Hair algae idk why????

[Madmike10000]

2 month old tank and i have hair algea going out of control. Levels are great ph 8.3
Amm 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate under 5. Looks like 0
Phosphate 0
Alkalinity 9
Calcium has been getting really low down to 290 for some reason. I cant remove the algea it wont come off and it is growing very fast. I got 4 t5ho bulbs but i inly been running 2 lately. I have 2 clowns and a shrimp

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[Madmike10000]

Pics

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[Sniperhank]

If you have algae, it is feeding off of nitrates and phosphates. That is why you have a reading of 0. You can't pull it out because it is strong from the food source in the water column.
Are you using ro/di water? Are you feeding flake/pellets? How often are water changes and how large?
Your calcium is low most likely because of your alkalinity being high, mag being out of whack, or that you aren't using a reliable test kit. For these tests, Red Sea, Salferit, or Hanna checkers are the only reliable enough. That said, why are you testing for calcium when it is a soft coral dominated tank?

[Madmike10000]

Im using distilled water. And i do a 25% change every week and i feed once a day the slightest amound just barely enough for the fish to survive

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[Madmike10000]

And dont i have to have the calcium in the mid 400's for a reef tank or does it not even matter

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[Madmike10000]

And flakes

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[Sniperhank]

Well, distilled isn't 0 tds so it might be coming in that way. I use distilled and I have algae.
What test kit are you using for that calcium reading?

[Madmike10000]

Api.

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[Sniperhank]

They aren't accurate at all. I wouldn't trust that reading. With water changes like you're describing I'm sure it is fine.

[Madmike10000]

I was looking at the red sea test i think ill get that.

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[Toffee]

If you have no corals. I suggest running your tank dark for 3 days. No lights and use something to cover yiur tank completely. This will help lower the algae

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[Madmike10000]

It got worse but today i took out the rocks and toothbruahed 99% of it off. It looks so good now. I cut the feeding back to every 2 days and lights to 8 hours a day. I took out my old carbon and my filter just has floss and bioballs. Should i add phosguard or just replace it with a micro skimmer. And im still doing 25% change a week with distilled.(cant afford a rodi yet) is there anything else i can do? Im up for all advice to prevent it from growing back. Thank you guys

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[alex07]

I would remove the bioballs, you have enough rocks. Other than filter floss what else are you using as filtration?

[Madmike10000]

Foam and the floss

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[melosu58]

A good battle plan.

FantasyReef Databases-Viewing item "10 Step Plan for Nuisance Algae Control"

[alex07]

I would run purigen and chemipure elite to keep the phosphates at bay and do more frequent water changes.

Do you have a skimmer?

[Madmike10000]

No skimmer yet. Every time i test for phosphates its zero even from the jugs of distilled.

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[alex07]

Have you tested the phosphate in your tank? Have you checked the tds on the water?

You should consider on using a skimmer

[Madmike10000]

I did and its 0tds. With 2 baby clown fish idk how there would be alot of phosphates and nitrate. I feed so little

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[alex07]

Maybe you don't have enough water circulating and you're having dead spots. Could be that you're feeding too much. Maybe your rock is leaching phosphates.