algae

[StephNewman]

have my 180 p and running for a few weeks now. Have quite abit of green har algae growth waon some of the rcks when I p them in the tank (couldnt remove it from the rcks because there were already mushooms on the rocks that I didn't want to kill) but hair algae seems to be accumlating on other rocks and back glass and overfows of tank. Is tis a normal hing when cycling or what are my best options for getting rid of this. The mushrooms have seemed to survive these few weeks and haven't really noticed spikes this whole time with any of my parameters. Last checked everythign was 0 except nitates were about 10. I decided to throw a few snails and crabs in but they don'really seem to be going near any of the algae areas. I defineny want to get rid of the algae before it's time to throw any fish or corals in.

 

[capncapo]

Various algae are typical signs of new tank syndrome. Are you sure it's hair algae?

You might want to spend a little money for a phosban reactor and see if that does'nt help.

Are you running your skimmer? Which skimmer do you have?

 

[frenchie]

i got a blue spotted sea hare from aquatics treasures in fairview heights and they eat and eat hair algae, plus tangs eat alot also i have a yellow and sailfin tang. Plus lawnmower blenny do good to but you need to look at what is causing hair algae. It could be not enough water circulation causing dead spots for left over food or detritus build up, or maybe you ro water not filtering good if you are using ro water. Phosphate probally is cause for your algae outbreak i'm currently beating that problem. Make sure your using good ro/di water and have good water circulation keep filters and protein skimmers clean and i do monthly water changes 10 % watch feeding flake foods that contain ash, recommend frozen foods only.

 

[frenchie]

i also added phosphate reactor, use phosban media for 2 weeks than carbon for 2 weeks switch back and forth every 2 weeks and is working great. If you have a sump or refugium use chaeto and keep lights on 24/7 on refugium for your chaeto. red mangroves also use up phosphates and nitrates in water. Stay away from hermit crabs also they will kill your snails for shells.

 

[StephNewman]

I check for phosphate and the test say 0. I am using a Octopus NW200. I have a Mag 24 as my return pump and three maxi jet 1200 running. I have tested for phosphate 0, silicate 0, calcium 500, nitrite 0, ammonia 0, nitrate 10. As I mentoned the hair algae was unfortunatey introduced into the aquarium on rocks that I placed in it from somene elses tank. I was hping it would die off butinstead is getting worst, granted or the first week the only circlation was from my return pump s flow was probaby not effective. I am not sure if there is enough flow or not now.

 

[StephNewman]

Here is the best pic I could get of algae

 

[frenchie]

post some pics of tank so we can see how your powerheads are placed don't know how your flow is from your return pumps but mj 1200 are kind of week for a 180. i use a seio 2600 and a mj mod 1200 which is a little stronger than seio 2600gph. But seio's and mj mods are a wide flow not a stream like mj 1200's.

 

[frenchie]

do you have a full tank shot.

 

[frenchie]

you need some of these powerhead, the pump 4 or alteast a couple of pump3

 

[frenchie]

or try thereefstop.com, i got my seio from there they have one model on sale right now

 

[StephNewman]

well my photo ended up not getting all the maxi jets in the pic. The maxi jet in left lower corner is currently not working which is why only three are running (plan on get a new propeller to fix it so I will have four going). There is a maxi jet on the right side in lower front that is not seen in pic. You can see in pic how there is algae on the back in midde of tank, it is also on the overflows (some spots are long stringy algae looks like green hair which is why I believe this is hair algae) though you can't tell and quite a few rocks have it.

 

[StephNewman]

I am using a wavemaster pro which is why I'm using maxi jets, I heard you can't use seios with the wavemaster. Maybe culd get a small seio to hook on the overflow so that it flows constanly between the two overflows to revent the algae on the glass

 

[frenchie]

i added enough water flow that my sand moves around a little but not to crazy, but your tank is new a will go through a cycle to were you will get algae blooms and maybe even so cyano baceria, or brown diatom algae. Add some cleaning crew like snails, and sally lightfoot crabs. i have margaritas snails 10 turbo snails, 2 sally lightfoot crabs, 1 sea hare which does awesome on hair algae, vibex nassarus snails, long spine urchin, lawnmower blenny. Don't add fish to quick i added one every 3 to 4 weeks so your biological filter can keep up with bio load. But when you add some fish tangs love algae.

 

[sirreal63]

Don't waste the money on a Koralia4...I got mine in the tank and it is weak....very weak. A few of them on a 4' tank would be ok, but not for a 6' tank.

 

[frenchie]

wasn't sure about koralia have seen them in use yet i like mj mods and seio's, there good for the price.

 

[frenchie]

thereefstop.com

 

[sirreal63]

the #4 is close to a Seio 820 but it has a weird V pattern to the flow, I wasn't impressed. It needs a stronger motor.

 

[frenchie]

thanks for info on those koralia i was tempted on trying a couple.

 

[StephNewman]

Thanks for the help, I have a lawnmower blenny in my 72 that I guess will be my first fish to move over to hopefully eatup all this algae but till want to wai a few wks before adding any fish. I ordered some astrea and turbo snails (total of 50 snails) and bluelegged and red legged crabs, 100 total (I have these in my 72 and crabs don't seem to bother the snails too much, actually seems like I have lost more crabs than snails over the last two years in my 72 gallon) should arrive tomorrow or Friday. Was planning on going to gateway to pick up two emarld crabs (heard the were good algae eaters (or sould i get he sally lightfoots instead or two of bth types). My concern is adding all these and the tank not being fully cycled even though parametes seem to be in check. I was going to only add about 50 of the ble/red leg crabs into the 180 and put the rest in the 72 for now.
I want to get a powder blue or pacific blue tang and du to price don't want to get one until i know tank is stable and well stablished, o will be awhile before I get a tang to eat the algae itself.

 

[frenchie]

sounds like a good plan, snails and crabs will do fine in tank not fully cycled they will help cycle tank have to put some life in tank to help cycle. emerald crabs might be fine sally lightfoot tend to mess with fish but are excellent tank cleaners as far as algae goes.