Algae 1-2 PUNCH!!

[Rippin]

Glad to hear that your battle with algae is on the decline. If you're looking to get rid of the sea hare let me know. I have some hair algae that it could munch on.

Cheers.

[BCOrchidGuy]

Andrew, it's great to hear you got it under control. I read somewhere that even using a bucket that once had soap in it will put phosphates into what ever was in the bucket now, soooooo I wonder if you didn't get phosphates from your dishwasher even though you didn't put any detergent in it.
Not that it matters now, I've been thinking about a phosban reactor, just incase.

Doug

[canadawest]

Originally Posted by BCOrchidGuy

Andrew, it's great to hear you got it under control. I read somewhere that even using a bucket that once had soap in it will put phosphates into what ever was in the bucket now, soooooo I wonder if you didn't get phosphates from your dishwasher even though you didn't put any detergent in it.
Not that it matters now, I've been thinking about a phosban reactor, just incase.

Doug

Hey Doug, the original tank obviously had excessive phosphates before the teardown, and I doubt that any new phosphates were introduced by the dishwasher (but I guess it's possible).

I am wondering though if the rock has acted more like a sponge over the past 6 years and is saturated with phosphates (and God knows what else that might be bad) even though I sun-bleached it and sterilized it before putting it back into the new tank?

I've read about sandbeds becoming saturated and essentially useless (actually harmfull as they begin to release the trapped nitrates, etc back into the water) but I wonder if live rock is the same?

I am content now though that any phosphates that are trapped in the rock, or newly introduced from food, etc, are now being binded and removed forever by the Phosban Media.

Perhaps I need to survey aquarists who have had tanks setup for 5 years or more, and see if they have had similar problems or crashes?

If I had to buy another 100+ lbs of new LR, it would be hobby over for me for sure as I'm doubtful I would make that huge investment again.

[canadawest]

Originally Posted by Rippin

Glad to hear that your battle with algae is on the decline. If you're looking to get rid of the sea hare let me know. I have some hair algae that it could munch on.

Cheers.

I'll probably hang onto this guy for another couple weeks until the tank is pretty much completely clear of algae, but definitely will be looking for a suitable new home for him when the time comes.

Perhaps PM or post again near the end of the month to see if it's time for him to move on to a new home?

[BCOrchidGuy]

I've never measured for phosphates and am thinking I should, maybe pull out some sand etc and put it in water for a month or so and see if I can detect phospates or an increase in them from the start.

Doug