Algae Problem need a Tang

I wouldn't get a reef test kit... Just buy what tests you need.. IMO,, PH Calcium, Alkalinity and Nitrates are the main ones. Po4 kits aren't bad but like Tomoko said they can read zero and you still might have a problem.. As far as brand Salifert kits are great. They cost a little more but you also get alot more tests. I also like Hagen and fast test kits my self.

Will
 
I like both Salifert and fasTest for NO3. I like Hagen's for Calcium. I use Salifert for PO4 and Mg and Aquarium Pharmaceutical or Hagen for kH.

I find Tropic Marine's calcium test kit hard to read. I don't like fasTest alkalinity test, either. Seachem's Mg test is a lot more cumbersome than Salifert's.

Tomoko
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8785324#post8785324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tomoko Schum
I like both Salifert and fasTest for NO3. I like Hagen's for Calcium. I use Salifert for PO4 and Mg and Aquarium Pharmaceutical or Hagen for kH.

I find Tropic Marine's calcium test kit hard to read. I don't like fasTest alkalinity test, either. Seachem's Mg test is a lot more cumbersome than Salifert's.

Tomoko
Click to expand...

lol I'm the same way.. I use Hagen for CA,, But I use fastest for NO3 and PH.. I use Salifert for PO4 and Mg.. kH I use Hagen and Tetra I think. Thats also another point.. If you ever get odd readings its a good idea to test with another brand just to double check before dosing a bunch of something..

Will
 
Yeah, if you get a funky reading, I'd try a duplicate test. There is always a chance of an operator error. If that returns another funny reading, try another brand or a brand new test kit.

However, the appearance of livestock can tell you a lot, too.

Tomoko
 
Unfortunately hair algae often occurs in new tanks. I've been fighting to reduce mine (and slowly winning ) for about 4 months. First of all it is a nutrient problem. Usualy a combination of excessive nitrates and phosphates. My PO4 tested zero and still problems. My nitrates started at 20 and are now at 2.5. What I did wrong was to not use RO/DI water initially and on follow-up top offs, I fed more than I should, and my skimmer wasn't working as well as it should.

I've turned things around by purchasing my own RO/DI filter, upgrading my skimmer, reduced my feedings (don't use flake food), adding a fuge with cheato, moving to a DSB in the display, and finally weekly 20% water changes.

Remember that PO4 gets bound to the substrate and is taken up by the algae so it's possible to have a PO4 problem and still register zero with the best test kit. Good luck and try not to get too discouraged. Remember too that usually only bad things happen quickly in a marine aquarium. Be patient and Happy Holidays!
 
The hair algae phase can be avoided totally. (My 29G and 120G did not go through it at all.)

If you are adding yet another new tank to your seemingly never ending of salt water tank collection, you might consider the following:

As soon as diatom came, I added turbo and astraea snails which kept algae in check. Astraea was great at eradicating diatom on rocks. I do not feed my clean up crew and I do regular water changes. The nitrate was never higher than 5 to 10 ppm right after cycling and my tanks did not get hair algae outbreaks. I did not use fish for cycling so I did not have to feed them, either.

This method worked very well with all my tanks.

Once fish is added and feeding starts, you might consider an algae busting crew such as Mexican Turbo snails, rabbit fish and sea hares.

Tomoko
 
Just FYI...
I purchased my Purple Tang and my algae problem is now under control.

However I am getting more algae on one side of my tank than the other. I have unhooked my PC Bulbs so I know that is not the problem. I have noticed the lighting is not the same on the left side of my tank compared to right side and I am getting more algae on the right side of the tank. Could it be the MH bulb? I just bought the fixture from a reefcentral listing from TN and he said the bulbs were only 3 months old. Should I order a new 250w MH Bulb?
 
All bulbs change spectrum over time. Usually MH bulbs (and any others) are good for about 6 mos before a signifigant change ocurrs. I don't know what fixture or lighting you have but with a 4' long tank you should have two MH bulbs (on for each side) if you are using MH lighting. Regardless of the type of lighting used it should be ballanced on both sides of the tank. Algae tends to prefer a lower light wavelength and especially sems to like actinics. If and when you change your MH bulbs, change them both.

Glad the Purple tang is working for you they are nice fish.
 
If your MH bulbs are only three month old, I would not replace them yet. I use mine for 1 year without any problem.

There are many reasons why algae grow and the light is not the primary cause most of the time. I don't know why your algae happened to be growing more on the left side. That could be coincidental, too.

I happen to notice some algae starting on my right side, yesterday. Just a few small patches of derbasia (a type of hair algae). I recall I had them there before awhile ago. My snails usually keep up with them really well (but not eradicating them completely obviously.) My chaeto in my fuge usually keeps the water free of excess nutrients. Now that I think about it, I have been feeding Golden Pearls a lot more just recently last two weeks. I need to cut back on the amount for sure since overfeeding is usually the cause of such an algae outbreak in my tank.

Tomoko
 
If you're getting more light (and you can visably see it) it is a problem. I used a 250wHH pendant on a 65Hex reef for a year and a half with out problems too. That doesn't change the fact that they change spectrum as they age. How do you know that the bulbs are 3 months old (because someone who wanted to sell the fixture told you)? Sorry but I'm not quite that gullible. One question I do have is how long are you lighting your tank each day? Also, are you running all your lamps the same amount of time?

Tomoko is right that light (especially MH) probably isn't your primary problem. Questions I would ask are what are your parameters (especially nitrate and phosphate)? How much, how ofter, and what are you feeding? What livestock do you have in your tank? What type of water are you using for your top off and replacement water? How often are you doing water changes and how much are you changing?

Before you buy new bulbs try this. Power of the MH and on the PCs. Is the light level the same on both sides of the tank? Now turn off the PCs and turn on the MH. How are the levels now? If you can see a differance in either of those tests change the bulbs. Either both MH or both PC. If you can't see a differance it probably isn't lighting
 
If you know someone who is a camera buff, he/she may have a light/lux meter that you may be able to borrow. You can compare the lux reading of the bulbs. Some people use a lux meter to tell if it's time to change out bulbs.

As for the spectrum shift, if I remember correctly, Dr. Sanjay Joshi said that the spectrum shift, especially on the blue spikes, occurs relatively early like the first month of use. Thereafter the spectrum stabilizes and does not shift much at all. He even recommends to simply lower the light fixture (if you can) to compensate the intensity loss over time.

Tomoko
 
Red Sea Tang

Red Sea Tang

John has a Red Sea Tang that he rescued.

As for Alge, I favor Sea Urchins and Lawnmower Blenny- both are interesting to watch. (John usuall has both in stock).

For Phosphates, I use a Phosban reactor (Two Little Fishes).
 
Hey, thanks guys, I am at the hare alge stage. I have been using phos-buster. Haven't seen any change yet. My critters look great.

Debbie
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8831915#post8831915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrHank
Both good choices. My Lawnmower has more personality than any of the other fish in my tank.
Click to expand...

My daughter named mine "Muddy" because he/she looks like "Muddy Mud Skipper" (the cartoon).

I love the way he "chaumps" on the rocks.

another thing I like about Urchins, they pickup and transport coral lost in the rocks. I have lost several Ricordias (after splitting) to the rocks but the Urchins pick them up and bring them out. I have a picture but I can not get it below 50kb.

Goose
 
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