how much food is over feeding?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

The question is more about getting the nutrients out rather than adding them.

This is a good point. It doesn't sound like you're overfeeding, but you somehow have a nutrient sink.

Poor flow is another concern; if waste is allowed to settle in the tank rather than getting flushed down to the sump (or flushed into an HOB filter or skimmer) it will break down within the tank and cause nutrient issues.

[goldie]

the tank has been running for almost 8 months. I started it with 2/3 dry rock and 1/3 live rock. I have good flow, the 2 stock pumps and an extra one positioned much lower down. I am using the stock skimmer, I wouldn't know how to change that out? It does pull out some disgusting green slime. I only am testing salinity,temp,nitrates,phosphates and calcium. My water changes are usually about 4 or 5 gallons, I guess I should start doing larger ones. Is it ok to scrub the rocks with a toothbrush while they are still in the tank. I usually try to do this just before a water change

[goldie]

I just read Myka's thread on getting rid of hair algae. Some good info there to try, now that I know it isn't over feeding.

[Myka]

What kits do you use to test phosphate and nitrate? What are the readings? My first inkling is the dry rock is leeching nutrients. Dry rock should be "cooked" (see link in signature) to leech nutrients out or at least to check for nutrients, but most people don't know or don't bother.

[goldie]

I had no idea that dry rock needed to be cooked, they should tell you that when you buy it...I use API reef master test kit. It shows between 0-.25 for phosphates and about 5 for nitrates. It is so hard to tell the difference between those colors sometimes. I do have a phosphate filter on my r/o unit and it tests the same. Will the rock eventually leek out all of it's nutrients over time and this will eventually clear up with some bigger water changes?

[Myka]

Fighting nutrients with waterchanges is not the best bet as that will get costly, but you should keep up on weekly 10% waterchanges plucking out and siphoning out as much algae as you can each time. It should eventually sputter itself out if you are diligent in your maintenance. Check out the "Mucking about" article I wrote in Reef Hobbyist Magazine in the link in my signature.

I'm not so keen on the API phosphate kit, but if that number is accurate it is high. I do like the API nitrate kit though, and nitrate is higher than I would like to see it too.

The Red Sea skimmer isn't very good. I think there are mods you can do to put a better skimmer in there....do a Google search for "Red Sea Max skimmer mod" and see what you can find. I can't remember how much space is in the back of those Max tanks, the tiny footprint of some in-sump skimmers might fit in there (like Skimz or Bubble Magus), but the skimmer would be sticking up out of the tank. You could put an HOB skimmer on there hanging off the back of the back chamber maybe...Deltec MCE skimmers are really great, but pricey (find a used one!). That would help a lot if you could get a better skimmer.

I'm not sure what phosphate filter you have on your RO? Do you mean DI resin? Could you take a pic?