green algae on live sand

I know that the above is somewhat normal for new tanks, mine has been up and running for about three months. I stir the sand a few times a week and have cut back lighting to 8 hours (T5 whites and transition to blues for 4 hours). I have quite the cleaning crew but they hang around the rocks so I added a gobby who appears to be lazy and two sand stars - the latter is moving about nicely.
My question is, what are the "best" practices and what should I expect? I've read books, online forums and such but it's all over the place as to timing and what works.
Parameters are as follows:
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 5
Phosphate 8.2
Alkalinity 9
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia 0

Thanks.

 

First, are the top 2 correct??

You should not have ANY Nitrite at all! A Nitrate reading of 5 is not bad. However, your Phosphate is extremely high by any SW standard.

How old is your test kit?
Do you use RO/DI water?
How much sand and LR do you have?
Do you use carbon? If so, is it reef grade?
Do you feed frozen food? If so, do you drain and rinse it?

 

I'm also wondering if that phosphate reading is correct. If it is, there is your problem and you're lucky that's all you have as such a high concentration of it should plague your tank with undesirables. What type of light schedule do u keep?

Ps: nitrites should also be at 0 so... I'm re-asking the above question: are u sure that was nitrites and not nitrate?


Sent from my phone using my two opposable digits

 

+1 on the above, if this is correct get some gfo in a reactor asap to help get the phosphate into check. Yeah, your lucky thats all you have !!!
Hey magnus, fellow knoxville reefer here, nice to see

 

Are u kidding me!? I can't see where you're from with my phone, but if you are from knoxvegas, that's awesome! I really thought I was the only one. I'm sending u a friend request.

Sent from my phone using my two opposable digits

 

I believe his phosphates at 8.2 is actually a ph reading? to far out there for a phosphate reading IMO.

Sure thing, will be good to chat with somebody local, I didn't think anybody else from knoxville was on here either!!! You a member of the local reef club?
cancel that, this tread not the place for talk lol. friend you when comes through!!!

 

I'm guessing you're right. It does look more like pH than phosphate. I guess we'll only find out once he replies.

Sent from my phone using my two opposable digits

 

Ah, nice catch! I'm nearly positive you're correct; that would be an easy mistake and would make much more sense.

 

also, what, if any,m chemicals are you currently dosing. a lto of that stuff is like pouring money down the drain. most are only useful for fully packed and established systems. so if youre dosing a buncha crapola into your tank, you may be fueling this algae growth.

 

UGH! sorry guys.
I was wrong and it's actually 0 for Nitrite and Nitrate. The PH is 8.2 and phosphate at 0

I dose one cap full of calcium per week but nothing else and did a 20% water change two weeks ago. No carbon in the fluval 405, two power heads with excellent flow.