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Algea Bloom
- Thread starter ThatGuy
- Start date
is that reef safe
I don't know about doing the peroxide however I had red slime and dosed red slime remover. It worked but you have to do a large water a few days after you dose. The red slime remover gets rid of it however it will come back. Try and figure out what can be causing it. What are your phosphates at?
Cyano, aka (BGA), hair algae (HA), dino's, diatoms, etc. are just the visual manifestation of a problem of excess nutrients. Although there are remedies such as red slime remover and peroxide, they are only going to eliminate what you can see. You really need to cure what's at the core of the problem, or even with all these remedies, it will continue to reoccur. Some of these remedies can actually do more harm than good.
If your tank is overstocked, with too many or too big fish, you may be fighting a losing battle. If you are feeding too much, that will contribute to the problem. Some dry flake foods have a high level of phosphates. If you use frozen food, are you rinsing it. If you aren't using a good RO/DI unit you may be adding more with top off and water changes. What is your water change schedule? Do you have a good skimmer? Is it in good working order? Are you using and type of reactor, i.e. GFO, GAC?
If I were you, I'd take a look at what I've been doing and make some adjustments. Cut back on feeding. Make sure you're using good water, and do more frequent water changes. Siphon off as much of the "film" (cyano) as you can. Make sure your skimmer is clean and in good working order. