250 Gallon Algae Problem

[reverendmaynard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7509589#post7509589 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lcheesman

Can my algae problem only be high nutrient levels?

Algae can't grow without N and P. N it can get straight from ammonia from fish waste, but P should be limiting. IMO, and I don't think it's proven anywhere, is there are other nutrients/minerals/metals that different kinds of algae need to survive and, as long as you don't keep adding that in, that kind of algae will eventually die off once it's all used up. I could be way off, but it seems as good an explanation as any for "New Tank Syndrome" and the algae cycle that all new tanks supposedly go through.

Do you ever try manual removal?

 

[lcheesman]

Thanks reverendmaynard,

great suggestions. In my old reef tank 75 gallons was great, same source water and 95% corraline I also had no problems maintaining ph at 8.4...this tank has been a different story until 20 minutes ago. I have a deltec calcium reactor and a kalkwasser stirrer reactor. The calcium reactor was running constantly up until 4 days ago.

I set it to be on for about 8 hours per day when the lights are on, slight lower internal ph of 6.6 instead of 6.8 and a faster drip rate.

Low an behold I have just check my pinpoint meter, recalibrated it and tested against my aquamedic meter and for the first time in 2 years my ph is 8.37 and the lights have been off for an hour it's 11:00pm here. Calcium and Dkh are very close to what they were 4 days ago but I have a high ph! Some days the tank would barely get above 8.10 and never above 8.2. So this should help if what you say is right? which I belive it is from reading about available phosphate.

Water changes - I suspected I may not be changing enough but by my calculations I'm changing just over 20% per month?I think lol. 30 gallons twice a month is 60 gallons. 250/60 about 1/5th...around 20%...Still not enough though should I up it?

The algae is a mixture of that green stiff stuff about 1cm long and hair algae..manual removal is a pain.

I use instant ocean...it's the only one i've found to give good ph,alk,calc, mag levels. Leave it for 2 days before I change.

What do you think?

 

[reverendmaynard]

I'm no expert, but I read alot of threads on RC.
Also, as many of the articles as I can find.
The chemistry forum rocks!
:lmao:
I think you will make some progress against the algae with a higher PH. Any hard corals will probably appreciate it too.

Doesn't sound like your top off water is a problem, and I don't think that extra 5% is really gonna make a big difference. Not with those nutrient readings. I must have read your earlier post wrong and thought you were doing 30 gallons a month.

Instant Ocean seems to be fine stuff. Seems to be used by alot of the "experts".

I'm no skimmer expert, but usually you hear the "full cup of dark skimmate a day" recomendation. I would think with a tank that size, you should be able to get at least that much. I'm not sure if this is possible with your configuration, but maybe you could try running only one of your return pumps, and maybe adding a powerhead to compensate for the flow. This should increase the concentration of skimmable material in the water that makes its way to the skimmer. Also, make sure you're getting as much of the direct overflow water as possible into the skimmer. Try that for a little while and see if you can't increase your production.

 

[maddyfish]

Doesn't seem like many snails to me. In my 75 I have 15 turbos, and 40-50 astreas. 20 or so blue leg hermits. 10-15 zebra hermits.

 

[Kurt03]

Your tests could be showing 0 because the algae is using any available. I would setup a DSB and see how that goes. Kalkwasser might not be a bad idea either.
Here is a link on DSB's
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=595109&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[killertommygun]

algae problem

algae problem

hey ichees i have been doing this for ten years and have never had this problem, i wont tell you what to do but i can suggest what i do, if you feed everyday i wouldnt because the fish and animals can find plenty of leftovers, another i dont know how you do your water changes but if it is tap water that will cause the problem, adding too many additional nutrients(iodide,iodine,coral vite,etc...) which is not needed anyway all you need is magnesium,calcium,&kh thats it. if you dont change your lighting often which would cause your bulbs to lose their spectrum that could be a problem. and i just want to tell you one thing i do that i think helps also, i have a hang on filter sys. without the filter and/or carbon in it and i let all my hair algae build up there it never gets to bad and the water constantly flowing over that strips the excess nutients before it gets to my tank. try this stuff and tell me how it works, hope it helps

 

[lcheesman]

Guys, thanks for all your responses so far.

killertommygun could explain a little more about this filter thing..I dont understand?

