cloudy water, diatoms,algae

[saltysteven]

My tank has been up for about 6 months and i still have cloudy water, diatoms, brown and green hair algae
and god knows what else that i cant see. The thing is that my water tests really well and im growing purple all over the glass and those tiny white swirl looking barnicles. What gives? here are some pics (dont mind the mess, under construction) and my parameters :

nitrite 0
nitrate 0
amonia 0
phos 0
ph 8.16
cal 420
salt 1.027
temp 78.6
lights are on 8.5 hrs
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC03155.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC03153.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC03151.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC03160.jpg

[demonsp]

Lack of CUC and i see very little used for water flow. You should add a few CUC first then wait and add a fish or coral then wait and add more CUC and a fish or coral then ect..
You need to keep a balance.Also running main lights full time during cycle increases algea blooms.Also water source but i think your is a normal cycle and shows you dont have the basics down and just need a little more info.
I would increase flow ,add some nass snails and hermits with a few weekly 25% water changes and it should reduce. Add CUC and do changes untill your evened out.

[bertoni]

How much food is going into the system? What kind of cleanup crew is present?

[saltysteven]

whats CUC?
i feed frozen blood worms one cube - half in morning and half at night.
clean up is small: 5 large turbos and 3 hermits and a sandsifting shrimp and algae blenny.

[DGlove904]

CUC=Clean Up Crew

[Aquarist007]

here are some more tips on fighting algae:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1329802

[demonsp]

Whats used for water movement?

[saltysteven]

well its just the two exits. One has a eductor and the other doesnt. since its a cube the water bounces off the walls rather well. when i hook up two eductors its kind of turbulent and blows the sand and everything blows around to much.

[saltysteven]

also Im using RO/DI water - 0 ppm

[demonsp]

Sorry not sure what you mean by injectors?

[migston]

Do you have a skimmer and how often do you do water changes?

[bertoni]

More flow might be appropriate, and I'd cut the food to maybe 1/3 cube or so, depending on the cube size. I use frozen Formula 1 as the basic reference size, and maybe 1/3 cube of that per day should be more than enough for the 3-4 fish I see.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12046177#post12046177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
Sorry not sure what you mean by injectors?

The term "Eductor" describes a jet pump without moving parts and utilizes fluid in motion to produce low pressure. Motive power is provided by a centrifugal or gear pump. The pressurized fluid stream is converted from pressure-energy to high velocity as the fluid enters a unique nozzle configuration

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/2/aquarium

[saltysteven]

more flow - less feeding - less light?

[smalls383]

Hey those JAGER heaters you have...I see two...those are not submersible..you need to get those above the water line...

[saltysteven]

they are the same as the old ones and the old ones are submersible

[smalls383]

I have that same heater, 200W, and it isnt submersible. It has a max water line indicator about 1/2 inch below the blue adjuster dial.

I might have a different model, but you may consider double checking it just to be sure due to the consequences of a heater gone pysco...

[saltysteven]

heaters were only sitting there for a few days they are now mounted at the right level. cleaned up the tanl walls, blew off the brown layer on sand, i put on the other eductor and have it so its not pushing to much sand around, running the lights for 3 hours a day after having them off a day and didnt feed the fish for a day and now feeding only at night one half a cube of blood worms.
I hope to see a difference and ill let you know how it goes

[demonsp]

So a modded pump?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12048010#post12048010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
The term "Eductor" describes a jet pump without moving parts and utilizes fluid in motion to produce low pressure. Motive power is provided by a centrifugal or gear pump. The pressurized fluid stream is converted from pressure-energy to high velocity as the fluid enters a unique nozzle configuration

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/2/aquarium

[saltysteven]

its an adapter that fit at the end of your exits. it looks like a horn. but anyway it starts some kind of syphon with the water blown out to make more power. its kind of like a turbo but yes a modded pump

[demonsp]

You need more flow.But powerhead placement just as important as amount of flow. You need to adjust the tank around the flow.It may blow some sand but is will settle.
Your PIC looks like a tank thats cycled and needs stock.CUC and fish and more flow and water changes.
This hobby is all about ablance. Whene cyc;e over add some CUC then wait and add a fish or corla then wait and add more CUC and wait and add more CUC and a fish or coral and repeat adjusting the stock as you go.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12061738#post12061738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltysteven
its an adapter that fit at the end of your exits. it looks like a horn. but anyway it starts some kind of syphon with the water blown out to make more power. its kind of like a turbo but yes a modded pump

do you know what the exact flow increases are using eductors?

[Aquarist007]

[QUOTE]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12045946#post12045946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltysteven
[B]My tank has been up for about 6 months and i still have cloudy water, diatoms, brown and green hair algae
and god knows what else that i cant see. The thing is that my water tests really well and im growing purple all over the glass and those tiny white swirl looking barnicles. What gives? here are some pics (dont mind the mess, under construction) and my QUOTE]

Here is a suggested plan to clear this up:

do a 50 percent water change--but first baste the rock and substrate lightly with a turkey baster

purchase two phosban reactors, run one with carbon and one with phosban

purchase enough korilia power heads to give your self a flow of between 20-40 times the tank volume

for a 110gal that would be 2200-4400 gph
two korilia 4's would give you a turn over of 2400 gph

finally one rock at a time --take them out and scrub off the algae
and put them back in the tank. I would do 5 lbs a day.

[Aquarist007]

don't let the zero tests for phosphates and nitrates fool you--it you have algae then you have phosphates and nitrates and probably silicates too.
The amount of algae is consuming them as fast as they are being produced

[bertoni]

Personally, I wouldn't pull the live rock out of the tank, since it's a lot of work and can kill some interesting hitchhikers, such as many sponges.

I don't know how much the pump is pushing, but more flow might be appropriate.