cant beat the algae

a couple months ago I started having a severe GHA issue I've done every trick i can find to help with issue and while its significantly better I cant seem to get rid of it. below is what I've done is there anything else i could try? or do I just need to wait longer? its been about 1.5 -2 months since i changed everything.

1) I've cut the MH's back to 6 hours a day (blue t5s run 12).
2) added a fuge with chaeto/mangroves, and 6in DSB(realize DSB will take longer than 2 months to establish fully)
3) removed my crushed coral substrate and replaced with sand
4) added media reactor running phosgaurd media
5) enhanced CuC based on reef cleaners suggestion

My elos test kits show ( with what they cost I assume they are good kits)
0 phosphate
5ppm nitrates ( this is down from 20ish before changes)
and my RKE says PH 8.25.

 

you appear to be taking all the right steps, I would give it a little more time.
Also, what are your Alk/cal/mag readings at?

 

Mg 1200
ca 400 ( i have a cheap API kit for this so I'm not sure accuracy)
alk 9 dkh

 

Hmm, looks pretty good for the most part, mag looks slightly on the low side according to these recommended parameters from the water chemistry forum.

incase you haven't come across this thread yet. http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/ultimate-nuisance-algae-thread-58657.html


Some alkalinity conversions for quick use.
7dkh=2.50meq/l=125ppm
8dkh=2.86meq/l=133.9ppm
9dkh=3.21meq/l=160.7ppm
10dkh=3.57meq/l=178.6ppm
11dkh=3.93meq/l=196.4ppm
12dkh=4.29meq/l=214.3ppm
13dkh=4.64meq/l=232.1ppm
14dkh=5.00meq/l=250.0ppm
15dkh=5.36meq/l=267.9ppm
16dkh=5.71meq/l=285.7ppm
17dkh=6.07meq/l=303.6ppm
18dkh=6.43meq/l=321.4ppm

Reef parameters and recommended/desired levels.
Salinity/specific gravity-1.025ppm or 35ppt
temp.-78-82
PH-8.1-8.3
Ammonia/NH3-0 Should be undetectable
Nitrite/NO2-0 Should be undetectable
Nitrate/NO3-0 Acceptable at higher levels in a reef setting @20ppm and 50ppm in fish only.
Phosphate/PO4-0 should be less than .03ppm


Magnesium/Mg-1400ppm This one affects the next 2 readings/levels.
Alk/dKH/KH-7-14. See chart above for conversions.
Calcium/Ca-380-500ppm

 

Have you TDS tested your source water?

 

yea, I run a typhoon III from air water ice, it reads at 0.

 

ime .a good tooth brush xtr.astiff should help.also cleaning powerheads and filters will also help..i did everytjing just about nightly and im seeing a huge differance

 

agree with loneracer05.....when I went through my personal battle...I actually scrubed/scraped it away abit at a time...while, and as well as, doing the changes and testing your doing now....it help'd to "help it out"... so to speak : ) good luck..it'll be better soon.
LG

 

if its not really GHA but byrosis (i think thats the right spelling) it will look like little ferns.. raise your mag.. also you might just have to remove rocks with it on them and scrub down.. cooking them is an option but will kill the live stuff on rock.. my lettuce nudibranch is good for GHa, but I dont know how bad you got it..

 

parameters?