A little new so I am looking for advice

ScubaAaron · 02/08/2009, 10:14 AM

The main reason I am posting this is because:

1. I read a lot of other posts to try and gain knowledge and feel like I do not add enough.

2. I feel like nothing is growing as fast as anyone else's setups

3. I have had a cyano and hair algae outbreak for the last month

4. I just want to know if I am doing anything wrong or adding anything wrong or if i should add more.

Tank and water movement:

I have a 55 gallon with about a 20 gallon refugium/sump. I have the biggest CPR overflow that they make and I am not sure what kind of pump I have but it does 740 gph I also have 2 Koralia 2's for water movement.

Water, salt and water changes:

I have reef crystals for salt and I use R/O water home made not from a store (I think I need a new membrane though). I do water changes at least once a month 20-30%.

Additives:

Now this is the main portion that I need advice on. I feel like my LFS is lying to me and telling me the wrong stuff to buy or they are just in a hurry and say oh this is what you need. I also had to add a bag of carbon because of the algae.

Ok on Mondays I add black powder and reef mist and Friday calcium.

And i forgot to say I change my filter sock daily or every other day.

mattliu · 02/08/2009, 10:27 AM

A picture is worth a thousand words. let's see it.

ScubaAaron · 02/08/2009, 10:52 AM

ill take some pics when i get home but how do I attach them to my thread?

boydx6 · 02/08/2009, 10:55 AM

store them on photobucket and then you can paste the link to the photo in your post.

rolodex1 · 02/08/2009, 11:03 AM

X1 for photobucket!!!!!!

plc001 · 02/08/2009, 12:29 PM

Have you measure your:

TDS
Phosphate
Nitrates

a2fire2i · 02/08/2009, 12:44 PM

Are you using just RO or RO/DI? How old are your bulbs? If you are looking for a new membrane, I have a used 75GPD. Its about 2 years old, but still should have 2 years on it. 10 bucks vs 55 new..

gobyone · 02/08/2009, 02:31 PM

Sounds like your trates and po4 maybe high. Need to find the sourse of where its coming from. Id bet money on your ro water.
Change all filters, try GFO, new carbon an blow off rocks stir sand bed and change filter sock daily.
Best of luck
Rick

CMcNeil · 02/08/2009, 04:45 PM

you might want to start doing weekly water changes,daily sock changes,and limit your fish feedings.run a good GFO to remove the PO4 and skim heavily(oversized skimmer helps).all of the above suggestions should help get things back in line,also invest in some good test kits,i suggest the LaMotte kits for all tests but PO4,for PO4 a Hanna meter is best IMO.

ScubaAaron · 02/08/2009, 05:41 PM

I tried to take some pics but they all came out horrible any tips. I tried shutting off all the pumps but they all came out blurry all I have is a kodak easyshare camera.

02/08/2009, 10:14 AM	#1
ScubaAaron Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Key Largo, FL Posts: 104	A little new so I am looking for advice The main reason I am posting this is because: 1. I read a lot of other posts to try and gain knowledge and feel like I do not add enough. 2. I feel like nothing is growing as fast as anyone else's setups 3. I have had a cyano and hair algae outbreak for the last month 4. I just want to know if I am doing anything wrong or adding anything wrong or if i should add more. Tank and water movement: I have a 55 gallon with about a 20 gallon refugium/sump. I have the biggest CPR overflow that they make and I am not sure what kind of pump I have but it does 740 gph I also have 2 Koralia 2's for water movement. Water, salt and water changes: I have reef crystals for salt and I use R/O water home made not from a store (I think I need a new membrane though). I do water changes at least once a month 20-30%. Additives: Now this is the main portion that I need advice on. I feel like my LFS is lying to me and telling me the wrong stuff to buy or they are just in a hurry and say oh this is what you need. I also had to add a bag of carbon because of the algae. Ok on Mondays I add black powder and reef mist and Friday calcium. And i forgot to say I change my filter sock daily or every other day.

02/08/2009, 10:27 AM	#2
mattliu Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: tampa Posts: 571	A picture is worth a thousand words. let's see it. __________________ "The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat." -- Jacques-Yves Cousteau Current Tank Info: 75 in the works

02/08/2009, 11:03 AM	#5
rolodex1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,220	X1 for photobucket!!!!!! __________________ Shawn M. Current Tank Info: 125G SPS, Aqualight Pro 3 X 250w MH 4 X 96w Actinic, 1/3HP, Blue Line 55 & Blue Line 20, Phosban 150, 18w Turbo Twist UV, RS 180, (1) Tunze 6045, MP40W

02/08/2009, 12:29 PM	#6
plc001 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,810	Have you measure your: TDS Phosphate Nitrates __________________ Pedro Join Tampa Bay Reef Club Current Tank Info: 120g in-wall with 35g sump and 4" DSB. LPS and starting with SPS. 2 Phenix 250 Watts 14000K with home made Lumenarc III reflectors and 2x140w URI Super Actinic VHO. CL with a Dart and Deltec AP701 Skimmer.

02/08/2009, 12:44 PM	#7
a2fire2i Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 1,996	Are you using just RO or RO/DI? How old are your bulbs? If you are looking for a new membrane, I have a used 75GPD. Its about 2 years old, but still should have 2 years on it. 10 bucks vs 55 new.. __________________ Corey Current Tank Info: 120 Mostly SPS Reef

02/08/2009, 10:52 AM	#3
ScubaAaron Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Key Largo, FL Posts: 104	ill take some pics when i get home but how do I attach them to my thread?

02/08/2009, 10:55 AM	#4
boydx6 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Land O'Lakes,Fl Posts: 2,164	store them on photobucket and then you can paste the link to the photo in your post.

02/08/2009, 02:31 PM	#8
gobyone Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: bradenton Posts: 86	Sounds like your trates and po4 maybe high. Need to find the sourse of where its coming from. Id bet money on your ro water. Change all filters, try GFO, new carbon an blow off rocks stir sand bed and change filter sock daily. Best of luck Rick

02/08/2009, 04:45 PM	#9
CMcNeil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St.Petersburg,Florida Posts: 7,134	you might want to start doing weekly water changes,daily sock changes,and limit your fish feedings.run a good GFO to remove the PO4 and skim heavily(oversized skimmer helps).all of the above suggestions should help get things back in line,also invest in some good test kits,i suggest the LaMotte kits for all tests but PO4,for PO4 a Hanna meter is best IMO. __________________ Chris Reef Savvy 50g build slowly getting going again :)

02/08/2009, 05:41 PM	#10
ScubaAaron Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Key Largo, FL Posts: 104	I tried to take some pics but they all came out horrible any tips. I tried shutting off all the pumps but they all came out blurry all I have is a kodak easyshare camera.