Need Help - Brown Algae

DawgDiggity

DawgDiggity

New member
Whassup folks. Haven't been around in a while and good to see old friends still hanging out. My tank needs some help.

100_0448.jpg

100_0449.jpg

100_0447.jpg


I have been evaporating water, almost a gallon a day, and do not have a RO/DI unit. No I have not been using tap water but ran to the grocery up the street and used 3 gallons of spring water once and probably 6 gallons of steamed distilled water. When the algae BLOOMED!
I have done several water changes, left the lights off for a day, changed carbon in canister, clean canister 1,2 times a month. I have not tested my water from 8/16 -10/22, but the nitrates have dropped significantly in those two months.
Current levels:
Nitrite 0 Nitrate 15 Ammonia .25 -.5 PH 8.2 Alk Normal Phos 0
Salinity 1.032

I do have a shipment of snails and blue legs coming in. But don't know if they will eat this nasty brown stuff. Suggestions Please!!

3 months ago
100_0217.jpg
 
I was thinking about you the other day. Glad to see you're still around. :)

I think whats troubling is that you have ammonia. Tis not good, needless to say. That would, at surface level, seem to suggest some possible filtration issues. Your snails are not going to like the ammonia, and I'm sure the rest of your fish are not liking it either.

I would personally be doing water changes until those two come down and try to figure out why they're up. The algae is an eye-sore, but the ammonia will burn your fish's gills. Es no bueno! :)

What kind of filtration do you have going on? How is your tank setup to run?

Also, there is a post right now of a guy selling a $200 R/O unit for $75... you may want to grab it, bro! :)

Brandon
 
Oh, and your nitrates are probably down because they're all being consumed by the algae, and possibly ditto on the phosphate, too. :)

Brandon
 
It will take at least $100 worth of snails and crabs to get it under control. I have found that astrea snails are the only ones that are any good for my tank. I'm not exaggerating, get at least 3 dozen snails, and the same amount of blue leg hermits. If you had a slightly larger skimmer I would suggest dosing a carbon source like sugar or vodka but I think it could be risky with the skimmer you are using. I also agree with Brandon, you should make the RO unit priority number one.
 
uhm that kinda looks like dino's to me. Does the stringy stuff have air bubbles all in it? Is it abit like snot? Have you noticed any crabs or snails dying? Does it seem togo away at night when the lights are off to spring back the next day with lights on?
 
Astrea snails would love your tank.

Don't add spring water. Try distilled water from the store. Forget about tap water.

RO/DI is a must. Whats up with the salinity at 1.032 :o?

It should be around 1.024 - 1.025

Looks like your tank is nutrient rich...go easy on the food.

Im just guessing here but i think its either the phosphates or the food thats causing the condition.
 
The pictures look like dinoflagellates. If it is, snails and crabs will do no good. Infact it is poisonous to them. Water changes also seem to fuel it more. Look at the second picture on this link and compare.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

An old FOWLR tank of mine got them pretty bad. It took alot of skimming, several sessions of lights out for 2-3 days in a row, and alot patience.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13760426#post13760426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitansFan
The pictures look like dinoflagellates. If it is, snails and crabs will do no good. Infact it is poisonous to them. Water changes also seem to fuel it more. Look at the second picture on this link and compare.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

An old FOWLR tank of mine got them pretty bad. It took alot of skimming, several sessions of lights out for 2-3 days in a row, and alot patience.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna have to agree with this one here!!!
 
Thanks for all the feedback! The article on dinoflagellates helps! I think that this is exactly what the problem algae is. It is good to know that this stuff is toxic. My filtration is really inadequate (350 Magnum canister, RemoraC skimmer).
Thinking back this all started with the loss of a starfish. I am sure my homemade food is also contributing.
100_0167.jpg

100_0168.jpg


I have been struggling with the thought of breaking my tank down. I don't like my current setup and don't want to invest in something that will always be a fight to balance. I have been working on acquiring all the equipment for a 125g in my basement. I have most everything but don't have the budget or the practical space to follow through with the project.

