The other day I gave my fish tank a clean out and partial water change. I've been struggling a lot with green algae over the last 12 months or so due to high levels of nitrate in the water. Since January I have been conducting an experiment with daily doses of vodka which is supposed to promote nitrate reducing bacteria.

Recently I have been starting to see some results of my persistence with this. The green algae has been gradually declining and this morning I measured the nitrate at 20 ppm which is well down on the 80 plus which it was for many months.

Interestingly, as the green algae has declined it has been replaced with a red-purple algae, at least on the live rock. Looking at the reef forums, it is regarded as a bad thing, but I'm guessing it will also go away as I continue to reduce the nitrate load. It does look pretty though, and I won't be too worried if it just stays where it is. 🙂

The streaks in the pictures are actually smears on the outside of the glass. They show up way better in photos than in real life 😦

In the early hours of Sunday morning, it appears that a young driver took the roundabout way too fast and crashed into the fence of the West school, directly across the highway from our place. James saw the wrecked car on his way to church and took some photos on my camera.

I'm guessing somebody will be walking for a while.