Algae, please look at parameters etc.

What is the K rating of the light? Brand? Tank near a window? Have you tried testing the water that you mix BEFORE it goes into the tank?
Also, completely unrelated, but get a grounding probe asap

 

I know! I seem to forget this when I make my list of stuff to get:

 

RC always comes up short with Mg and Ca...makes me mad

 

Oh, yeah!! Esp the amount you were using.... The amount DTs recommends will most likely cause pollution UNLESS you have a very heavy phytoplankton eating tank, full of duster worms, softies and the like. Copepods will be just fine eating microalgae off the side of the refugium or detritus and other small organics. You should not need to intentionally feed them.
So again, long story short, cut the DTs, do some water changes and pull some of that algae out by hand. One of the algaes was sea lettuce and most tangs love it, so if you know any reefers around you with tangs, most of the algae in your tank they would relish. And hey, whoever you give it to gets free food. Heck tear some of the algae, hair algae included and bring it to the LFS, I'm sure they have tangs to feed!

Once you trim the algae down to a managable size then add maybe a handful of dwarf red leg crabs, or the blues (c.tricolor) and maybe a few smaller snails, trochus, margaritas and the like.

Good luck!!

 

I don't have the years of experience to butt in on this comment... but I will anyway ;D

I think a good CuC is addressing the problem *if* the problem is as simple as balancing. (saying they're addressing the problem if the problem is you have too small a CuC)

I don't view it as a band-aid. IMO, they're equally a band-aid as Macro-Algae in a refugium would be a band-aid. They're both natural ways of cleaning up.

I think a light clean-up-crew is unrealistic to the natural environment we are trying to recreate.

Sometimes there is a real problem that needs to be addressed and I'm not saying there isn't. I am saying there is a balance. My tank (which is my first SW, I know) is sparkling clean and I haven't had any mass die-off as the heavy CuC nay-sayers predicted. It's a balance.

FYI - I have around 150 snails (6 different kind) and 15 or so blue legged hermits in a 55g. They've been in there for a long time without die-off. Most live in the substrate all day and come out at night.

Sorry for contradicting you guys. Just throwing out other opinions

 

Thanks all for the input. My LFS gave me the schedule for the DT's, but they aren't always right.

Here's my plan,
1)continue to do 20% water changes until all water is changed out to RO/DI instead of just RO
2)Cut out the DT's.
3)Scrub a few rocks.
4)Attempt to pull out the stuff in the substrate ( can't figure out a good way to do this; messy)
5)limit the lights to 8 or 10 hours (I gotta see the tank SOME of the time!)
6)develop some patience, wait a couple of months, tank isn't even 2 months old yet

 

When I had your problem I over fed, too many nutrients....

 

Also, Ive read that you shouldn't rely on Epsom salt as your main magnesium supplement because it raises sulfate levels too high. From what I understand, you should only use epsom salt to raise magnesium to the desired level, then stop using the Epsom, and then start using a normal magnesium supplement to maintain the mag level.

Does sulfate feed algae?

 

Did inread it correctly... Your bulbs are from 08? If so I think it's time for them to be changed

 

Good plan. I would change out 40% of the water twice, spaced out by 2 weeks to get more of a dilution effect. Also, look into adding 3 Orange or Blue Tuxedo Urchins (less intrusive, no bull dozing) and 4-5 "Fuzzy" Chitons, if available, try Reefcleaners.

I agree here, use a quality Magnesium suppliment.

If the bulbs are truely that old, that explains a lot plus the over feeding. Depending on the nuber of bulbs, change out a couple at a time and give a space of at least 1 week before changing a couple more.