Having some issues

Hello Tim, get a product called Chemiclean Red slime remover. There is another one called simply Red slime remover and I have used both and the Chemiclean worked faster and more completely. Follow the directions exactly and it is perfectly safe.

 

+1 on cyano. Cyano has many causes, and they need to be addressed before moving farther. The main causes of your cyano would be low flow, high nitrates, and excessive lighting. As for flow, maybe add a few smaller powerheads if need be. Remember that more, smaller powerheads are better than fewer, large powerheads. Add up everything that is flowing within the DT. You should have at least 3,600GPH of flow within the DT. The second is nitrates. Be careful because cyano can use them quickly; depending on how much is in the tank, you could very well be getting false results from testing. Take a look at your biological and mechanical filtration. It might be time add more rock if needed, change your media more often, or upgrage the often complained about coralife skimmer And perhaps you may be overfeeding.
Then lighting. Cut down on lighting. See if that changes anything. If all else fails you van try the red slime remover, or add an eyelash blenny. They love cyano.

 

I am not happy w/the coralife skimmer for sure...I cut back on lighting and feeding. I am at work and dont have a lot of time to search so I posted here not realizing that there is an algae section...sorry for that. I will keep ya up to date on my progress....Other than the cyno...the fish are healthy and eating like pigs and my water is crytal clear so I must be doin something right.

 

Thx everyone for all trying to help. This really is a great site

 

What's up with your skimmer? I have one for 65 gal. Maybe I can help.

 

That is the one I have as well. 2 things are happening. When I clean it out and restart it, I get decent output. As the water in the sump lowers, I get less bubbles probably do to a small leak in the input pump line. I get about an inch of output in the cup and then it just stops. I have had other skimmers that work just fine even when the sump needs topping off. This tank is in a facility not at my home, and I am not here all the time to give it the maintaining that it needs to keep the skimmer working at its peak. The skimmer just doesnt seem to be all that self sufficient.

 

Yes, that would be a problem, not being there. It is finicky to say the least and water level is the concern. I got mine for the price but you know what they say...you get what, well, you know the rest. I do tweak mine a lot to keep it producing and in time I will replace it. I top off every couple days so I can keep the water level to where it should be. Oh, well.

 

yeah, thats exactly what I mean...it needs too much babying to get it to work. Once the facility budget allows me to...I will be replacing mine as well. Anyone reading this...use caution b4 buying a coralife super skimmer. The price is attractive but its performance isnt.

 

You will want to increase your water turnover rate. You are at 5x now, you want to be around 10x or so at least. Have 3-4 heads in your display tank and have the flows cross, it will push water everywhere in the tank.
To rinse the bioballs, do rinse them in saltwater, and do about 30% of them at a time. You don't want to wash away all the nitrifying bacteria or you might be looking at a small tank crash.
Also, you may want to consider adding on a DI canister to your RO system, that will really cut down on the contaminants in the water too.

 

There is a mod that will help increase the efficiency. You would be surprised how much damage a non working skimmer can be. Mine (a Bak-Pak2) stopped skimming for a week and now I am looking at a huge diatom problem, with some GHA growing too.
I also have a Coralife SS, so when I get my 65G going again, I'll be doing the mod as well. Here is what I found:
Tyler Merrick - Information Resource Portal - Saltwater Aquarium Skimmers - Coralife Super Skimmer