Am I overfeeding? or underfeeding?

[DonW]

Take a closer look at ph early morning and mid day. This will give you a good idea whats happening as far as organics.

Don

 

[auqua man]

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.

the water looked dirty for around 1 hour then settled down.I will have to do it again to get the stuff that settled down again on the rocks, most should go down to the sump filter.I will have to wait to see for changes I will post again.

 

[auqua man]

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

Thanks krish. One day I will look back and laugh at all my dumb mistakes:lol:

 

[auqua man]

Take a closer look at ph early morning and mid day. This will give you a good idea whats happening as far as organics.

Don

I have a pinpoint ph monitor an I always look at it. Morning ph 7.97 afternoon 8.15-8.22 could you explain the organics thing to me?
scott

 

[auqua man]

Ed I am on the new feeding routine I will keep you posted on how it works. Thanks for the help.
Scott

 

[LakeEd]

Anytime Scott. Just hope between everyone's suggestions here, you'll find that your algae problem is on its way OUT of your tank!

 

[DonW]

I have a pinpoint ph monitor an I always look at it. Morning ph 7.97 afternoon 8.15-8.22 could you explain the organics thing to me?
scott

As the organics rot and /or get used co2 will be produced causing a ph reduction. If you take some water outside and see a ph increase then you have co2 issues. You can either blame it on your house being to closed up or organics. Most of the time its organics and not the house.

Don

 

[auqua man]

Thanks Don
I am going to get the organics test today along with some other toys
I will post the results today.
Scott

 

[auqua man]

As the organics rot and /or get used co2 will be produced causing a ph reduction. If you take some water outside and see a ph increase then you have co2 issues. You can either blame it on your house being to closed up or organics. Most of the time its organics and not the house.

Don

Don I tested the water outside there was a ph increase.What can I do about the organics??

 

[DonW]

Don I tested the water outside there was a ph increase.What can I do about the organics??

Water changes, bigger skimmer, filter socks changed every other day, more flow are all ways to help. Organics something we all battle, you just need to keep trying different stuff.

Don

 

[auqua man]

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.

Yea tested with Salifert today if I tested right I got 4 :shock:
Where would I run the carbon in my sump??

 

[returnofsid]

Put some carbon in a media bag and put it anywhere in the sump where it'll get a lot of flow.

 

[auqua man]

Put some carbon in a media bag and put it anywhere in the sump where it'll get a lot of flow.

Thats seems easy enough thanks.

 

[Jumpincactus]

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.

This is very true. I beleiev it is orthophosphate that cannot be detected with conventional test kits. There is also a theory that the nuisnace algae is utilizing the available nutrients/PO4 quicker than can be detected. I have no proof that this is true but it sort of makes sense.

 

[burning2nd]

ROdi water + a nice water change devided by reduced feeding will give you less algae.

Ill tell you my Killer algae story.
Might help you.
bam

when my tank started....... few weeks i had my first fish a hermit and some snails, (still have snails and hermit)

Right off the bat i was feeding to much. what happens with frozen foods is that you really have to defrost and rinse good b4 you toss it in..

this was my first out brake of something (that kicked my butt)
i had cyno come and go. Some other red algea that went in a week..
butt this bush, (i should have let go)

after pulling it off. it spread like crazy.... at that time i came to these guys..
needless to say ive bin fighting this algea like crazy since almost a year now.

the biggest changer wastnt the amount of water changes. but the amount of food being placed in the tank..

as soon as i changed from feeding frozen all the time it started to level out.

IF you have a sump thats probly the eazyest way to get rid of it..... by leting something grow bigger down below. Then removed it from time to time..

a cube of braine sounds like a lot of lota food unless you have a hungy squad of fish....

that was what i was feeding at first.....

now i give them enough Ocean nutrients pellets pinched in one figer to thumb
slowly over a few min (giveing them time to chew)

 

[burning2nd]

i would cut back on feeding get your self in to a feeding rutein and see what happens in 2 months

 

[Damsel13]

Oh my, oh my I see what you meant about the algae. Those snails look real happy tho.
Do you know what the darker red growing on your rock is? And is it slightly raised like suede? I think it is attractive and I have some but someone told me (I don't think on RF ) that it was not good to have.

Thanks,
Debbie
P.S. Like my new Holiday avatar?:razz: :lol:

 

[burning2nd]

coraline algae???

ya its kinda slimy 2 the touch.... resontly (say over the last few weeks) ive gotten a die outt and changeing of the tank.... last night my ph was low for the first time ever.... so im gonna check that in about an hour.. should be low. but hopefully higher then last night....


this pick is the same rock now that algea is almost gone and theres a anonome on it, but take notice to the deep red stuff almost gone

take notice the top of the right rock behind the tood

the tops of my rocks are white like dieing off......

so
somethings probly not right.

 

[burning2nd]

Whats your live stock?

 

[Damsel13]

Those are big chromis! Either that or you have a little clown