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I just completed my second week of ZEO, and have experienced an outbreak of red turf algae.
My filtration consists of a refugium containing Miracle Mud and Chaetomorpha along with a ER CS8-1 (run as wet as possible. . .I have to clean the collection cup every 2-3 days). My total system volume is around 80 gallons.
Prior to beginning ZEO, I also ran Polyfilters and Bio-Chemzorb. I removed these from my system about 1 week before beginning ZEO, and noticed a single small patch of red turf developing. This one patch has now become a 1/2 dozen or so patches and it's spread to some of my live-rock.
My ZEO dosing for the first 2 weeks was 2ml start, and 2 drops BAK/Food daily with 1/2 liter of stones and 3/4 cup carbon. The stones are in a filter bag in my sump, and the overflow from the 'fuge run right over them. Based on Bob's original recommendations, weeks 2-4 call for BAK/Food twice a week and 1ml of start split into 2 daily doses.
I've got to admit that I'm disappointed in my results. . .the proliferation of algae is a step backward in my opinion.
On a positive note, my corals do seem to look healthier. My LPS have never looked better and the few SPS I have show more polyp extension and color. My anemones and fish are also very healthy looking.
I rarely check my organics as they've been undetectable forever, but just for kicks I checked them tonight (all Salifert):
NO2 - 0
NO3 < .2
PO4 - 0
My other parameters are:
Alk - 7.7 dKH
Salinity 1.026 (bringing it down slowly)
Ca - 460
Mg - 1320
PH - 8.19
Temp - 78
I do weekly 4 gallon (the size of my bucket) water changes using Oceanic or Tropic Marin, and feed a very small amount each day (I have 10 fish). The anemones get fed twice a week. All water is replaced by RO/DI which tests just fine.
What can I do about the algae?
My filtration consists of a refugium containing Miracle Mud and Chaetomorpha along with a ER CS8-1 (run as wet as possible. . .I have to clean the collection cup every 2-3 days). My total system volume is around 80 gallons.
Prior to beginning ZEO, I also ran Polyfilters and Bio-Chemzorb. I removed these from my system about 1 week before beginning ZEO, and noticed a single small patch of red turf developing. This one patch has now become a 1/2 dozen or so patches and it's spread to some of my live-rock.
My ZEO dosing for the first 2 weeks was 2ml start, and 2 drops BAK/Food daily with 1/2 liter of stones and 3/4 cup carbon. The stones are in a filter bag in my sump, and the overflow from the 'fuge run right over them. Based on Bob's original recommendations, weeks 2-4 call for BAK/Food twice a week and 1ml of start split into 2 daily doses.
I've got to admit that I'm disappointed in my results. . .the proliferation of algae is a step backward in my opinion.
On a positive note, my corals do seem to look healthier. My LPS have never looked better and the few SPS I have show more polyp extension and color. My anemones and fish are also very healthy looking.
I rarely check my organics as they've been undetectable forever, but just for kicks I checked them tonight (all Salifert):
NO2 - 0
NO3 < .2
PO4 - 0
My other parameters are:
Alk - 7.7 dKH
Salinity 1.026 (bringing it down slowly)
Ca - 460
Mg - 1320
PH - 8.19
Temp - 78
I do weekly 4 gallon (the size of my bucket) water changes using Oceanic or Tropic Marin, and feed a very small amount each day (I have 10 fish). The anemones get fed twice a week. All water is replaced by RO/DI which tests just fine.
What can I do about the algae?
Bob
The key is to stay the course, no matter which method one uses in reefing. The zeo-filter improve the method immensely, resulting in lower nutrients & more effective utilization of the zeo-components
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