Major algea problem

[thekeyofb]

I don't mean to hijack your post jonzo1, but I have a major algae problem as well. I have a 75 gallon tank with 288 watts of lighting. I run my lights 8 hours a day. My salinity is 1.025, my nitrates and nitrites are near 0ppm, my phosphates are at or below 0.03, I have a protein skimmer on this system as well. I also have phosguard inside a module that the return line is attached to. So, does anyone have any idea as to why I have such a big algea problem?

 

[melosu58]

I moved this to it`s own thread so we dont have to be talking to two people in the same thread. As far as algea I would like to know how old are your bulbs. As they get older the spectrum shifts causing algea to flourish. Also read this battle plan for nuisance algea.

 

[thekeyofb]

My bulbs are a few months old...I got them in October 08.

 

[melosu58]

Have you tested a batch of your PWC water to make sure you are not adding anything yourself.

 

[thekeyofb]

what is PWC water? I'm not familiar with the short hand.

 

[melosu58]

I`m talking about your Partial water change water.

 

[thekeyofb]

i have tested my water in the aquarium and the water coming from my house. my home water is filtered by RO unit....and test are on point

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

What kind of algae?

 

[thekeyofb]

green hair algae I believe...."green in color, and stringy looking"...however, at it's peak in the outbreak, i was also seeing red algae in color. so, i believe that i have red slime and green hair combo.

 

[melosu58]

i have tested my water in the aquarium and the water coming from my house. my home water is filtered by RO unit....and test are on point

I`m talking about making up a batch of SW and testing it before you add fow PWC water. That way we can rule that out.

 

[thekeyofb]

Ok...what I have done is make up a batch of water in a 5 gallon bucket, I added my salt mix, pH buffer and prime to the water. I placed a heater in the water to bring the temperature to a matching point of that of the actual tank. After that process, I tested the water's salinity, pH, etc......everything was great. The only time I seem to get these outbreaks, is when I run my lights. However, I know there has to be nutrients present in order for the algae to grow, but they are below the required levels. So, why am I still having this problem...?

 

[CaptainAhab]

There remains the possibility that your nitrate and phosphate are low (or 0) because your algae is consuming it.

 

[melosu58]

That`s why I say test your PWC water because you might be adding the nutrients and your algea is consuming it as the captain said.

 

[CaptainAhab]

Yea I should have known u were getting there.. Long cold day up here in NFL Championship land

 

[thekeyofb]

Did you guys read my last post. I did test the PWC water. I did that earlier. There are no added nutrients present.

 

[Mike10]

Is your aquarium near a window? Also do you have an UV unit, that helped me out alot, good luck!

 

[thekeyofb]

thank guys..