algae

[jlfnjlf]

Hello all,

I have a relativity new 30g reef tank (45 days old with cured live rock) and I am seeing an excess of algae in the tank. Some of it looks like hair algae, and some looks to be trapping air bubbles. The air bubbles do not look like the bubble algae I have seen on the web. The phosphate tested at 0.5 and the nitrates tested 5. I have a small mass of Cheto in my refugium as well as a newly added mangrove start. I have backed off on feeding the fish in the tank. I do have 2 emerald crabs in the tank, but the stuff is growing faster than they can eat it.

As the Cheto grows will it starve the algae, or is this going to be a continual balancing act?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

John

 

[xia]

That stuff usually sticks around for awhile. Try turning out the lights for a day or two.

 

[miracles38]

Hey John,
did the xenia make it? It is pretty normal for new tanks to go through several different algae cycles. It will pass. Hang in there.

 

[jlfnjlf]

photos

photos

One location

Another (suspected culprit rock)

The other end of the tank

I think the algae came on 2nd hand piece of live rock I picked up.

Kim,

The Xenia has taken a firm grip in the rock and is looking great.

Thank you

John

 

[jlfnjlf]

Xenia photo

Xenia photo

Kim

Here is a photo of the Xenia

 

[robertloop]

Hair algae and a touch of cyano bacteria. Dont trip. The reef is going through changes and cycling. Even if you use 100% cured rock it will still cycle. The changes will run their course. I'd wait awhile before taking any huge action. Regular water changes. Nothing too drastic yet. The issue will prolly get worse before better. It will not spirol outta controll into a death toxic sewage pit unless you introduced 8 fish at the same time.

 

[funman1]

I have stuff like that and my hermits cleaned it all up..

 

[jlfnjlf]

No trippin goin on here.

I think I have about 15 small hermits in the tank, but I am wondering if adding 3 or 4 Certh snails would help curb the growth.

Thanks,

John

 

[WarrenG]

A purple tang is a nice reef fish and mine keeps algae off the rocks.

 

[Reefugee]

Problem is that a 30 gallon tank is too small for a purple tang.

BTW - cyanobacteria can be a real pain to get rid of. Basically - they like low flow, so increasing the flow may get rid of them. But it does take a long time. I finally had to resort to ChemiClean to get rid of mine. The only downside I say to ChemiClean was that it wiped out my pod population.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8028606#post8028606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarrenG
A purple tang is a nice reef fish and mine keeps algae off the rocks.

 

[Sheldon337]

I agree it will pass, but if you are anxious to get rid of the unsightly algae i would recommend a few large turbo snails or larger hermits.

 

[robertloop]

"No trippin goin on here." :lol: