0 nitrates, brown/cyano algae?

[IBMGeek]

I just tested my water and got supposedly 0 nitrates (measured twice). You think this is possible? If indeed nitrates are 0 then I must have crazy levels of phosphate (dont have test kit). I added the chaeto a couple months ago but brown algae grows on rock a day after I clean it.

Well anyways I did a water change right now (about 40g) since I have not done one since I started setup, then letting it mix with old water and doing another water change later (15g). And going to try to hook up my phospate reactor this week to see if it helps.

[missionsix66]

Got good flow?

[reeferhead]

I think I am having this same problem

[reeferhead]

How fast will brown algea kill the things in my tank. Why does it have little air bubbles attached to it?

[wildreef]

Originally Posted by IBMGeek

I just tested my water and go supposedly 0 nitrates (measured twice). You think this is possible? If indeed nitrates are 0 then I must have crazy levels of phosphate (dont have test kit). I added the chaeto a couple months ago but brown algae grows on rock a day after I clean it.

Well anyways I did a water change right now (about 40g) since I have not done one since I started setup, then letting it mix with old water and doing another water change later (15g). And going to try to hook up my phospate reactor this week to see if it helps.

duration / spectrum of lighting will cause it ,
Most of the time it's over feeding ( or a big bio load , plays hand in hand here ) causing phosphate levels to rise thereby
giving brown "diatome" and cyano / hair algae, etc. a reason to grow.
and of course regular water changes will help as well.

[IBMGeek]

About 1200 gph from two exits ( In the future might do closed loop but for now got to work with this). Im even getting brown algae on places the flow is hitting directly

I think the little bubbles in the algae just get trapped in the algae.

[missionsix66]

Phosphates are an issue in regards to red-slime. The 2 main food sources are phosphates and nitrates. Are you using R.O. water? And are your bulbs up-to-date?

[IBMGeek]

Originally Posted by wildreef

duration / spectrum of lighting will cause it ,
Most of the time it's over feeding ( or a big bio load , plays hand in hand here ) causing phosphate levels to rise thereby
giving brown "diatome" and cyano / hair algae, etc. a reason to grow.
and of course regular water changes will help as well.

I only got 2 fish now? And feeding very sparingly ( every other day). Well I just did my first real water change so probably things were building up in the tank. Lights are t5s and bulbs have about 9 months use.

[IBMGeek]

Originally Posted by missionsix66

Phosphates are an issue in regards to red-slime. The 2 main food sources are phosphates and nitrates. Are you using R.O. water? And are your bulbs up-to-date?

Yeah using ro/di with 0 tds read.

[reeferhead]

I am sticking a half cube of frozen food twice a day in my 36 gallon. Is that overfeeding?