getting rid of this algae?
- Thread starter sinful
- Start date
GlobaLPimP
New member
Is that not thick brown diatoms? IMO - I would test your phosphates and maybe nitrates. Do some 10% - 20% water changes every 2 or 3 days for a week or so and reduce feeding. How is your flow near the bottom? Can you maybe carefuly scoop out that top layer of sand just to get the big part out?
ReefArtist
In Memoriam
How old is your tank. My new tank had something like this and my snails and crabs took care of it. This to me really looks like cyanobacteria. Lots of information on the net - here's one:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cyanocontrolfaqs.htm
Mainly - cut back on feeding, flow and lots of it, change your water as globalpimp has indicated and clean it up by using a siphon. The reason I say cyano is because of the redness in the layers of the sand in the first pic. It can be red, dark red and brown. Hope this helps and yes it takes lots of work to get rid of. What's your cleanup crew like?
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cyanocontrolfaqs.htm
Mainly - cut back on feeding, flow and lots of it, change your water as globalpimp has indicated and clean it up by using a siphon. The reason I say cyano is because of the redness in the layers of the sand in the first pic. It can be red, dark red and brown. Hope this helps and yes it takes lots of work to get rid of. What's your cleanup crew like?
eek I hope its not! anyway, I siphoned it out pretty easily, we'll have to see if it comes back. I'm kinda in a bind now though. I used my last bit of water doing a 5g change..lol. I can't get anymore water for a couple days seeing how I have my door takin apart b/c of the window regulator..lol. Can ya'll see me ridin down the rode on my ninja with a jug of water strapped on the passenger seat? haha. The part should be here tomorrow so I should be ok for awhile.
I kinda wish my damsels would fall over so I could get a pair of clowns..lol. is that cruel? They have overstayed their welcome. The were post cycle fish!!
as for clean up crew...I only have about 5 crabs and two turbos right now. What do ya'll think of the green algae on the branch rock in the first pic? seems its kinda turning yellowish now
I kinda wish my damsels would fall over so I could get a pair of clowns..lol. is that cruel? They have overstayed their welcome. The were post cycle fish!!
as for clean up crew...I only have about 5 crabs and two turbos right now. What do ya'll think of the green algae on the branch rock in the first pic? seems its kinda turning yellowish now
flfirefighter13
New member
Looks like Cyano to me to, probally part of new tank cycle. Water changes, check phosphates, scoop as much out as possible when doing a water change. Unsure of what cleanup crew helps but im sure something would. If it get real bad and you want drastic measures chemiclean got rid of mine but it will return if there is a problem and it wasnt new tank syndrome.
ReefArtist
In Memoriam
Man don't say that, that's the reason you shouldn't use those poor damsels to cycle your tank :sad2: . And no I don't want them "They're Mean" LOL. Trust me if it is cyanobacteria it's not going away in a day it's more like a few weeks - if you keep after it. I think most tanks seem to go through it - one of mine has. Good luck - poor damels!
a2fire2i
Premium Member
i had the same issue with my tank. I thought it was coraline until it grew on my sand bed. I cut back on my lightning, stopped feeding so much and inceased flow! This corrected the issue. Also, as said, this is just part of a new tank. My lights are on more hours a day than before my break out, i fed a lot more, but the flow is still there. I still get a slight case of it, but its just under the arch in my tank where flow dont hit. If you are going to test for phosphates, make sure you test the water that you are using for water changes. The cyanowill suck it up so it will test lower than what it really is.
Also, have you tried just taking the damsels back to the LFS for a few bucks? Or, I am sure someone out there has a big tank that will take them from you.
Also, have you tried just taking the damsels back to the LFS for a few bucks? Or, I am sure someone out there has a big tank that will take them from you.
welp it started comming back again this morning....I only have a way to test for ammonia/nitrites/ph/nitrates and everything looks good. I'm thinking it might be my flow...I only have the stock pump in it which does like 200gph or something like that. Maybe I will upgrade to a maxi900
ReefArtist
In Memoriam
Hi Sinful,
That was my problem but in the mean time you need to do some major water changes other wise it will get out of control. This stuff is not good for your livestock - corals or fish. I'd also cut back on feeding, this helped with my tank even though I didn't think I was over feeding
.
That was my problem but in the mean time you need to do some major water changes other wise it will get out of control. This stuff is not good for your livestock - corals or fish. I'd also cut back on feeding, this helped with my tank even though I didn't think I was over feeding
.
WillWorkForFish
New member
if you're running your lights longer than 9 hours, try setting them to be on shorter on a timer..
if you dont have a lot of water movement inside the tank try throwing a powerhead in there and get some water moving around..
also, try and get ahold of some nasarius snails.. maybe a sand sifting star, an olive snail or two..
if you dont have a lot of water movement inside the tank try throwing a powerhead in there and get some water moving around..
also, try and get ahold of some nasarius snails.. maybe a sand sifting star, an olive snail or two..
Similar threads
