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Algae- I have no phospates

Anyone know how to control this? My calcium levels are @ 400 parts.

DSC01920.jpg


Thanks,

Erik
 

JohnS_323

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I'm not sure how to get it off the rockwork, but I can comment on your "lack" of phosphates. The reason you are showing no phosphates when you test is most likely because the algae is absorbing it all to stay alive. It's there and it's feeding the algae, there is just nothing left to show up on a test.

JME.
 
How big is the tank? I had a Naso tang (Naso lituratus) that was exceptionally good in devouring any kind of macroalgae. However they need a bit larger tanks. Yellow tangs are also good algae eaters, but more for a filamentous algae. This one is not that, but you might try your luck with yellow tang anyway.
 
Thanks Guys.

1.)I just tested my RO/DI water.

I have 1/2 PPM (.5) Phosphates. I have it stored in a 35 Gal rubbermaid garbage can with a top on it. I also use color changing DI resin. I'm good there. That's weird. Think that's enough to make the difference? How long can that water sit in the container?


2.) I have a yellow tang, he doesn't eat this stuff. I'll look into the Naso tang.

Thanks,

Erik
 
erid said:
Thanks Guys.

1.)I just tested my RO/DI water.

I have 1/2 PPM (.5) Phosphates. I have it stored in a 35 Gal rubbermaid garbage can with a top on it. I also use color changing DI resin. I'm good there. That's weird. Think that's enough to make the difference? How long can that water sit in the container?


2.) I have a yellow tang, he doesn't eat this stuff. I'll look into the Naso tang.

Thanks,

Erik

You use RO/DI and still get any phosphates? Maybe you need to change the filters. Or test kit.

Just a couple of notes about the Naso so you know exctly what you might get with this excedingly beutiful fish:

- It can be pickey eater. Mine was eating ONLY macroalgae, preferably fresh and I had a bit of difficulty feeding him after it cleaned my tank of sargasum. It took me 6 months to widen his menu to include "normal" aquarium fish food (formulas, mysid, nori, flakes,...). But as fresh algae were concerned, it was tremendous eater and was eating all kinds it could get its mouth to (hair, cheato, caulerpa, sargasum, red letuce)

- It is a strong and big swimmer. Needs a lot of space both for swimming and hiding. Was constantly chipping some of my more fragile corals( bird's nest, elkhorn) by swimming too fast and to close.

- IF it eats the algae, it will clean your whole tank fast, and then you have to figure out wether you want to keep it and if you do, what will you feed it with. If you have a trouble with feeding it, give me a call.
 
Sorry guys. I was looking at the "freshwater card". I don't have any as I stated earlier.

This stuff must feed off of calcium.

If anyone has any idea please let me know.

Thanks

Erik
 
erid said:
This stuff must feed off of calcium.

Well, it doesn't "feed" (not in the amounts that you would normally consider as feeding) but it still might be calcareous which means that uses Ca for enhancing the outer layers. Now, most fish will prefer to eat non-calcareous algae so that would be a problem. Fortunately, calcareous algae tend to grow much slower compared with the non-calcareous. So if you have trouble keeping the pace in harvesting them, then I would say, IMHO, without proper identification, that it is non-calcareous algae, and fish might like to eat it.
 
erid said:
Sorry guys. I was looking at the "freshwater card". I don't have any as I stated earlier.

This stuff must feed off of calcium.

If anyone has any idea please let me know.

Thanks

Erik

If you're testing RO/DI water for phosphates you WANT to use the freshwater card. If in fact it is .5 that is a HUGE amount of phosphates and your RO/DI filter isn't working properly.
 
C

concept3

Guest
Hey Erik-

first try as much as possible to manually remove it.

double check on your phosphates, or get an adsorber like phosban or a phos sponge

keep the tang, i notice that they only pick at algaes when they are a manageable size (ie- not long and tufty like the pic). They like to Graze, not mow :)
 
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