Do I need a phosphate/carbon reactor?

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Grant, Jan 12, 2010.

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  1. Grant

    Grant Feather Duster

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    I'm trying to decide if I need a phosphate or carbon reactor? I've had my 90 reef for several years now without major problems. In the last few months, i've been really struggling with brown algae on my sand. i have a great skimmer and use carbon and phosban in media bags, but don't know if they're helping. (carbon does help with clarity)

    I have 2 anthias and a hungry tang which require multiple feedings per day. I assume this feeding regiment is not helping. I also am trying to increase growth in my corals so i feed them too (including a sun coral which requires point feeding, and is doing great). None of my LSP or SPS have really grown much. maybe i should just cut out all this feeding?

    My tests: Nitrates=12.5 mg/l. Phosphates=.00, Calcuim=450, Alk=9.3, Mg=1350, sg=1.024, temp=77.5, RODI

    I know my phospates are showing 0.0. I've read that the algae may be converting the PO4 that is present thus the test will show 0. It just seems that I have 2 common symptoms of phosphates, even though the test says otherwise...ie algae on sand and limited coral growth.

    I've looked at the BRS GFO/Carbon reactors. The single unit that can hold both media, or the dual unit. Is this what my tank is lacking?
     
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  3. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    Reactors are much more efficient. Your PO4 is probably not zero. You need to test with a high sensitivity kit and PO4 should be below .02. What skimmer do you have? Nitrates are a little high. They should be zero. Finding the cause would be a good place to start. Carbon won't help that.
     
  4. CrazyA

    CrazyA Feather Duster

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    Powerman's definately on to something. Good skimmate will help..
     
  5. Grant

    Grant Feather Duster

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    I have the AquaC EV-180 skimmer. My nitrates have measured 12.5 for a long time. I realize that is not ideal, but I don't really know what else to do to get them down. I have about 50 lbs of live rock. I'd like more, but am worried about spiking nitrates by adding more live rock. I have a 1.5 inch sand bed. Is the live rock my problem?

    I use a Salifert kit to test PO4. I also have an API kit that gives the same result. Still I don't trust the results.

    I have 3 korelia 3 powerheads, plus my return from a mag 9. I think my flow is ok?
     
  6. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    An EV-180 on a 90g is plenty of skimmer. Do you have any filter floss or bio midia? What is your substrate? More LR rock will help, and it won't spike your nitrates, it will drop them when they mature.

    PO4 kits, especialy the API is for testing a gross PO4 problem, they do nothing to test in the range we need to monitor. Again, you need to be below .02. There are only a couple of high sensitivity test kits.... Merck and Tunze.

    You need to find the problem with your nitrates. 12 is nothing for fish, but your corals are not happy with the. You have a very small fish load. How much are you feeding them? I feed my Anthia's once or twice a day. Lot's of folks don't feed their aAnthia's multiple times a day like some recommend. Not sure if that is tyour problem. I feed 3 cubes a day for my 90g with 13 fish. some coral food everyother day too.

    3 K3s are plenty especially with not much LR.
     
  7. unclejed

    unclejed Whip-Lash Squid

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    The powdery brown on the sand and film on the glass is directly caused by silicates. I just started using the Pura Filtration Pad and am having good results (just told Pufferchick about it). A combo reactor would be a big plus and I would employ one.
     
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  9. Grant

    Grant Feather Duster

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    Thank you all for your help.

    I don't regularly run filter floss or any biomedia. I never thought I had the room in my sump for bio-balls. I guess i could use them if I put them in a media bag or something to prevent them from clogging the pump I use for my skimmer & chiller. What do you think of this idea? Would this help with my nitrates? or were you suggesting something different with "bio media"?

    I have run poly-filter before, but don't on a regular basis. Maybe I should?

    I don't know much about silicates. Unclejed, you might be onto something. I'm looking into the Pura Pad you suggested. Where do silicates come from and are there other ways to get rid of them?

    The Salifert kit I have tests PO4 down to .03. My results show 0. I guess I should try the kits Powerman suggested.
     
  10. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    No I was suggesting bio media or floss could be a source of your nitrates.... so nothing there.

    What is your substrate.

    Salifert can tell you you are low. But .03 to zero is plenty to grow algae. So you need something sensetive..... even though you know you are on the very low end, which is good. You know it isnt 2.

    I don't know if you are feeding too much. You do not have the normal stuff for causing nitrates, unless you are running crushed coral.

    Heck... how old is your nitrate kit?
     
  11. Grant

    Grant Feather Duster

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    My substrate is argonite sand, about 1.5 inches thick.

    I try to feed my fish twice a day. And not nearly as much as 3 cubes/day. I use the big frozen sheet things of mysis, but I break off about the equivalent of 1-1.5 cubes/day. I also feed 2-3 square inches of algae in a clip for my tang. I travel for a living, so when I'm gone half the week, my wife feeds them once per day. (I've watched her feed, she does a good job with food quantity)

    I realize this doesn't really add up. I've been at this hobby for 5+ years now. I'm not a complete newb, but i'm definitely stumped.

    so whadda ya think? bio balls, carbon/po4 reactor, more rock, poly filter, Pura Filter? all, some, or none of these?
     
  12. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    No bioballs. You have a small fish load, but high nitrates. You could use some more live rock. I run 3 inches of sand in my tank. Some folks don't like to run DSB in the tank. I keep my CUC manned, I have 3", and it bubbles nitrogen all day....nitrate reduction. I have 5" in my fuge, but it it not mature yet like my tank. No bubbles. I have around 140 lbs of live rock in my tank. I aggressively skim and have macro algae in the fuge. I have never ever had a nitrate problem. Always zero.

    GFO and GAC won't help your nitrates, but you asked about those. All I can say is I run then as do most of the more demanding tanks and they have very good success. I just recently started running GFO. I always thought I had zero till I got a Merck kit.... I had .4. So both are very beneficial and will only help your success.

    The nitrate thing is puzzling. I would cross check your results with a LFS or a new kit. You have enough rock for your fish to process the waste, but you sand will not help at 1.5. So the only thing left is overfeeding. food breaking down instead of being eaten. Solving the nitrate thing will also add to your success.