Coraline???

Hey,
Just looking for some help on how to boost my corraline growth?
I have a 25g with 2x24" 24W T5 or T8 (thinner of the 2) not really economical for me right now to replace lighting. But I have about 50lbs of LR in there, already some growing. But, one of my rock is getting this disgusting olive green like mat stuff on it?? don't know what it is.

anyways sorry for rambling there. Any hints as to what to do here??

TANK PARAMETERS as of Today:

Ammonia : 0mg/l
Nitrate : 15 mg/l
Nitrite : 0mg/l
Phosphate: 0.1 - 0.25 mg/l
Ph : 8 -8.5
Calcium : 800 mg/l (is this too high?)
Copper : 0mg/l
Salinity : 31

Guys any help here with getting rid of this drab green mat would be great as well as corraline helpful hints.

Thanks

 

Yes that calcium is really high. I would get it down to 400-450. Also if you want the coraline to grow your phosphates need to go down alot. Nitrates need to go down and your salinity needs to be closer to 35ppt. Are you testing for magnesium? I keep mine at 1350

 

My phosphates are closer to .1 mg/l than .25, it was just an in between color on the test. thanks a lot. I need to get a magnesium test. the phospates are going down now because i added phosphate remover to my filter 24 hours ago.

 

ANY ideas on the olive drab green carpet?

 

Oh, you are not rambling. Now...some of my posts ramble.;D

There is a form at the beginning of the ASAP section that has some questions I want to ask......Can you cut, paste and fill that out for us? Thanks.....John.

 

Are you sure that your Calcium is at 800. If that's the case, your Magnesium would have to be through the roof or you would have triggered a Carbonate snowstorm.

We need to know your alkalinity levels too. If you did have a Carbonate snowstorm, your coralline is going to grow very slowly.

 

Does this help anyone??

Brief description of the problem.
A picture(s) will also help.
PARAMETERS (important)
Temperature: 82
PH: 8 -8.5
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10 - 20 mg/l
Salinity: 31
dKH/KH/Alkalinity: ??
Magnesium: ??
Calcium: 800
Phosphate: .1 mg/l

Tank size? 25 Gallon
Estimated total system? 30 Gallon

Reef, fish only or, freshwater? fish only (right now)

Current inhabitants? What and how many? 1 - perc clown
1 - lawnmower Blenny
1 - bicolor blenny

Clean up crew?

10-14 nassarius Snails
3 Turbo Snails
1 detritus conche


How long has your tank been set-up? 1 year

Substrate.
Type? aragonite
Depth? 1 - 1.5 "

Live rock? yes
How much? 40 - 50 lbs
Did you recently add some? no

Filtration.
Type? Rena XP4 canister
Protein skimmer? no surface skimmer hooked to power head
Do you wet or dry skim? neither
Maintenance schedule for filtration? half cleane every 1-2 months
Drilled tank/hang on back overflow? no
Sump/refugium. What's in it and how much? no
Macro? What kind? no???

Lighting.
Lighting type? T5
Age of bulbs? 9 months

Feeding
What? new life spectrum optimum flake
How much? pinch
How often? once in the evening

Water change schedule.
How much? 10% every week / week and a half
How often? every week / week and a half
What salt brand? reef crystals
Water source? R/O and small amounts of tap

Additives/supplements used? strontium

Do you have a ground probe? NO
What kind of flow does your tank have? noderate to strong

 

If you remove it from the rock, does it come off in a sheet? And how many GPH are you running in your tank presently?

 

I personally hate canister filters. They end up canceling themselves out, as usually the contents are bio filtration. However, this bio filtration media traps organic matter that would otherwise be skimmed out and creates more ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I emptied my canister out that the LFS had convinced me I needed when I was a completely new to saltwater and my water quality has benefited from it.

 

so you have nothing in your canister? so what is filtering the water?