Another log of a Newbie starting out with TBS rock!

[dwculp]

And the algae marches on.........

And the algae marches on.........

And so the algae saga continues.

A long time ago
In a reef tank far, far away
A battle raged
For billions of years the evil single celld algae
Fought for control of the tank


Anyways......

Tank parameters today:

Temp: 25C (77F)
SG: 1.024
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
PO4: 0.25

Algae is back in full force today. I am going to buy new lights for the light fixtures and see if that helps as my PC bulbs are nearing a year in age.

 

[ratherbediving]

I have to say, I've heard that people should change out bulbs when they get old, because it can cause an algae bloom... but I never understood it. Has anyone come across a reason why algae could somehow take advantage of the shifting spectrum, and corals can't???

Changing them out becuase they are losing intensity... THAT I could understand. But that wouldn't cause an algae outbreak.

 

[dwculp]

As the bulbs age their output spectrum shifts toward the red end of the spectrum. We cannot detect that shift with our eyes. However, most algae is tuned toward the red end of the spectrum, hence under the redder lights they can photosynthesize better and therfore reproduce and spread faster.

I also cut my lighting schedule back from 10 hours a day to 8.

 

[ratherbediving]

Interesting... didn't know that. Thanks for clearing that up.

Did you get your new cleanup crew yet?

 

[dwculp]

I have not ordered a complete new cleanup crew yet. I have been wondering what to buy and how much. Here is what I am thinking:

10 Nassarius snails
10 Turbo snails
10 astrea snails
10 scarlet hermits
15 blue legged hermits
10 Cerith snails
and possibly 4 -6 micro stars

 

[H2OLUVSME]

also i dont think corals can adjust as easily as algae can. if a given environmental condition changes (no matter the condition that changes) algae would be able to adapt faster to the change than the corals could.

 

[dwculp]

THE ALGAE IS GONE! THE ALGAE IS GONE! THE ALGEA IS GONE!

THE ALGAE IS GONE! THE ALGAE IS GONE! THE ALGEA IS GONE!

Ok, lets not get too excited and optimistic as the lights are not on in the tank yet, but I sit here at 7:15am at work and there is no algae in the tank. This is the first day in weeks in which there is no algae in the tank. Normally it builds up overnight but this morning even the sand is clean and I didnt even clean the sand last night, I left the algae on the sand and now it is gone. All gone!!!

Must......remain.....calm......

Everyone pray.

 

[dwculp]

The lights are now on in the tank and there is much less algae buildup than normal!!

Heres to hoping!!

 

[dwculp]

Algae continues....

Algae continues....

Well, I am STILL battling algae. It still builds up almost overnight and covers everything. I am ordering new bulbs and a new cleanup crew. I had replaced many of the blue leg and turbo snails but I want more variety. I am placing the order with Live Aquaria and this is what I am thinking. Give me your opinion:

7 Cerith snails
12 Nassarius snails
7 Bumble bee snails
1 Tiger tail cuke
10 Scarlet reef hermit crabs.

Thats a pretty good variety to go with the 8-10 turbos I have in there. Is it too much, should I change anything?

 

[patsan]

I vote for the first two, but not for the last 3. I'd also try and get some FL Astrea snails in there.

7 Cerith snails
12 Nassarius snails
7 Bumble bee snails
1 Tiger tail cuke
10 Scarlet reef hermit crabs.

 

[cfarrow2]

just to let you know, I took back two yellowtails to the lfs today. They were in my 55 gal. for a week and a half. They couldn't stand eachother. Think if I'd left them in one would have died for sure. Did a water change and added live rock and the situation only got worse. Just fyi.

 

[Scuba Oz]

On the clean up crew Dave, I would go with all the snails and ditch the cukes and hermits. Seems to me in my tanks the snails do a better job than anything else!

 

[dwculp]

Some pics!!

Some pics!!

And the algae marches on. Everything in the tank is doing INCREDIBLE. Some of my coral has never looked better, but the algae continues to buildup on a daily basis. My hammer coral lost one of its heads, but I knew that was going to happen from the day I put it in, that head never looked good!

In the battle against algae I have exausted everything but lights and those will be here next week!

In the mean time here are some pics of a dirty and ugly tank!!!

The anemone is just CRAZY!! I am thinking of ditching the Perc and getting a pair of Clarkii clown as they will host the anemone.

This little brain has NEVER looked better!!

The hammer coral is really looking good, you can see the lost head and I will probably cut that stalk off.

See the algae - yuck

 

[Scuba Oz]

The brain is looking really good I like the photo of the snails little hiding spot Thats too funny!!

 

[Scuba Oz]

So what have you decided for your home tank?

 

[dwculp]

So what have you decided for your home tank?

I am going to silcone all the cracks and crevices in the place and fill it with water!!

 

[Scuba Oz]

That would be a cool tank, hope you have some good scuba gear

 

[dwculp]

That would be a cool tank, hope you have some good scuba gear

I do!

 

[Scuba Oz]

Pretty much be able to keep anything you wanted in that size tank. Course the silicone would cost you a bundle

 

[Scuba Oz]

Get your new lights yet Dave?