I'm stuck!

[michael grady]

Can you guys give a hand?

I'm having a light and dark green algae problem. It's not out of hand - yet. But, I want to get a hold on it. It just doesnt look good.

Here are the particulars:

225 mix reef. Been running for about 3 months. I moved water, rock, and sand from a smaller (110) tank that was established.

Lighting: 4 - 96 watt Com Florescents - run 8 hours a day
3 - 250 watt MH run 3 hours a day

flow: 3 - MP 40's

Fish: 2 yellow tangs, a sail fin tang, 5 gree chromis, 1 clown

coral: about 15 frangs of various lps and sps

I put in the 'recomended CUC " from reef cleaners about 2 months agao.

Nitrates and Phosphates = zero. Just tested today.

I have a 40 gallon refugium with Miracle mud and cheto. small shop light above it 24 hours.

sump: 70 gallons


If I cut down on the light will the algae go away? Then how will my coral grow?

I'm stuck!


Thanks!

Michael

 

[clay4au]

with the tank being so new you probably lost a lot of that clean up crew you ordered. I'd just add a few more snails.

 

[ralph atl]

do you have any pictures?
what test kits are you using for nitrates and phosphates?
most test kits aren't meant to measure low range phosphates, and api is notorious for inaccuracy with nitrates.

<span style="font-size: 13px"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">Use a phosphate reactor with some GFO, and something to lower nitrates like a fuge, Vodka, VSV, Solid Vodka Pellets (bio-pellets) or other carbon source. </span></span>

<span style="font-size: 13px"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman">Large weekly water changes, frequent media changes, and Vodka (carbon) dosing can take care of most algae that are caused by higher than wanted nutrients. </span></span>

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php</a>

Edit: [QUOTE=][B]Clay4AU;870636 wrote:[/B] with the tank being so new you probably lost a lot of that clean up crew you ordered. I'd just add a few more snails.[/QUOTE]


maybe some turbo snails......[IMG]http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2971+571&pcatid=571">http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2971+571&pcatid=571</a>

or these guys are the best:

[IMG]http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=2&pid=1131&cid=82">http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=2&pid=1131&cid=82</a>

 

[snowmansnow]

Thats still a new tank IMO.

Just keep things as clean as possible and have patience.

I'm also assuming you're using RODI water and not tap or some other evil water source correct?

While mystery does have a point with the carbon sources I would advise being careful with it. Carbon sources are simply food for bacteria. If you're going to run a system with a CS then now is the time to introduce it, BUT IMO you'll need to introduce a bacterial strain also as not to simply add fuel to cyano or some other other worldly satanic force.

B

 

[ralph atl]

Yes, you must research all nutrient reduction methods, thoroughly.

However, adding GFO slowly would most likely help.

And Large weekly water changes.

But pics might help to find out what type of Algae it is in the first place.....If its Briposis, for example he/she needs to go a new route.

The op left out some key pieces, so I'm assuming its typical hair algae, which a nutrient reduction and a cuc will eventually take care of it.

If not now, in the future.....

 

[snowmansnow]

The future! The future the future the future!!!

 

[skriz]

Your tank is way too young to fool with bio-pellets or vodka.

Your halides will provide better lighting than the pc. I'd run them longer and the pc's shorter.

Keep up with water changes and make sure you have a good skimmer. A media reactor is always a good idea; I run carbon and phosban in mine.

Other than that, let the CUC & time do its job.

 

[bycjoe]

I just went thru the same thing on my 40b, did a really good scrubbing of the rock out of the tank a good vacuum in the tank, added 5 turbos 5 hermits and am now running gfo and phosban. Couldn't tell you which helped the most because I did all that in 1 day but it hasn't returned since.

 

[bluespot]

I also agree that it is still a "new" tank and going through its various stages. Assuming good test kits I bet the nitrates and phosphates are being eaten up as quickly as they are made by the green algae. Time, water changes/husbandry practices, and additional CUC would be my recommendations.

