Horrible Algae Outbreak

[walshliam]

Can you please help ID this algae and suggest best treatment methods? I've been doing water changes and trying to syphon, but it's not helping.

 

[walshliam]

Sorry, pic was upside down for some reason. Here's a link to a video I posted on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF4omUAGrIM

 

[unibob]

Are you running GFO on your tank at all? Also what type of Lighting, flow and skimmer are you using?

 

[walshliam]

No GFO.

I have good flow, 3 power heads plus my two return outlets. Not sure Skimmer brand, but it's removing plenty of sludge, running really well. Lighting is LED 2 MaxSpect R420R 20" units.

 

[unibob]

How often do you feed? And what sort of food are you feeding?

 

[walshliam]

Feed once a day, Mysis shrimp.

I also have a carpet anenome that gets a small piece of shrimp every other Sunday.

 

[pulpfiction1]

I almost want to say tap water

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[walshliam]

I'm using a RO/DI unit. I tested it yesterday and the TDS meter is reading at 50ppm. I will be buying new filters for it. Is that the most likely cause of this?? if so, best treatment method?

Thanks

 

[pulpfiction1]

Fix your rodi unit.gfo.sea hare and lots of patience

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[pulpfiction1]

I'm using a RO/DI unit. I tested it yesterday and the TDS meter is reading at 50ppm. I will be buying new filters for it. Is that the most likely cause of this?? if so, best treatment method?

Thanks

it should read zero. Here in Chatham out of the tap is roughly 100 ppm

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[walshliam]

Thanks, I'll order new filters today.

On a side note, I have a Spectrpure 90-GPD RODI System, Any ideas other than spectrapure.com for ordering replacement parts?

Thanks

 

[Salty Cracker]

Spectrapure is good stuff, although you may want to order a new membrane, 50ppm is pretty bad.

Go to bulk reef and look up their backwash kit, it's a good idea.


Oh, and GFO!!!!!  Get a good set of test kits (no API!!!) and test your parameters, I would guess your phosphate level is high.  If your test says it's zero, your test is wrong.  We'll get you straightened out, but DO NOT go into the LFS and ask them "how do I fix this?!?!" as they will sell you a quick fix like algae X or some shit, or worse, aluminum oxide phosphate remover, you want good ole granular ferric oxide. 

Good luck, and go slow.  SLOW.

 

[walshliam]

Thanks.

I'll order the Salifert Phosphate test kit from BRS. I couldn't find the backwash kit, what does it consist of. I haven't really done any maintenance on the RODI unit since it was set-up in April 2013. Will I need to replace all 3 filters?

Thanks for your help on this. I definitely want to avoid adding chemicals to clean this up.

My tank is pretty basic, I run a skimmer and water change weekly about 10 gallons. I don't add anything else. Everything was going great until about 2 months ago when this algae started. I appreciate the tips and advice.

Thanks

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

finish yur profile..where yu at ?  i have whole sets of rodi filters.     

 

[unibob]

I have filters here if you are close.

 

[Reef Hero]

Wow!! 50ppm tds out of an rodi system!! I know people (including myself) who have run theirs for much much longer without changing any filters and were still reading 0 or maybe 1 or 2.... But 50!! Definitely the highest number I've heard of out of a rodi system....especially for not even being one year old....
You don't necessarily need to get a larger gpd membrane.... 50gpd is fine.... 75gpd is gonna produce water a little faster. I wouldn't suggest any larger because I doubt a 100gpd membrane will fit your canister and also I believe the rejection rate goes down too. What u need to do is start replacing ur medias in the rodi kit and monitor more closely.

 

[Reef Hero]

Thanks, I'll order new filters today.

On a side note, I have a Spectrpure 90-GPD RODI System, Any ideas other than spectrapure.com for ordering replacement parts?

Thanks

Is it possible to buy 90gpd membranes from anyone except spectra pure??? I don't see them on brs and this is why I stayed clear of spectra pure. To say they are any better than another company idk because it really comes down to the media and I would think most of the medias and membranes are fairly identical. If this unit is less than 1 year old then I would be asking spectra pure why u are reading 50 tds so soon.... That's not kinda bad like glen said, it's horrible and almost unheard of.

 

[walshliam]

I'm in London (Byron) - I'll work on my profile over lunch hour.

 

[spyd]

So the game plan would definitely be to replace filters and DI resin in your unit. The sediment filter is very easy to know when to change it. Once it looks dirty (brownish) then it needs to be changed out. As for the carbon block, I change mine out once every 6 months. Do you have a dual inline tds meter on your unit? If not, I would include that in your order. Attach the one probe to your unit right after the membrane and attach the other probe on your output line after the DI stage. This way, you know how much tds is coming out after your membrane and can figure out when it needs changing and you also know that when you see anything above 0.00 ppm after your DI stage, then the DI resin needs to be replaced. 50ppm is definitely too high and I wonder if all the connections are correct on your unit. But, if you have ran it since april without and filter changes, then there would be some problems. Hopefully the membrane is still okay because it should last a good year and a half or more.

Also, I would definitely run some GFO in a reactor. That is the only way to remove the phosphates in your tank. Start with a cup or so and ramp up from there as needed over a month or 2. Also, when feeding mysis, I would only feed it every other day. Be sure to rinse the mysis before feeding to wash the binders out of the food. That is a heavy source of phosphates. If you have any Tangs, then feel free to feed a small piece of nori everyday for them.

Blow off your rocks before water changes and patience will be key. Best of luck!

 

[walshliam]

Should I run GFO and Carbon in a reactor? would you recommend the BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor Dual?

Thanks