sps tanks seem to have less algae,,reasons

[brad65ford]

ive heard that having a calc reactor binds phosphates which helps remove ugly green algae grow. Most all sps tank ive seen to have no ugly algae growth, is this because of the high calcuim levels?

yes im a softie coral guy wanting to jump into the sps world and i hate green algae :smurf:

 

[scar79]

SPS tanks are generally lower nutrient systems. Less free nutrients for algaes to consume.

 

[RynosReef]

ive heard that having a calc reactor binds phosphates which helps remove ugly green algae grow. Most all sps tank ive seen to have no ugly algae growth, is this because of the high calcuim levels?

yes im a softie coral guy wanting to jump into the sps world and i hate green algae :smurf:

Well this is definitely the place to learn bro! The low algae typically seen in SPS tanks is from the strict maintenance us sps guys have on nutrients in the water column. Namely phosphates and nitrates. So big skimmers, frequent water changes, not too many fish, not overfeeding them, proper flow and proper lighting for sps help too.

The calcium/kalk reactors are more important for sps corals in terms of maintaining calcium, alkalinity and magnesium concentrations as this is a major part of how sps frags grow into colonies. It's all about chemistry. Getting all the parameters right and keeping them there.. forever lol. Stability is a big deal.

 

[samuelkl]

You can have lots of fish w sps tanks, just have to use a form of carbon dosing, ie vodka, with a oversized skimmer and some aggressive gfo use

 

[stevedola]

if you have fish you need to be able to export their waste. Usually a oversized skimmer and frequent water changes keep the Nitrates and Po4 down. As for why SPS tanks arent as algea friendly it has to do with SPS turning brown or STNing from high nutrient which is why SPS keepers keep the nutrient low and starve out any potential algea where as in typical Softy or even LPS tanks people feed heavily and tend not to be as diligent with their husbandry and equipment to keep trates and PO4 in check because they are more tollerant of that polluted water.

 

[droth335]

^^ what they said

 

[brad65ford]

I'm assuming its safe to say most everyone with SPS tanks usually have fish which in turn feed the corals etc etc.. And I'm more than aware of the husbandry needed, I'm just wondering if there was a bottom line secrets that reefers have experienced with carbon dosing and or calc reactors that what seemed to be the "light switch" from having some spots of green algae here and there to almost none.

Reason I ask the question is because I've seen so many takes here on the forums and at LFS that have reactors and its seems like a wall of coralline algae and no green algae in site.

 

[JT3069]

in simple terms you must control the nutrients in your tank
there are several ways--will discuss later

you must then have less changes -- temp, cal,alk ect
with this type of system, alage is out competed by your filtration, or corals
when phosphate is low--

this also means alot of testing- but by all mean welcome to the sps club

 

[JT3069]

phosphate reactor, adding less phosphates to the tank also helps
food, poop ect

 

[brad65ford]

So how do you feed the tank (corals/Fish) with out introducing phosphates and or how long before you have to remove this excess food / waste before it hurts the SPS and turns to algae?

 

[JT3069]

most don't have alot of fish to feed--hince less phosphates introduced by feeding
coupled by media to remove the rest
honestly less fish with very lil feeding is the best method todate
refugiums can help- you use marco or cheato to absorb the phosphates before nusances algae can consume it and grow

 

[JT3069]

by having a way oversized skimmer-you can remove more free floating proteins- this includes uneaten food and "docs" (dissolved organic compounds)
that breakdown in to algae "fuel"

 

[brad65ford]

most don't have alot of fish to feed--hince less phosphates introduced by feeding
coupled by media to remove the rest
honestly less fish with very lil feeding is the best method todate
refugiums can help- you use marco or cheato to absorb the phosphates before nusances algae can consume it and grow

That's exactly want I do not want to do, use macro algae's. There must be another way. I'm trying to find the link between what is used in order to achieve this nirvana, my guess is a reactor.

What its odd you do not see many nano or pico SPS tanks, I'm wondering if you need more volume for stability to utilize a skimmer and or these reactors.

 

[JT3069]

there are many pico and nano sps tanks
but the smaller tank you have the more maintaince your gonna have
probably your best bet is gonna be alot of small water changes
but that gets old really fast
coupled with a phosphate reactor and a large skimmer--water volume really is not a factor to using a skimmer or reactor
with a skimmer depth of your water --or sump will be the issue
and a phoshate reactor can go any where--i use a mj600 to push water through mine so only a few inches of water are nessary

 

[brad65ford]

there are many pico and nano sps tanks
but the smaller tank you have the more maintaince your gonna have
probably your best bet is gonna be alot of small water changes
but that gets old really fast
coupled with a phosphate reactor and a large skimmer--water volume really is not a factor to using a skimmer or reactor
with a skimmer depth of your water --or sump will be the issue
and a phoshate reactor can go any where--i use a mj600 to push water through mine so only a few inches of water are nessary

Well I know for a fact just water changes are not enough since I'm extremely diligent with my pico's/nano's and it seems I'm still fighting a battle with bubble algaes/hair only with my 6g for some reason the 3g is running perfect with out any algaes just Coraline. My concern with running a skimmer on a smaller pico/nano is salinity swing.

