Curiosity before panic - pt II

[los.tejanos83]

I've got same problem as bigbird123, believed to be diatoms or dinoflagellates.

I've been fighting this stuff for an extended period (too embarassed to mention) and should have posted awhile ago. I didnt test this past weekend but the weekend before my DKH-14 and Mg-1300 (approx). How do i bring these parameters in order? I use RO water for top off and water changes...how do i control the Silicates?

I've been doing weekly water changes trying to bring my Nitrates down...still hovering at 50 to 100 (approx...yes, i know, needs to be much much lower). My UV sterilizer on the fritz...my skimmer waste collector has a drain...i have macroalgae in the sump...do not overfeed my fish to keep nitrates down.

Employee at LFS stated that my nitrate problem may be due to water change procedure; i simply drain water w/o vacuuming the substrate. Do i need to change how i change water? I been using Tropic Marin for the last 2 months of water changes and have now started using TM ProReef.

Ready for your recommendations.

[hobogato]

how long has your tank been running angelo?

[corydrysdale]

Try to do a few other things before you syphen out your water. Use a pump to blow off the rocks to help get the detritus into suspension in the water column. You dont mention if your using bio balls, rock rubble etc, but a cleaning of those in used water helps to lower nitrates. I may be wrong to, but i fought the brown algae for a while until my water quality cleared up. Meaning, less nutrients floating around. My LPS didn't like that much, but it took my nitrates down to below 10 , and mine were always running in the 60 range.

[justahobby]

Are you abbreviating for RODI or are you in fact using RO water? Could be the source.

[CoryDude]

The best way to attack that nitrate problem is to do a one time 50% water change then do another 50% the next day. It'll export those nutrients and help get your alk back to normal. Then I'd monitor your no3 levels to see if and how fast they return to the original levels. But, if your tank's 150+ gallons this may not be feasible.

You mentioned your skimmer has a drain. Does that mean you still check and clean the collection cup every few days? If not, then try to start doing this. It'll help with the doc's before they become nitrates.

Also, a cannister with some rowaphos or other phos remover may help with phosphates and silcates. These are just a few things that have helped me. Not sure if they apply to your situation.

[kkiel02]

How long have you had problems with the diatoms/dinoflagellates? If you have had them over half a year I would recommend checking either your water or salt for silicates as they should have starved themselves out by now.

[kkiel02]

The best way to attack that nitrate problem is to do a one time 50% water change then do another 50% the next day. It'll export those nutrients and help get your alk back to normal. Then I'd monitor your no3 levels to see if and how fast they return to the original levels. But, if your tank's 150+ gallons this may not be feasible.

You mentioned your skimmer has a drain. Does that mean you still check and clean the collection cup every few days? If not, then try to start doing this. It'll help with the doc's before they become nitrates.

Also, a cannister with some rowaphos or other phos remover may help with phosphates and silcates. These are just a few things that have helped me. Not sure if they apply to your situation.

Good point phosban or similar product will take out silicates also. If you arent running phosban I would give that a try as it knocks down phosphates and silicates without any harmful consequences(at least none that I have heard). Between my turbos and phosban reactor it also knocked out my red slime algae.

[los.tejanos83]

I moved in Jul, so tank up&running for 7 mos now, but problem has existed for about 2 mos. I clean my collection cup about 1/wk. I have a 3-stage RO system, no DI. The TDS of RO approx 8 - 10. I have bio-balls in the downdraft tube of skimmer (no wet/dry filter in use); they are never cleaned. I've been feeding less, hence, less nutrients floating around. My phosphates were slightly over 1 Mg/L about 3 wks ago; hooked up a phosban reactor on Sunday and was using a medication last wk. Phosphates are now .01 Mg/L.

Current lvls tonight: Ca 458, Mg 1160, dKH 11, Silicates >2 Mg

Will do small water changes twice/wk as per discussion with Hobogato this evening; hesitating on 50% water changes for the moment. My substrate is approx 3 in; will also work towards a deeper sandbed and eliminate a sandsifting starfish.