What is this?

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

I was feeding Marine A pellet when I had my 38 gallon and the phos content was 0.8% I noticed I was getting a lot of brown diatoms using that food. I switched to Ocean Nutrition Formula 2. They dont give you a % of phos but clearly states on the container that is contains low phos/ash.

 

[Gulfsurfer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001276#post15001276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by YE||0W TA|\|G
I was feeding Marine A pellet when I had my 38 gallon and the phos content was 0.8% I noticed I was getting a lot of brown diatoms using that food. I switched to Ocean Nutrition Formula 2. They dont give you a % of phos but clearly states on the container that is contains low phos/ash.

Okay thanks man, my LFS was like "oh this will be fine" yeahh haha

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001275#post15001275 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
Well I hope this is okay haha, but i go to those glaceau filling station at like grocery stores and stuff and it says its RO water... Well I have been messing with the rock a little bit, but I dont know if that would be sufficient enough to cause a cycle? So you're saying add a koralia 2 with my 3

Messing with the rock won't cause a cycle most likely, if you are just moving it around in the tank. The store bought RO is definitely an issue. My guess is the TDS is upwards of 20 if not more which would certainly cause this kind of algae bloom. Some of that stuff is as bad as tap water, imo. The food, as YE||0W TA|\|G mentioned, is good advice. This is adding trace amounts of phosphate daily to your tank. Overtime it will build up to cause issues. I'd change food and cut back a bit as well. Continue to feed your tang the (nori) algae, no problems.

Yes, I'm advocating adding a Koralia 2 to your setup, along with the 3. The more flow the better. It will seem like a lot of flow in the beginning, but your tank will thank you for it.

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

I use the Ocean Nutrition Formula 2 small pellet. I have a yellow tang that eats it. Ive noticed that the Marine A pellets are pretty big. Most of the time small to med size tangs have to nibble at the pellet for some time before its eaten. Plus if they cant finish it all that just add extra nutrients into the tank that you dont want.

 

[Gulfsurfer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001298#post15001298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
Messing with the rock won't cause a cycle most likely, if you are just moving it around in the tank. The store bought RO is definitely an issue. My guess is the TDS is upwards of 20 if not more which would certainly cause this kind of algae bloom. Some of that stuff is as bad as tap water, imo. The food, as YE||0W TA|\|G mentioned, is good advice. This is adding trace amounts of phosphate daily to your tank. Overtime it will build up to cause issues. I'd change food and cut back a bit as well. Continue to feed your tang the (nori) algae, no problems.

Yes, I'm advocating adding a Koralia 2 to your setup, along with the 3. The more flow the better.

Okay thanks! So its probably best to buy my water from a LFS then- just to be safe? Oh, btw about the food, I also have the ocean nutrition formula one marine pellet should I just use this then?

 

[Gulfsurfer]

while were on the food subject haha, how many times should I feed the green algae a day?

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001311#post15001311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
Okay thanks! So its probably best to buy my water from a LFS then- just to be safe? Oh, btw about the food, I also have the ocean nutrition formula one marine pellet should I just use this then?

That's up for debate. :lol: Sometimes LFS water is crap too. I'd ask them to test the TDS next time you are in for water so you can see it yourself. If they are changing their membranes and resins, then they should be selling you 0 TDS water, depending how long it's been sitting. In any event the lower the number the better, again 0 being the best.

I'd experiment with the food. Start with cutting back a with the pellets. A lot of that food will just sink to the bottom of the tank and rot. The added flow will definitely help with a lot of this. The idea is to keep the junk suspended in the water column for the skimmer to take it out, since you aren't running a sump/overflow. The first pic shows how much of a lack of flow you have at this point. The film on the water surface is a tell tale sign.

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

Buying water from the LFS would be a better option. Nobody is going to no when they change the filters in the grocery store. And if they do need to be changed you might be getting a bad batch of so called "RO water". At least your LFS needs to check them to ensure that their tanks dont have issues.

As far as the food goes I think it should be fine for now. I cant seem to find anything on the Phos% they dont seem to list it. It should be a lot better then Marine A tho

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001332#post15001332 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
while were on the food subject haha, how many times should I feed the green algae a day?

If you just have the one yellow tang, feed a small piece once daily. I usually feed about a 2" piece rolled up in my clip. Keeps my tang nice and fat.

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001339#post15001339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
That's up for debate. :lol: Sometimes LFS water is crap too.

haha this is true

 

[Gulfsurfer]

well I feel like an idiot for asking this but oh well! haha what is TDS? As for my skimmer... I have a seaclone, and as I have read they're not very good, although mine seams to pull a lot out

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

TDS total dissolved solids.

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001352#post15001352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by YE||0W TA|\|G

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001339#post15001339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
That's up for debate. :lol: Sometimes LFS water is crap too.

haha this is true

:lol: Not to dis LFS's but sometimes they sell you stuff that's not even fit to drink.

 

[Gulfsurfer]

I also have a baby blue tang hes only about an inch and a quarter on a good day haha

 

[Gulfsurfer]

okay one more question... I currently have a dual 10000 K daylights and 6700K atinics for a total of 192 watts.. is that enough to have soft corals?

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

The Seaclone was my 1st skimmer on my 38. It was an ok skimmer but not the best. There are some mods that you can do to make it perform better

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001375#post15001375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
okay one more question... I currently have a dual 10000 K daylights and 6700K atinics for a total of 192 watts.. is that enough to have soft corals?

What size tank are you running these on?

 

[Gulfsurfer]

Yeah I saw that... are they worth it? I have a 46 bow

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001368#post15001368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
I also have a baby blue tang hes only about an inch and a quarter on a good day haha

I would plan for an upgrade soon my friend.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001375#post15001375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
okay one more question... I currently have a dual 10000 K daylights and 6700K atinics for a total of 192 watts.. is that enough to have soft corals?

Yes. I have the same amount of light on my 40g and keep a variety of softies and lps. I would get your water params in order before moving forward with corals though. They no likey the algaes. No really, get rid of the excess nutrients and fix the algae issues and you'll be ready for some corals.

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

Yeah the mods are worth it IMO. I did it to my Seaclone and I think it did a little better.

As for the lights you should be good with 192watts. You want 3 watts per gallon for softies. Anything more then soft corals your going to want to upgrade to Metal Halides.