 

[raz0945]

Are your lights new or used? When the blubs get older they can cause algae growth.

 

[mph84]

Did you clean the sand before you put it in the new tank.

Edit: ??

 

[ringo®]

mph84;870794 wrote: Did you clean the sand before you put it in the new tank.

Edit: ??

Likely culprit

 

[kilralpine]

I would agree, reusing that sand was a mistake. Run some phosban or GFO to help alleviate some of that issue, vacuuming during the WC's regularly would be a safe route. How long was that sand established in that other tank? How did you transport your sand from the other tank?

 

[ralph atl]

although possible, hair algae isn't going to go away on it's own with just some water changes.....

systems should be in place even when first starting a tank, albeit most people add systems as they realize the system that they have isn't going to remove enough nutrients to keep coral healthy and avoid a plague of hair algae. It is these systems of nutrient reduction" that in combination of a CUC & good, healthy, but not extreme feeding that will take care of this.

Just like, live rock, skimmer, blah, blah, blah, there is absolutely no reason why an aquarist has to "learn the hardway" and "go through this phase" if HE/SHE would research the various systems of nutrient reduction.......a system to remove phates and multiple systems to remove trates.

research & knowledge a must, however....

 

[kilralpine]

mysterybox;870835 wrote: although possible, hair algae isn't going to go away on it's own with just some water changes.....

systems should be in place even when first starting a tank, albeit most people add systems as they realize the system that they have isn't going to remove enough nutrients to keep coral healthy and avoid a plague of hair algae. It is these systems of nutrient reduction" that in combination of a CUC & good, healthy, but not extreme feeding that will take care of this.

Just like, live rock, skimmer, blah, blah, blah, there is absolutely no reason why an aquarist has to "learn the hardway" and "go through this phase" if HE/SHE would research the various systems of nutrient reduction.......a system to remove phates and multiple systems to remove trates.

research & knowledge a must, however....

+1 it will take manual as well as other means to ultimatly defeat algae; you can win the battle but unless your persistant you wont win the war.

 

[michael grady]

All...

Thanks for the replies. I'll try and answer the questions so you guys can continue to drill down and help solve this algae issue.

Tank: 225 ungraded from 110 about 3 months ago. I move the sand and live rock over to this tank

Sand: I wish, now, I had not done this. I tried to save the old sand thinking it would have lots of beneficial bacteria. I just stored it in plastic nuckets until I set up the new tank. It say for about two days. It was pretty malodorous and I wondered at the time about reusing it.

RODI: Yes - BRS 6 stage unit. Testing 0 TDS out of the system

Reactors: Phosban reactor running

Skimmer - Huge reef Octopus (rated for 400 gallon tank)

Lighting - 4 96 w CF's 8 hours a day, 3 250 w MH - 2 hours a day. All brand new

Testing: Using Red Sea kits. Phosphates and Nitrates are testing zero

actions: Just did a 20 % water change, and threw in bunch more snails.

Photo: See attached.


Thanks everyone! I wish I could see a 'mature tank' of this size and get some inspiration. Anyone interested in a visitor?

Michael
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[ringo®]

Kinda looks like green coralline from the pic.....can you brush it off the rock?

 

[jdavid]

Just be glad that you are not me right now!

My frag tank is out of control.
4 turbo snails, 7 astrea snails, 1 lrg and 10 sml blue legs, various beneficial hitchiker critters. Running carbon in HOB.. new RODI, lights cut down to 4 hours a day. The only thing I haven't done is manually remove it. Taking out the rack is gonna be a pain so I was hoping the addition of the turbo snails would help, and they are helping, but not fast enough. I'm gonna have to get at the frag plugs/ rock frags with a toothbrush. It is a new tank, and the problem IMO is a lack of biofilter. I did get a RR 40 breeder though and as soon as I order a few things I am going to add a sump full of rock and a reactor. Vodka is tempting.. but as stated- it's a new tank.

Only 1 fish and a few corals (scoly and occasionally others) get fed so I don't think over feeding is the issue here. Yikes!!

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