And yes I'm down with running a phosphate reactor but I wanted to hear what other have experience before I jump into running one. Is it really the "fix" I've been searching for? Honestly I'm a little nervous about running one.

 

[RynosReef]

I'm assuming its safe to say most everyone with SPS tanks usually have fish which in turn feed the corals etc etc.. And I'm more than aware of the husbandry needed, I'm just wondering if there was a bottom line secrets that reefers have experienced with carbon dosing and or calc reactors that what seemed to be the "light switch" from having some spots of green algae here and there to almost none.

Reason I ask the question is because I've seen so many takes here on the forums and at LFS that have reactors and its seems like a wall of coralline algae and no green algae in site.

Well I understand your reasoning for sure. But just to reiterate what everyone is saying kinda: The low amount of nuisance algae in a successful sps tank is due to an efficient means of exporting excess nutrients from the water. Whether it be from heavy skimming, big water changes, few fish/feedings, gfo reactors, refugiums, or carbon dosing. A calcium reactor really has little or nothing to do with it.

A calcium reactor isn't used in all sps tanks. Many ppl use a kalk reactor, or dose liquid or powder supplements. Calcium reactors and the other methods mentioned are used to maintain Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium at the proper levels as sps need supersaturated levels of calcium to build their skeletons and grow.

The connection between a sps tank with a calcium reactor makes sense. But you may not be looking "under the hood" entirely. I guarantee you there's a few more reactors or other methods mentioned above going on. And those things are the reason for the low algae growth. Exporting nutrients efficiently will limit algae growth.

Here's an article by Randy you might like reading http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
The paragraph: Phosphate Reduction via Calcium Phosphate Precipitation, might be what your thinking about. But overall through the article you'll see that there are more efficient ways of controlling algae than others. Hope this helps bud!

 

[JT3069]

bubble algae is a whole other ball park

 

[RynosReef]

Lol it took me a while to write that last post and didn't realize you were talking about something else. It is possible to successfully keep sps in a small tank, but in my opinion it's much harder. The reason being is you have such a small amount of water that it's very easy to "mess up". Swings in water chemistry are natural to nano tanks unless your really on top of things. Salinity swings, temp swings, and nutrient spikes are common. All of which will hurt SPS. SPS need stability, and they are not forgiving or tolerant of instability. With a larger tank stability comes more naturally because any "mess ups" are watered down more.

 

[JT3069]

well said

 

[brad65ford]

Well I understand your reasoning for sure. But just to reiterate what everyone is saying kinda: The low amount of nuisance algae in a successful sps tank is due to an efficient means of exporting excess nutrients from the water. Whether it be from heavy skimming, big water changes, few fish/feedings, gfo reactors, refugiums, or carbon dosing. A calcium reactor really has little or nothing to do with it.

A calcium reactor isn't used in all sps tanks. Many ppl use a kalk reactor, or dose liquid or powder supplements. Calcium reactors and the other methods mentioned are used to maintain Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium at the proper levels as sps need supersaturated levels of calcium to build their skeletons and grow.

The connection between a sps tank with a calcium reactor makes sense. But you may not be looking "under the hood" entirely. I guarantee you there's a few more reactors or other methods mentioned above going on. And those things are the reason for the low algae growth. Exporting nutrients efficiently will limit algae growth.

Here's an article by Randy you might like reading http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
The paragraph: Phosphate Reduction via Calcium Phosphate Precipitation, might be what your thinking about. But overall through the article you'll see that there are more efficient ways of controlling algae than others. Hope this helps bud!

Summary

Problems involving phosphorus and subsequent algae growth can be among the most difficult to solve in a reef aquarium, especially if the live rock and sand have been exposed to very high phosphate levels, after which they may be acting as a phosphate reservoir. Fortunately, steps can be taken even in the absence of any algae problem that will benefit reef aquaria in a variety of ways, not the least of which is reduction of phosphate levels. These include skimming and growing macroalgae. All reefkeepers, and especially those designing new systems, should have a clear idea in mind about how they expect phosphorus to be exported from their system. If allowed to find its own way out, it more than likely will result in undesirable microalgae that many reefkeepers are constantly battling.

Nice read, I did read this before and its all pretty much layed out just don't know which way I want to go.