Algee Problem

[Silverado]

Tank was set up and let run for almost three weeks with live rock, and then it has been about another 11 weeks, for a total of 14 week old tank.

I have two fish in the tank, live rock, good filtration, and extra pumps for different currents through the rock and tank.

My problem is that a new algae has started to develop and is slowly taking over the tank. It is appearing on every thing. Rock, glass, pumps, ect.

The alga is a reddish brown.

I do have on sea earchant that loves to eat it though.

Have had water test done at local fish stores. They are telling me that they think it is a water flow problem.

Any help that you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

 

[egdevilboy]

check nitrates and phosphates. They're algae food.

clean out as much as possible

short lighting cycle (from 12 hours to 8 hours)

Algae blooms are typical in newer tanks

 

[bertoni]

Doesn't sound that uncommon. Is the alga a slimy coating that blows apart when hit with a baster? Or does it show some structure?

 

[dlish89]

How big of a tank and how much flow and what kind of filtration? Did you add anything new just before this outbreak?

 

[Oniellau]

My tank is going through the same cycle. Its 30 Litres and has 2 fish and live rock and was cycled for 7 weeks before the fish went in. THe fish have been in for about 2 weeks and a slimy reddish brown algae is coating the sand, the live rock and appearing over the glass.

Im thinking it has something to do with the excess food that the fish dont eat decaying and the algae growing from that. I found you can easy blast it off the live rock, however it is diffuclt to get off the glass as its much less thicker and very sticky.

Im leaving the algae on the sand for my sand sifters to eat (if thats possible) when i get them in the next few days.

What sea urchin do you have? Im thinkin g of getting nessarius snails (sp)

 

[JR719]

Your going thru a cycle. don't worry about it. I don't want to assume, but.... you do need a good cleanup crew anyway and good flow in the tank. Might as well plop them in now and let them do their job. Prob just diatomes, the tank will cycle and should be gone with good luck and cleanup crew.

 

[Silverado]

Just found out with an electronic ph reader, my PH is about 9.5.

Don't understant how it jumped up so fast, or the test strips that i was using just are not that accurate.

Could this be causing the algae.

 

[bertoni]

I would doublecheck that reading. What is the alkalinity level? What meter are you using, how was it calibrated, and is there any chance of electrical interference?

I'd say do some water changes if you are sure about that pH.

 

[Silverado]

I am sure about the reading; I forgot that I treat the water in my house with citric acid to lower the ph in the water.

I am taking the water for the tank before the citric acid is added.

The water is put through a two stage reverse osmosis setup with a booster pump.

 

[bertoni]

Are you measuring the pH of the RO-DI water? If that's the case, the meter reading is not meaningful.

 

[Silverado]

NO I am reading the PH level of the tank.

I will be taking a sample of the water to my local fish store for them to check.

 

[sunny d polyp]

PH

PH

Are you adding a buffer? A ph that high usually is a result of over dosing with buffer.

 

[Silverado]

No I am not adding anything to change the PH

 

[bertoni]

I would test the pH of some freshly-mixed saltwater. If that's okay, I'd start some water changes. A pH of 9.5 is very bad, IMO.

So you're adding RO-DI water and a salt mix to the tank. Anything else at all? Are you using Instant Ocean, Oceanic, etc?

 

[Silverado]

I am using crystal Sea Marine mix. Calcium/trace elements enriched. Reef Blend

 

[bertoni]

That salt mixes to a high pH, but the pH should be dropping back to normal after some aeration, maybe a few hours. If the tank still shows that high a pH, I'm at a loss to understand the situation.

 

[Silverado]

Is there a better salt that I should be using?

 

[Oniellau]

Silverado, i went to my local aquarium store today and asked him about the situation. The algae feeds of the phosphate. I also use the crystal sea mix, but my ph levels are fine.

Try mixing the salt and water in a bucket and letting it stand for a few hours before adding it?

 

[bertoni]

I use that salt and like it, but you could try Instant Ocean.

I agree that phosphate is needed for algal growth, but a pH of 9.5 could be killing enough to provide a lot of phosphate.

 

[mfranklin]

I had the same problem on a fairly new tank and I used a red algy remover and thats exactly what it did. it was just a chemical I mixed w/ water and added to the tank within a day or two it was gone and no change or harm to anything in the tank.