Normal to have green hair algae at 3 months?

[pacificdiver]

Hello,

I have a relatively-new 135 gallon system that's been running for about 3 months. It's currently running fallow and has what I believe to be "good" water quality, but I'm having a tough time with green hair algae in the overflow grill and on the back surfaces. Is this normal? I have about 40 blue hermits running around with nice coralline on them, but I can tell it's slowly diminishing over time. I'm basically just wondering if this is a normal progression, or if I can be doing anything to speed up the process of getting water that's suitable to start adding soft corals and other inverts. I've heard products like PurpleUp are a waste of $. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Filtration: 140 Lb live rock, GFO in it's own reactor, carbon and Phosban in bags, BM Curve 7 skimmer.

Circulation: Main pump: Current eFlux Loop DC 3170 @ 400 GPH
Wave pumps: 2 Current 2100 GPH Accessory Pumps at 75%

Parameters:
Ammonia, NO2: 0 ppm
NO3: <1ppm
PO4: 0 ppm
Si: 0 ppm
pH: 8.3
Alk: 4.5
SG: 1.025
Ca: 420 ppm
Mg: 1000 ppm

 

[scooter31707]

Yes, it is possible to have it at this stage. Did you use dry rock when you started the tank? If so, there's a option that is causing the HA by the might be leaching out phosphates. For as the coralline, I believe your water parameters may be the culprit of this. Your Alk should be 8-9 and you Mg should be 1250-1350. Just be patience it will come and when it does you will be ready to get rid of it, like I did. LOL.

 

[Dmorty217]

Yes and it's completely normal to have nuisance algae at the 2-3 month mark. It's caused by excess nutrients from the tank startup and rock

 

[pacificdiver]

For as the coralline, I believe your water parameters may be the culprit of this. Your Alk should be 8-9 and you Mg should be 1250-1350. Just be patience it will come and when it does you will be ready to get rid of it, like I did. LOL.

Sorry, I should have specified alkalinity units were meq/L, which converts to dkH of about 12.

 

[pacificdiver]

Yes and it's completely normal to have nuisance algae at the 2-3 month mark. It's caused by excess nutrients from the tank startup and rock

Ok, thanks - that's what I was hoping for.

 

[Sk8r]

GFO can remove it.

 

[timnem70]

Don't use GFO yet. This is the normal process of your tank maturing. Just back off a little on the feedings and continue good maintenance. Good luck. If it persists, find the source and then use GFO or similar media. Keep being patient. No one likes to look at that stuff but welcome to the new tank syndrome and to the hobby.

Galaxy S7 Edge

 

[BigDave]

I saw you said you have hermits... do you have any snails?

I had hair algae at the 3 month mark. Snails helped to keep them at bay and I use a soft brush to clean the back glass about once a week.

 

[pacificdiver]

I saw you said you have hermits... do you have any snails?

I had hair algae at the 3 month mark. Snails helped to keep them at bay and I use a soft brush to clean the back glass about once a week.

Just one conch, but nobody that can leave the sandbed. I've heard nightmares of snails causing floods by getting themselves stuck in the overflow. Sounds like I just need to wait it out - seems to be a common thread with reefing!

 

[BigDave]

Just one conch, but nobody that can leave the sandbed. I've heard nightmares of snails causing floods by getting themselves stuck in the overflow. Sounds like I just need to wait it out - seems to be a common thread with reefing!

That may be true. I just put a large mesh blocking my overflow. I was having problems with a fish making it to the sump. The mesh will keep the snails out too.

 

[roostertech]

Turbo snails cleaned out my GHA in a blink.

 

[Green Chromis]

Hello,

I have a relatively-new 135 gallon system that's been running for about 3 months. It's currently running fallow and has what I believe to be "good" water quality, but I'm having a tough time with green hair algae in the overflow grill and on the back surfaces. Is this normal? I have about 40 blue hermits running around with nice coralline on them, but I can tell it's slowly diminishing over time. I'm basically just wondering if this is a normal progression, or if I can be doing anything to speed up the process of getting water that's suitable to start adding soft corals and other inverts. I've heard products like PurpleUp are a waste of $. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Filtration: 140 Lb live rock, GFO in it's own reactor, carbon and Phosban in bags, BM Curve 7 skimmer.

Circulation: Main pump: Current eFlux Loop DC 3170 @ 400 GPH
Wave pumps: 2 Current 2100 GPH Accessory Pumps at 75%

Parameters:
Ammonia, NO2: 0 ppm
NO3: <1ppm
PO4: 0 ppm
Si: 0 ppm
pH: 8.3
Alk: 4.5
SG: 1.025
Ca: 420 ppm
Mg: 1000 ppm

:fish1: Hi, I noticed your Mg. is a little low, try and raise it to around 1300 ppm, this will also help with your coralline growth. You did the right thing by starting with all live rock, I hope it was a good quality live rock, and not just rock that was cured to establish bacteria colonies on it. :fish1: