The best sump set up

[coloso]

I have a 1000 litre tank set up 11 months ago but i do not seem to be able to get rid of red slime algae. In the sump (250 litre) I have sponge filters on the first stage followed by deltec 1060 skimmer and mangrove for nutrient removal and a deltec kalkwasser for water top up (water comes from a ro unit). I have used red slime removal products but it all ways comes back. Nitrate and phosphate are undetectable. Any ideas

[mandrin13]

Maybe more flow in the tank,it worked for me.

[coloso]

i have 2 stream pumps at 7500 litre ph and one stream at 12000 litre ph in the tank and a wave runner return at 6ooo litre ph from the sump

[aurorafish]

whats the tds of you ro water, maybe you need to add a DI to it.

[raddogz]

I would remove the sponge filters as that may be causing the problem.

The sponge filters are trapping detritus, but it is then being turned into phosphates and nitrates therebye fueling the cyano.

Nitrates and Phosphates may be undetectable because the cyano bacteria are consuming them.

[coloso]

is there any way to trap large detritus before it runs to the skimmer or do i need to. I usually put rowaphos between the sponge filters it seems to work well, also must show my lack of acronyms what is a DI on a RO unit.

[42]

RO = Reverse Osmosis, DI = Deionization, with regard to the filter you use to filter any water that goes into your tank.

I would also suggest removing the sponges, in my experience they are not required and tend to produce nitrates unless cleaned very regularly.

[coloso]

i would normally clean the sponges once a week and the fine filter sheet on top would be replaced twice a week as it gets fairly dirty. So is it ok to let the return to the tank run straight to the skimmer.

[scott058]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7812214#post7812214 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coloso
is there any way to trap large detritus before it runs to the skimmer or do i need to. I usually put rowaphos between the sponge filters it seems to work well, also must show my lack of acronyms what is a DI on a RO unit.

You ever think of using a filter sock and just cleaning it out once a week or as needed? Would work better than the sponges

[bpd964]

Remove those sponge filters... asap! If you want to catch particles then use a filter sock...

[keeperofthefish]

I run a 100 micron filter sock on the overflow to my sump and change it every 3 days. I've never had the faintest problem with algae and know this has been a huge help for others.

[coloso]

i should have made it clearer i have rowaphos in a filter sock between the sponge and the fine filter. I will remove the fine filter sheet and the sponges and see what happens. I will keep you posted and thanks for the help