 

[reverendmaynard]

I believe he's talking about making a mini fuge out of a HOT power filter. You would use a filter with a fairly large media chamber (Aqua Clear 110/500s work nicely), don't use any media in it, except maybe some LR rubble for increased surface area for the algae to grow. Put a small clip on light on top, usually run 24/7, and hopefully the algae will grow in there instead of your display. Many reefers use this approach, but usually on much smaller tanks. I'm not sure you'll realize much benefit from something so small on a tank your size, but, especially if you already have one of those filters laying around, it's worth a shot.

I've also seen fuges made from 5 gallon buckets. You just need a powerhead, and some tubing to supply it with water. If your sump is big enough, you can just sit the bucket in the sump, pump the water in over the top, and allow the bucket to overflow into the sump. Or, you can use bulkheads or uniseals for in/out plumbing.

Think outside the box. If there's any way to shoehorn a fuge into your system, this is your best bet to reduce algae growth in the display.

 

[fittdog8848]

So what do you say to people that have a big fuge with Chaeto growing and still have nuisance algae in the main tank?

 

[reverendmaynard]

I say they have bigger nutrient problems than their fuge alone can deal with. Each case is unique. In this particular case, it seems like all other avenues have been exhausted.

 

[fittdog8848]

Well I guess I have a bigger problem that I can't pin point then . I have battling this too ichees. I have done everything suggested besides cooking or scrubbing the rocks.

I am going to keep battling it and good luck to you ichees.

 

[reverendmaynard]

Start your own thread, outline your entire setup, water parameters, etc. Lay out the problem and what steps you've taken so far. The more info the better. I'm sure you'll get some good advice.

 

[killertommygun]

alagae problem

alagae problem

no dont cook or scrub the rock
what you need to do is not feed for a week
do a water change
dont add any chemicals to your tank other than magnesium,calcium,&carbonate hardness
this will work trust me also get some alage eaters in your tank like tangs that will help clear it all out

 

[RevHtree]

Yes try a Kole tang. Mine eats all the time. I pulled some LR out of a diff tank that had algae on it and it was gone in no time. I have a naso and a regal, and he out eats them hands down when it comes to picking the rocks.

 

[killertommygun]

off subject

off subject

hey rev you take some awesome pics

 

[lcheesman]

Cooking or scrubing rook imo is a waste of time. If there is an issue with nutrients, cleaning or cooking rock will only mask the problem until it re-appears again.

I think, that I and many others try to hard to find one problem when the likelyhood is there are many problems that need rectifying. Takling one of them, e.g. flow will probably not remove the algae on its own.

So my post here has been very worthwhile, I have been suggested many ideas some of them imo better than others but all very much appreciated.

Despite not having space for a fuge, I have also seen lots of tanks that are prestine with no fuge...I have also seen tanks with a fuge that are overrun with macro algae.

I think I am going to:

add a couple of tangs
add 100 turbo snails
keep ph elevated
slow down the return flow
change more water
siphon the rocks

keep eye on sys parameters.

What does everyone think?

 

[SECTER1]

My clean up crew is bigger in my 40G...Get like 200 hermits and 200 snails and you will befine...If you have alot of live rock you wont notice them.

 

[rscotti]

Another thing to look at is the mysis cube your feeding, are you "rinsing" it first in RO? Have seen others comment on this issue, high phosphates. After I started rinsing it, my algae problem went away, I also add some extra turbo's.

 

[killertommygun]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7515031#post7515031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lcheesman
Cooking or scrubing rook imo is a waste of time. If there is an issue with nutrients, cleaning or cooking rock will only mask the problem until it re-appears again.

I think, that I and many others try to hard to find one problem when the likelyhood is there are many problems that need rectifying. Takling one of them, e.g. flow will probably not remove the algae on its own.

So my post here has been very worthwhile, I have been suggested many ideas some of them imo better than others but all very much appreciated.

Despite not having space for a fuge, I have also seen lots of tanks that are prestine with no fuge...I have also seen tanks with a fuge that are overrun with macro algae.

I think I am going to:

add a couple of tangs
add 100 turbo snails
keep ph elevated
slow down the return flow
change more water
siphon the rocks

keep eye on sys parameters.

What does everyone think?

hey ichees what you could get alot out of is slowing back on feeding and also try the hang on the back filter system(hang it on the back of your tank or in the sump but make sure it has light)and that will cut the alagae problem in your tank way down and definately cut it out for sure, you should try it you would be supprised!!!

 

[reverendmaynard]

Sounds like a plan.

If you're going to add fish, consider a foxface. IMO, they are better algae eaters.