Fighting regular green algae.

[Reefahholic]

I have 3 HK 1400 for flow on 90/G system with open aquascape. 6 fish and 1 tube anemone. So why so much algae?

Is it possible to keep the detritus suspended? Do I need more flow...say 4 HK 1400's...2 in front and 2 in back.

I'm sure I'm over feeding or something. Lights are on 12 hours and off 12 hours. Maybe that's way too much.

The detritus runs along the bottom and never settles, but gets pushed under the rocks. Even with good flow it would still get pushed into the rocks, just at higher level. So how do you combat the green algae. I'm already running carbon and GFO. Doing 40% WC's about every 3 weeks.

So what's the secret to a white diatom free sandbed and minimal algae on the rocks. Ohh...tank has been up since about June. Should I expect this? Still pretty new tank..?

 

[hollister]

Could be a combonation. From feed ing to flow. Not sure of your setup. Is it on a controller?

 

[cherubfish pair]

Oh man... Your tank is young.

You need to use your hands and physically take the rock out (of the tank) and brush with a toothbrush or similar brush. Your tank isn't magically going to stay clean (rude awakening). You need to use elbow grease.

 

[Reefahholic]

Could be a combonation. From feed ing to flow. Not sure of your setup. Is it on a controller?

No controller...

 

[Reefahholic]

Oh man... Your tank is young.

You need to use your hands and physically take the rock out (of the tank) and brush with a toothbrush or similar brush. Your tank isn't magically going to stay clean (rude awakening). You need to use elbow grease.

Yeah it's young.

So scrub it?? I thought we wanted/needed some of that algae.

I'm not scared to use some elbow grease, but how do u remove mortared rock work. That would jack up the whole aquascape right??

Hmm...

 

[hollister]

Maybe water source. Whats the phosphate readings?

 

[Reefahholic]

It's definitely not the water source. I have very clean water in my town, and use Hanna checker ULR. I have BRS 6 stage plus RO/DI with pressue gauge and inline TDS meter.

How much do you guys feed ur fish. I always feel like I'm not feeding them enough, or like my Benny isn't gettin any. Or like my shrimp isn't getting enough...

 

[Reefahholic]

Aquascape is open. No coral. How do these people keep heavy stocked tanks!!????

 

[hollister]

LR is your best Bio Filter. Its where pods ,worms , and bacteria thrive ,cleaning and adding to bio load.
You say regular green algea but your pic shows none. Is this algea hairy or slimy or flat and hard?

 

[COMEKS5150]

its a brand new tank, you have to cut back on your photo period doesnt look like you have any coral in there, so its not going to hurt anything. dont pull the rock out yet thats a pain, and can kill off whatever bacteria that has begun to grow on it. shut your lights off for 3 complete days, run rowaphos, bulk up on a good clean up crew a few tuxedo urchins and let them catch up with the algae bloom. you will see a huge difference once the 3 days are over and your clean up crew catches up. tuxedo urchins worked great for me. after the 3 days introduce your light back slowly, and cut back the photo period

 

[Reefahholic]

LR is your best Bio Filter. Its where pods ,worms , and bacteria thrive ,cleaning and adding to bio load.
You say regular green algea but your pic shows none. Is this algea hairy or slimy or flat and hard?

It's not green hair. It's green slimy...flat and will flake if blown hard with turkey baster.

That pic isn't good and a bit old. If regular light is on, it's dark bright green.

I'll take one tomorrow.

 

[Reefahholic]

its a brand new tank, you have to cut back on your photo period doesnt look like you have any coral in there, so its not going to hurt anything. dont pull the rock out yet thats a pain, and can kill off whatever bacteria that has begun to grow on it. shut your lights off for 3 complete days, run rowaphos, bulk up on a good clean up crew a few tuxedo urchins and let them catch up with the algae bloom. you will see a huge difference once the 3 days are over and your clean up crew catches up. tuxedo urchins worked great for me. after the 3 days introduce your light back slowly, and cut back the photo period

Ok..how much better is the rowaphos than BRS GFO?

 

[COMEKS5150]

Ive never used that product, ive always used rowaphos.. so i wouldnt be much help there.. maybe some one with experience with both products can chime in. Good luck with the algae though!

 

[swcc]

Aquascape is open. No coral. How do these people keep heavy stocked tanks!!????

OK, the filter sock is quite dirty...remove it and replace it more often(daily is best or don't even run one at all)...the rock in your sump is unnecessary(it will shed detritus in the sump this in turn will just increase phosphates unless siphoned out regularly). may be a good idea to clean out the detritus in the sump. Your tank is young and there is in fact an algae cycle that happens...keeping the tank clean, regular water changes, and it eventually goes away.
Also, I think a mag 9.5 return is a bit much..your skimmer will work at it's best if there is more dwell time with the water in the sump...a return flowing 270-360 GPH will match up great with your skimmer. There really is no need to run the return faster than the skimmer can uptake water...the extra flow just blows right by and out the return. Not to mention the higher flow will increase the decomposition of all that trapped detritus in the filter sock even faster thus leading to higher nutrient levels that blow right by the skimmer and back to the tank.

 

[Reefahholic]

Ok thanks for the tips!

Here's some better pics of the problem.

 

[cherubfish pair]

Yeah it's young.

So scrub it?? I thought we wanted/needed some of that algae.

I'm not scared to use some elbow grease, but how do u remove mortared rock work. That would jack up the whole aquascape right??

Hmm...

Sorry, didn't know what you're dealing with. It's everywhere.

Try some herbivorous inverts. (Not too many.) You'll probably have to supplement them with some extra food if your nuisance algae isn't nutritious enough.

 

[cherubfish pair]

It's not green hair. It's green slimy...flat and will flake if blown hard with turkey baster.

That pic isn't good and a bit old. If regular light is on, it's dark bright green.

I'll take one tomorrow.

With a turkey baster, suck in, don't blow.

 

[swcc]

Ok thanks for the tips!

Here's some better pics of the problem.

that is typical of dry rock that has bound up phosphate/nutrients in it... I gather the rock was not 'cooked' for a few months prior to starting the tank. eventually this will subside with good husbandry and filtration in place. You can cut light cycle...but..this algae is very resistant to that and it may be pointless. Matter of fact, many that experienced this green algae had it color to a reddish/purple coraline algae. So, keep up the clean tank and see what happens.

 

[cherubfish pair]

Looks like I missed it but looks like dry rock. LR can be your biggest filter, the more established the better.

Carbon dosing can be a substitute for LR. Like bio-pellets or vinegar.

 

[Reefahholic]

that is typical of dry rock that has bound up phosphate/nutrients in it... I gather the rock was not 'cooked' for a few months prior to starting the tank. eventually this will subside with good husbandry and filtration in place. You can cut light cycle...but..this algae is very resistant to that and it may be pointless. Matter of fact, many that experienced this green algae had it color to a reddish/purple coraline algae. So, keep up the clean tank and see what happens.

Nope...cooked the rock too and used Hanna checker ULR.

Marco dry rock is very clean. At least mine was.