as is a phosphate undetectable.
What makes you feel that you are over feeding? How often do you feed, and how much? Also, I don't remember, but how long have you had your system setup? Our tanks go thru many various cycles... and an algae cycle is also normal in the first 6 months or so.
What makes you feel that you are over feeding? How often do you feed, and how much? Also, I don't remember, but how long have you had your system setup? Our tanks go thru many various cycles... and an algae cycle is also normal in the first 6 months or so.
auqua man
Well-known member
My tank setup is 11 months. I feed a pinch of pellets in the morning and a cube of brine shrimp at dinner. And one pump of Bioplankton 4 or 5 times a week.
LakeEd
Achilles
I'm not a huge fan of the Bioplankton, but it doesn't sound like you are massivly overfeeding at all.
What do you have in the way of a clean-up crew in your system? And... exactly how bad of an algae problem are you talking about?
What do you have in the way of a clean-up crew in your system? And... exactly how bad of an algae problem are you talking about?
auqua man
Well-known member
I have lots of snails and 2 cucumbers. Not a huge problem but green algie on the rocks where no light hits. It has been getting worse latly?
LakeEd
Achilles
I'm a big fan of Trochus snails. They have always done very nicely for me with any green algae my system may think about growing.
About the only other thing I can think of off the top of my head right now, would be to ask you what type water you are using? RO? RO/DI? NSW? Tap???
If all else fails... you could try alternating your feeding cycle slightly, and seeing if that seems to make any difference for you. Say, day 1, you feed your normal 2 meals a day. Day 2, you only feed in the morning. Day 3, back to normal two meals... Day 4, only feed in the evenings... then back to day 1 schedule again.
Any change like this is a very slow change in your system... however changing things slowly is usually the best way.
About the only other thing I can think of off the top of my head right now, would be to ask you what type water you are using? RO? RO/DI? NSW? Tap???
If all else fails... you could try alternating your feeding cycle slightly, and seeing if that seems to make any difference for you. Say, day 1, you feed your normal 2 meals a day. Day 2, you only feed in the morning. Day 3, back to normal two meals... Day 4, only feed in the evenings... then back to day 1 schedule again.
Any change like this is a very slow change in your system... however changing things slowly is usually the best way.
auqua man
Well-known member
Thanks Ed you are very helpful. I have a few Trochus snails myself along with others. I think your idea is great and I will start tomorrow. I think I am still traumatized from 2 months ago when I had red slime algae take over the tank. I used Ultra Life red slime remover it worked great. But I worry, I`m not shure I found the cause.
LakeEd
Achilles
Keep us informed as to your tanks progress. Hopefully any ideas I tossed out can help a little at least.
auqua man
Well-known member
RO/DI water
LakeEd
Achilles
Just so you know... I only feed my fish every other evening. I used to feed nightly, probably over feeding when I did feed. Now, I still feed the same amount, but only doing that every other evening. My tank's nitrate level is now ZERO... something I never could get to before, and I no longer have any algae problems.
In all fairness though... my new zero nitrates, as well as lack of algae could also be due to having a very agressive closed loop circulating about 5800gph, something I never had before either.
In all fairness though... my new zero nitrates, as well as lack of algae could also be due to having a very agressive closed loop circulating about 5800gph, something I never had before either.
auqua man
Well-known member
5800 ghp WOW drool drool lol
Keep in mind that some forms of phosphates don't show up using test kits. If the phosphates are bound in the substrate or rockwork, it won't show up doing normal tests. Test water that you pull from a hole in the rock or dig a shallow hole in the sand and test water from there. You may find different results. What kind of algae are you having a particular problem with? That will go a long way towards helping to figure out the best way for you to combat it.
auqua man
Well-known member
the algae is green,
lite and dark. Good idea with the test. I put a powerhead on my rock last night and was shocked how much crap came off.
Krish
RF STAFF
LOL!! That's why I love high flow so you don't have to worry about doing that all the time. That detritus that settles on the rocks, fuels algae which is why people recommend blowing them off every day or so if your flow doesn't do the job for you. I fought with dropping my nitrates from 10ppm to 0 and it took months! You are almost there so just keep up with your water changes and keeping things clean and give it some time
Damsel13
Well-known member
What happened after you "washed" the rock? Any change? I am curious because I am having a similar problem however my tank is probably not nearly as stable as yours yet.
Aqua Man, since you're blowing a lot of detritus off of your rock, you may want to temporarily install a power filter to get rid of all that junk. Also, when doing water changes, it doesn't hurt to use a turkey baster to blast your rocks clean while syphoning near the rock to catch most of what you blow free.
Herefishyfishy
Smart Bass
If you have a sump, could use a sock filter for a period of time. Water changes and try phophate remover will help with the algae. Been told the nutritional value of brine shrimp is poor.
11 months is about enough time for the nutrient buildup in your sand to start leaching back out to fuel nuisance algaes. Probably organics as much as anything. Salifert makes an organics test ket. Somewhat qualitative rather than quantitative, but if you register anything, not good. You could also try running some carbon.