You know, I acquired a 24g Nano a year ago and haven't thought about it until now. Downsizing is probably my best option right now.

So if I get the Nano setup and move some livestock over, I can use the 55g to clean my rock. I have a lot of aiptasia to kill as well. I need to find a way to use the Remora skimmer on the Nano. May go ahead and plumb the Nano for a sump as well... new project! I will keep an update of the dino's and will probably list some fish this weekend that will not be going into the Nano.

Thanks again for all the feedback!!
 
Dude! Where did you find that frozen seafood at?

I've been wondering where around here it could possibly be found.

Brandon
 
Dino's are a scourge

Dino's are a scourge

That have bested many a hobbiest. I am fighting them now.

I upgraded my skimmer, installed phosban and carbon reactors and have cut out water changes. I know - this seems counter-intuitive, but what I have done is added a great deal of filter floss into a section of my sump - and then vacuum the crud and the floss picks up a great deal of the dino's. I change out the floss maybe three times when vacuuming - and vacuum whenever the dino's become apparent.

This battle does seem to be working - although it is a slow process. I did try three days without light and when I unveiled the aquarium - the dino's were gone - for a day or so.And then they came back.

I have also changed out the phosban far more often than normal, and have used carbon quite heavily. In spite of this, most of my snails never made it - and I lose every single algae eating fish that I have introduced thus far. I have determined that I will not add any more inhabitants until the scourge is gone.

At first, I was syphoning/vacuuming every couple of days - but now it is every ten days or so......I think I am winning, but it has been costly. I have lost a few corals as well. The basic idea to this strategy is to allow the dino's to go through their cycle without making your tank too toxic for life. Eventually, whatever they feed on will become too depleted - this is my hope with the upgraded skimmer and reactors and no water changes. I feed my fish once a day and corals once a week - sparingly.

Good luck. If I were you, and had the opportunity - I would take out all your liverock, give it a thorough scrub, and then cook the rock for 8 weeks in a covered, circulating container. Change that water out every once in awhile. The idea is that under darkness, all nuisance algae will die off - and your rock will release its phosphates. You are rebooting the rock basically. Water changes are essential during this process, as your rock will release a ton of nutrients that die off under darkness. Dino's cannot survive without light. Do not use the rock until water tests 0 for phosphate.

That is what I may end up being forced to do if my husbandry management does not work out.
 
Brandon,

I thought I told you about the Asain market on Nolensville at the last AC meeting. For $7 I have enough food for at least 5 yrs. Not joking. I can bring bricks of the food mix at the next meeting:
100_0169.jpg


Who's hungry...!
 
whosinpower, thanks for the experience! luckily I only have a couple big rocks with corals attached. The majority can come out and be cooked. Probably start the process this weekend.

B
 
Just look in the phone book, it's K & S market. From Critters, go towards harding place and it would be on your left. Kinda hard to miss the big sign. It's very close to harding place.
 
There is also another one, not K & S, but a different one located off Murfreesboro rd and Bell Rd intersection in a shopping center by Goodwill....Thought I would throw that one in as well, not as good as K&S market for sure though, but might be closer for some folks...Then there is another sister market with K&S off white bridge rd too... :)
 
Its where the old service merchandise used to be on nolensville road. Right across the gas station.

It stink in there tho. I burnt my nose hairs last time i was there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

griss
  • Sticky
Algae Issues Thread
Replies
13
Views
2K
Lawmark
L
C
Need advice
Replies
1
Views
371
Uncle99
Uncle99
D
Help with new tank cycling
Replies
12
Views
479
wvned
wvned
F
Low ORP
2
Replies
20
Views
2K
griss
griss
A
Please help reef tank
Replies
2
Views
433
SantaMonica
S
Back
Top