SRC Member beaver Posted February 16, 2009 SRC Member Share Posted February 16, 2009 Hi Reefers, As above. I've tested the water with Salifert test kits. Both PO4 and NO3 levels are close to zero. However, there are still red slime algae and diatoms on the live rocks and sandbed. Is is possible?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gouldian Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Hi Bro, Yes, it is still possible for cyano bacteria to grow in low PO4 and NO3 environment, this is because cyano bacteria will photosynthesize. Besides, test kits are not able to detect organic PO4. Best is the siphon them out and do frequent partial water changes. HTH Quote "Reefs, like forests, will only be protected in long term if they are appreciated" Dr. J.E.N. Veron Australian Institute of Marine Science -----------------------------------------------------------------------Member of:UEN: T08SS0098FPlease visit us here: http://www.facebook....uaristSocietySG Facebook Group: http://www.facebook....gid=34281892381 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Underwater Posted February 17, 2009 SRC Member Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hi Reefers, As above. I've tested the water with Salifert test kits. Both PO4 and NO3 levels are close to zero. However, there are still red slime algae and diatoms on the live rocks and sandbed. Is is possible?? Possible as there are silicates that help in diatom growth too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member beaver Posted February 17, 2009 Author SRC Member Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hi Bro, Yes, it is still possible for cyano bacteria to grow in low PO4 and NO3 environment, this is because cyano bacteria will photosynthesize. Besides, test kits are not able to detect organic PO4. Best is the siphon them out and do frequent partial water changes. HTH Thanks Bro...so the only solution is to siphon and change water frequently? The sandbed turns brown one day after siphoning..sigh..they return with vengeance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member beaver Posted February 17, 2009 Author SRC Member Share Posted February 17, 2009 Possible as there are silicates that help in diatom growth too. Any solution to this? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member TayHongSiang Posted February 17, 2009 SRC Member Share Posted February 17, 2009 Any solution to this? thanks Post some pics to let us see how bad yr situation...If it is not that serious, just get a scrup to clean it off or a siphon. Otherwise, red slime remover will do. Phosphate, nutrients, nitrate, waste, fish food...all these contribute to increase level of nitrogen which is a ""fertiliser" for algae. Nitrogen is the main source of plant growth in nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gouldian Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Any solution to this? thanks Dear bro, According to Dr. Robert J. Goldstein in <Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook> "For most higher plants and algae, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient: when it is used up, the plants stop growing. Blue-greens (Cyanobacteria) are not nitrogen-limited because they typically fix atmospheric nitrogen gas (or in aquariums, dissolved nitrogen gas) into all nitrate they need. They are however, limited by the availability of phosphorus..... Only phosphate starvation is safe in a reef tank." With your reading of low phosphate, I believe your problem lies with orthophosphate which is not reflected in common test kits. Slicates have been link to diatoms bloom rather than cyanobacteria, also silica alone will not cause a bloom unless there are abundance of nitrates as well. Beside siphoning and frequent partial water changes, you may want to try the below: 1) Use distilled, de-ionized or RO water for water top up and salt-mixing 2) Feed sparingly and ensure the food you feed does not contain too high phosphate 3) Use Phosphate removers such as Rowa-phos etc HTH Quote "Reefs, like forests, will only be protected in long term if they are appreciated" Dr. J.E.N. Veron Australian Institute of Marine Science -----------------------------------------------------------------------Member of:UEN: T08SS0098FPlease visit us here: http://www.facebook....uaristSocietySG Facebook Group: http://www.facebook....gid=34281892381 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member beaver Posted February 18, 2009 Author SRC Member Share Posted February 18, 2009 Dear bro, According to Dr. Robert J. Goldstein in <Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook> "For most higher plants and algae, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient: when it is used up, the plants stop growing. Blue-greens (Cyanobacteria) are not nitrogen-limited because they typically fix atmospheric nitrogen gas (or in aquariums, dissolved nitrogen gas) into all nitrate they need. They are however, limited by the availability of phosphorus..... Only phosphate starvation is safe in a reef tank." With your reading of low phosphate, I believe your problem lies with orthophosphate which is not reflected in common test kits. Slicates have been link to diatoms bloom rather than cyanobacteria, also silica alone will not cause a bloom unless there are abundance of nitrates as well. Beside siphoning and frequent partial water changes, you may want to try the below: 1) Use distilled, de-ionized or RO water for water top up and salt-mixing 2) Feed sparingly and ensure the food you feed does not contain too high phosphate 3) Use Phosphate removers such as Rowa-phos etc HTH Thanks Bro :-) I do suspect about the PO4 part too...im currently using Rowa-phos and feeding is definitely low, not sure whether it contains phosphate though. As for water, unfortunately, I am using tap water that has been dechlorinated, that's about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyBoy Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Thanks Bro :-) I do suspect about the PO4 part too...im currently using Rowa-phos and feeding is definitely low, not sure whether it contains phosphate though. As for water, unfortunately, I am using tap water that has been dechlorinated, that's about it. Tap water contain lots of stuffs, including nitrates, phosphates, silicate etc. The total dissolve solids (TDS) of the tap water is around 50ppm already. Better to use DI or RO water for long term reefing. So the only PO4 that you put in water is fish food, fish poo and live rocks. Quote Member of : UEN: T08SS0098FMASS in Facebook Reefing in LED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member TayHongSiang Posted February 19, 2009 SRC Member Share Posted February 19, 2009 Tap water contain lots of stuffs, including nitrates, phosphates, silicate etc. The total dissolve solids (TDS) of the tap water is around 50ppm already. Better to use DI or RO water for long term reefing. So the only PO4 that you put in water is fish food, fish poo and live rocks. I tested our tap water...nitrate is zero. I do not think there are nitrates and phosphates in our tap water coz they are harmful to humans too. Moreover our tap water has also went thru intensive filteration before is it useable. The only thing is chloride and chlormine in the tap water to kill gems and bacteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member beaver Posted February 19, 2009 Author SRC Member Share Posted February 19, 2009 so what is the most economical and practical method to prepare water? I've been using aged tap water with a dechlorinator. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gouldian Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 so what is the most economical and practical method to prepare water? I've been using aged tap water with a dechlorinator. Thanks Aging water will rid water of chlorine, using a good anti-chlorine beside removing chlorine will also remove chloramine. Unlike chlorine, chloramine is a more stable form of chlorine and will not dissipate with aging. Seachem Prime besides removing chlorine and chloramine will also removes ammonia. http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Prime.html But all these does not removes phosphate which is critical to your situation now. You may want to try bottle distilled water, try to search for distilled water in this forum and you will get sufficient info to let you decide what's your next move. HTH Quote "Reefs, like forests, will only be protected in long term if they are appreciated" Dr. J.E.N. Veron Australian Institute of Marine Science -----------------------------------------------------------------------Member of:UEN: T08SS0098FPlease visit us here: http://www.facebook....uaristSocietySG Facebook Group: http://www.facebook....gid=34281892381 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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