Green Algae

[jcr37962]

How do I get rid of green algae.

 

[mojo]

We need to know a little more about your tank:

- what size
- how many and what type of fish
- how much live rock
- how long has it been setup
- what do you use for topoff (evaporated) water?
- what and how often do you feed?
- how much lighting
- what kind of filtration / skimmer?

Algae (all types) grows when there's an abundance of nitrates and/or phosphates in the system. These are typically introduced through feeding, poor water quality, or both.

 

[jcr37962]

65 gallon/ 4 fish a puffer 2 damsils and a goby/ 20-25 pounds live rock/11 months/dechlorinated water/once per day/ about a pinch of flakes 7 freeze dried shrimp/ enough for corals/ not sure

 

[chemically_balanced]

Purified water is a must to keep algea in check. Just dechlorinated water doesn't remove enough. Tap water includes alot of chemically including phosphates that can cause instant algea. I'm sure everyone would agree if you start using RO/DI water for top-off and water changes you will see a drop in the amount of algea. Also a little more Live Rock would help. What type of lighting do you have and is it on a timer?

 

[xyzpdq0121]

YEs, You need to start using RO/DI water, you need about 65 more lbs of live rock IMHO, You have to understand that your puffers are VERY messy eaters and are most likely adding a huge amount of nutrients to the water so you should be doing water changes often (with RO/DI water) and would want to have a good skimmer and a refugium. "enough for corals" is not a good answer to a lighting question.... Please be more exact if you want an exact answer. You also should have your water tested and post your results. It is hard to give you advice with the small about of information provided.

 

[cameron]

Copying myself from another thread:

Green hair should be reasonably easy to control. Skim heavy, use good macro algae, check your RO/DI, check the lighting (bulbs) for over-usage, cut the lighting cycle, ease up on the nutrients (feeding), bring in the right kind of algae eaters then possibly add GFO, Purigen and/or a UV Sterilizer. Once you get the changes in, do a sweep on the algae getting as much out of the tank as you can. The rest should take care of itself.

 

[nano_reefer92]

or go to a publixm, it is 1.50 for a 5 gallon jug refill and i had a guy who came to my house and tested my water and he said that publix was one of the best places to get water beacuse he told me that he tested thier water and it was one of the finest water that he tested in store water despensers.

 

[cameron]

Publix water as well as Kroger and the rest of them depends on specific stores. If they aren't religious about those filter changes, it isn't going to be what you need. Even a cheap ebay RO/DI is likely better than most supermarkets at least for a little while.

 

[jcr37962]

i use the stuff yu can buy from petsmart to dechlorinate it to remove stuff after its been dechlorinated is that ok

 

[mojo]

No- that only removes the Chlorine from the water. Water has all kinds of impurities in it, including phosphates and nitrates. Your best long-term bet is to get an RO/DI filter (like the ones from http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm">The Filter Guys</a>), but in the short term, you can buy RO/DI from local sources. Your best bet would be from fish stores that sell either RO water or pre-mixed saltwater. The second option would be to get RO water at a WalMart or similar, but you're taking your chances.

Until you can find a way to get good, clean water, you'll continue to have algae problems. We've all been there...

 

[jcr37962]

i got my light from q's fish school and i am trying to find the original owner chris if any of you know him tell him to post on one of my threads

 

[xyzpdq0121]

mojo;50090 wrote: No- that only removes the Chlorine from the water. Water has all kinds of impurities in it, including phosphates and nitrates.

Heck, You can add copper to that list!

 

[xyzpdq0121]

jcr37962;50107 wrote: i got my light from q's fish school and i am trying to find the original owner chris if any of you know him tell him to post on one of my threads

You do not need the original owner... Are they power compact lights, T-5 or metal Halide? How long are they? Are they one long bulb or 1 short bulb or about 4-8 little long bulbs?

BTW: not to sound hostile or like a jerk, but it seems like you got a bit of reading to do about the hobby and aspects of a reef tank. If you need some suggestions on where to learn about stuff and read about topics, please ask... This hobby takes ALOT of reading and research to be sucessful at.

 

[jcr37962]

i have 2 36 or 24 or 48in bulbs

 

[xyzpdq0121]

hehehe... sounds like Power Compact lights to me...

 

[jcr37962]

Can you give me some good guides.

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Ummm good books to start reading would be:

http://www.amazon.com/Conscientious-Marine-Aquarist-Commonsense-Successful/dp/1890087025/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-7067887-7203227?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182800600&sr=8-2">http://www.amazon.com/Conscientious-Marine-Aquarist-Commonsense-Successful/dp/1890087025/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-7067887-7203227?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182800600&sr=8-2</a>

[IMG]http://www.amazon.com/Reef-Invertebrates-Essential-Selection-Compatibility/dp/0967263034/ref=pd_sim_b_3_img/002-7067887-7203227?ie=UTF8&qid=1182800600&sr=8-2">http://www.amazon.com/Reef-Invertebrates-Essential-Selection-Compatibility/dp/0967263034/ref=pd_sim_b_3_img/002-7067887-7203227?ie=UTF8&qid=1182800600&sr=8-2</a>

[IMG]http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Corals-Selection-Husbandry-Natural/dp/1890087475/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/002-7067887-7203227?ie=UTF8&qid=1182800600&sr=8-2">http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Corals-Selection-Husbandry-Natural/dp/1890087475/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/002-7067887-7203227?ie=UTF8&qid=1182800600&sr=8-2</a>


I would also check out a site called [IMG]http://www.wetwebmedia.com">www.wetwebmedia.com</a> it is a good place to look up topics on reef keeping.

 

[coblerx4]

I had a problem with green algae a few weeks ago and I ordered a algea control package from

 

[cgill311]

Can I buy one of those lettuce nudis from you?

 

[coblerx4]

Chris You can have one no need to pay. If you ever have a extra frag let me know. Rick