Neon Green Algae?

[mverhage]

Ive read a few topics on lime green algae. From what I read some say its nuisance, some say corraline. So I'm not really sure. I cleaned it off, and it came back on the walls like three hours later...

I tested the water and:

pH = 8.2
Temp = 78.8
Lighting ~7 hours, brought it down 'cause algae.
Nitrites = 0mg/l
Nitrates = <1mg/l
Ammonia = .05
KH = 7
Salinity = 1.024

Pictures attached. Is this normal?

 

[whosurcaddie]

If it came back 3 hours later your phosphate levels are elevated. Saying that, this is a film type of algae and is completely normal in a new tank You will go through all different types of algae within the first year.

3 hours is pretty quick though, do you have any kind of reactor on the system.

 

[mverhage]

No I don't have one of those, or a phosphate testing kit. Will it fix itself on its own, or do I have to do something? I don't want to get my fish sick or anything?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

My lime green algae in my current tank turned into purple coralline algae. If it's tight to the rocks this would be my guess. Shouldn't be easy to rub off either. Coralline will also grow on the glass. your pictures are kind of hard to tell I'll also say that the lime green that I had also had red dots in it, was actually beautiful.

Yes it's totally normal.

 

[mverhage]

The stuff on the glass comes off super easy, the rocks doesn't. Should I buy something to reduce the phosphates, and if you think so what would you recommend?

 

[whosurcaddie]

Your going to want to install a reactor on the system to keep phosphate in check. Every bit of food and fish poo has phosphate in it. There are a few ways of removing phosphate, GFO in a reactor being the most popular. I would look at the phosban 150 reactor. Its cheap and easy to maintain.

Your fish aren't going to get sick from elevated phosphate levels, but it will fuel algae growth.

Amazon sells GFO for really cheap I can get 1lbs for 15$ with free shipping

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Do a 10%-15% water change weekly and it will reduce them while adding good nutrients to your tank.

 

[ericarenee]

what lives in the tank.

How big is the tank. ?
Exactly how old is the tank?
How often do you do water changes in the tank?
Do you us tap water or RO/DI WATER?
What kind of Filtration do you use on the tank?

That looks to me like algae that is being fed to your tank with some type of food. So i will ask
what do you feed and how much and how often?
What lights do you have . and how long you Run them?

 

[mverhage]

2 Clownfish, Sand Sifting Star, 2 peppermint, 5 turbos, 5 hermits.
55 Gal
Every 2 Weeks
RO/DI Water.
Right now I have ~60 lbs live rock. & Sump with filter sock.
I'm waiting to get my Protein Skimmer.
I feed my fish tiny pellets(Has some kind of garlic extract stuff in it) ~3 times a day.

I have a photon48 led light that's on for like 7 hours.

 

[ericarenee]

2 Clownfish, Sand Sifting Star, 2 peppermint, 5 turbos, 5 hermits.
55 Gal
Every 2 Weeks
RO/DI Water.
Right now I have ~60 lbs live rock. & Sump with filter sock.
I'm waiting to get my Protein Skimmer.
I feed my fish tiny pellets(Has some kind of garlic extract stuff in it) ~3 times a day.

I have a photon48 led light that's on for like 7 hours.

You are not over stocked. I assume those are spectrum pellets. (GOOD FOOD)But even i tend to over feed when using them.I Would get some good flake food and some Frozen either mix or mysis. Feed no more then they can eat in about a minute.. Just drop the pellets in there once in a while for the scavengers.
GET A GOOD Nitrate and Phosphate test kit NOT API..
Test the water with results . But a Skimmer or GFO or other nutrient extraction might be in order. But i am not Convinced you cant just adjust feeding and be ok
Not all tanks need to be complicated if lightly stocked..

 

[mverhage]

Okay, to be safe I ordered:

Red Sea Phosphate Test Kit
Two Little Fishies ATLPBR150 GFO PhosBan Reactor 150
Rio Plus 600 Aqua Pump - 200 GPH (For the GFO)
Two Little Fishies ATLPB2 Phosban 150gm

If I don't need it then I'll send it back. Yay Amazon.

 

[ericarenee]

Okay, to be safe I ordered:

Red Sea Phosphate Test Kit
Two Little Fishies ATLPBR150 GFO PhosBan Reactor 150
Rio Plus 600 Aqua Pump - 200 GPH (For the GFO)
Two Little Fishies ATLPB2 Phosban 150gm

If I don't need it then I'll send it back. Yay Amazon.

Run it rather you need it or not Preventive measures. Just start off slow.and keep checking your Numbers .
I do not run one in my tank (Right now)But i have a Huge Refugium that does the same thing naturally.. Not a option for everyone it has a large cost of setup but less maintenance cost. Plus i feed the Plants to the Tangs .

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Run it rather you need it or not Preventive measures. Just start off slow.and keep checking your Numbers .
I do not run one in my tank (Right now)But i have a Huge Refugium that does the same thing naturally.. Not a option for everyone it has a large cost of setup but less maintenance cost. Plus i feed the Plants to the Tangs .

And this is why I have more than double the rock and sand needed in my system. My sump's middle section is all rock and sand, first stage is return water from overflow and my third section is the return pump. I've got 1.5lbs per gal of lr in my tank and 3" sandbed My nutrient export is fantastic and I only change water every two weeks clean the sump maybe twice a year.

I can keep many more fish than normal as long as there's not aggression and I also keep SPS, LPS, Softies and two BTA'S.

 

[mverhage]

Yeah, I kinda wish I had a sump with a refugium space in it. I also wish I had a drilled tank... was kinda mislead in the beginning haha. I think I have like a 2" LS bed in my tank.

I'm always nervous changing water and things though, and I'm not really sure how to go about cleaning some of the stuff. I cleaned up the sponge in the overflow the other day and just about had a heart attack at how the thing was sounding.

I always feel like I'm going to screw something up and everyone in the tank is going to die on me or something.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

It's all part of the learning process that we all have been through at one time or another. Never any stupid questions, when in doubt... ASK!

 

[whosurcaddie]

Do some reading in this thread MV It will really help with a lot of questions you may have.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

In the future you dont have to buy the expensive GFO you can buy the cheap stuff from Kohler its all the same. Its on Amazon as well.

 

[ericarenee]

Yeah, I kinda wish I had a sump with a refugium space in it. I also wish I had a drilled tank... was kinda mislead in the beginning haha. I think I have like a 2" LS bed in my tank.

I'm always nervous changing water and things though, and I'm not really sure how to go about cleaning some of the stuff. I cleaned up the sponge in the overflow the other day and just about had a heart attack at how the thing was sounding.

I always feel like I'm going to screw something up and everyone in the tank is going to die on me or something.

the thing is my Fuge is 5foot x 16 inches wide 14 inches deep and has 4 inches of sand bed .. Plus i have chato growing in baskets in my sump tank. This is STILL NOT Enough to take my Skimmer or Algae scrubber off line.. A Fuge would have to be double the size of your tank in my opinion. All these people with a fuge and a handful of plants only think its working..

 

[Dkuhlmann]

the thing is my Fuge is 5foot x 16 inches wide 14 inches deep and has 4 inches of sand bed .. Plus i have chato growing in baskets in my sump tank. This is STILL NOT Enough to take my Skimmer or Algae scrubber off line.. A Fuge would have to be double the size of your tank in my opinion. All these people with a fuge and a handful of plants only think its working..

x2 :thumbsup: Even with all that I have in my sump I'll never run my tank without my skimmer with all the crap I get out every 3 days.