250 Gallon Algae Problem

killertommygun could you explain this hang on the back filter system a little more please - flow, whats in it? how big? why it works?

rscotti - I havent been washing in ro but I will start doing it from today. I am going to cut feeding a bit..must be loads in there for them anyway.
 
It's Derbesia hair algae. Byropsis is something I really don't want to encounter.

There is an algae that grows about 0.5-1.0mm x 10mm green and very bristle like also.

The large tanks I have seen always seem to have about 4-5 tangs.

I have 1 yellow tang and thats it.

Can anyone recommend

1. tangs best at algae eating in your own experiences.

2. Advice on possible conflicts when introduced, will there be any problems in a 250gallon?
 
Last edited:
Ok...If it is green hair algae, I would start dosing 1ml per 100 litres, triple distilled SMIRNOV Vodka morning and night.

I will almost guarantee its removal within one month.

Do not overdose, 1ml per 100 litres only.

half in morning and half at night.

This is: for a 1000 litre tank, (including sumps) = 5ml in morning and 5ml at night.

For this to work it must be dised consistently for a month.

(I bet your SPS colour up also)!!
 
If you're gonna try vodka, please be very careful.

I suggest you start with more like 1ml per dose for a couple of days and gradually up it every few days by 1ml per dose until you reach the recommended amount.

Obviously, you should do some additional research on this method before trying it. It can and has caused tank crashes.
 
I use vodka on a regular basis everyday for my tank.

I think crashes occur because they dont respect the power of the dosing.

I believe people get carried away and overdose and the method can become scary.

I have been dosing continually for 6 months and my Acropora grow extremely fast and very colourful.

I have tried other types of vodka, but the SMIRNOV seems to give much better results.
 
clean up crew is important.I have never had hair algea in my tank.I was using tap water for the first year wich I know is bad.I always use r/o water now but even when I started my tank I added 100 snails and 100 blue legged hermits.They cleaned the tank up nice.I have a kole tang.Great fish for eating algea thats all he does.Snails do a great job of preventing algea growth before it becomes a problem they work like lawnmowers.I also have a fuge.I finnd calerpa is growing great.I have a sea urchin and I placed him in the sump.I find I don't have to clip the calerpa because he eats it.
 
hey

hey

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7520269#post7520269 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lcheesman
killertommygun could you explain this hang on the back filter system a little more please - flow, whats in it? how big? why it works?

rscotti - I havent been washing in ro but I will start doing it from today. I am going to cut feeding a bit..must be loads in there for them anyway.
Click to expand...
<center>
<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/killertommygun/aquaclear.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/killertommygun/th_aquaclear.jpg"></a>
hey if you rinse in ro the slightest change in temp,salinity,could kill the life in those rocks so are you willing to risk that, take an aquaclear filter system hang it on the back of your tank make sure there is no top on it, so the algae growing in there can get light, also you do not want any filter cartridges in this filter system take them out completely. turn it up full blast it will help your water movement and also it will start growing those algaes outside of your tank so you wont see them inside your tank, if i could get clearer than this i would it is very simple.hope you got it this time
 
More snails! You seriously need more snails to take care of your rock.

Get some Tectus snails. they're awesome for green algae. Better than Turbo or astrea's!
 
killertommygun

Ok I see what you mean about the filter although I am skeptical as to it's function on a 250 gallon.

Why would rinsing the food in ro water cause temp,salinity problems - surely only a nano reef of the smallest size would even fluctuate?

If someone can provide a scientific study on dosing vodka that proves that no harm is caused to nitrifying/denitrifying bacteria I would give it a go, until then I would seek other methods.

will a kole tang and yellow tang co-exist in my size of aquarium? can I add more than 1 yellow tang? or are there other tangs I could add to increase the grazing pressure.

Several weeks ago I decided to perform 25 gallon waters changes one after the other, I think I totalled 6 changes so around 150 gallons...since then the algae got worse.

Could I be experiencing a similar problem to a new tank.

I had run too much carbon 6 months ago I think, and rowaphos, which caused the corals (all) to bleach. Thats why I performed several changes to correct any imbalances.
 
How does a Foxface compare to a Kole tang as far as algae eating? Eats more, less, about the same?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7522746#post7522746 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lcheesman
killertommygun

Ok I see what you mean about the filter although I am skeptical as to it's function on a 250 gallon.

Why would rinsing the food in ro water cause temp,salinity problems - surely only a nano reef of the smallest size would even fluctuate?

If someone can provide a scientific study on dosing vodka that proves that no harm is caused to nitrifying/denitrifying bacteria I would give it a go, until then I would seek other methods.

will a kole tang and yellow tang co-exist in my size of aquarium? can I add more than 1 yellow tang? or are there other tangs I could add to increase the grazing pressure.

Several weeks ago I decided to perform 25 gallon waters changes one after the other, I think I totalled 6 changes so around 150 gallons...since then the algae got worse.

Could I be experiencing a similar problem to a new tank.

I had run too much carbon 6 months ago I think, and rowaphos, which caused the corals (all) to bleach. Thats why I performed several changes to correct any imbalances.
Click to expand...

hey ichees i was talking about rinsing the liverock and the whole hang on filter would act as a fuge, so i wouldnt be skeptical if you want to end the algae problem that is your ticket, you should try it and if that doesnt work then be skeptical
 
Turkey basting the rock once every two weeks would not hurt in the least bit, might carry some unwanted crap into your sump to be processed.

Some more natural predation like the small blue legged hermits might work as well. They have small 300 count of blue legs at reeftopia.com
Foxface, sailfin tang, kole, lawnmower bleenny just some ideas like mentioned above.
 
buzzee - What lighting have you got abouve that tank and what size is it? looks great.

How many tangs have you got and do you have any problems with agression? did you purchase them at different times?
 
Thanks cheese,

20k 400 watt on the outsides and a 250 watt 14k in the centre.

blue tang first
2 x yellow tangs together second
des jardin sailfin third
clown tang last

No aggression at all.

They all get on.

The yellows are very conpetitive with each other and my baby clown tang thinks he owns the tank already!

(hE WILL TOO IN A FEW MONTHS)!!
 
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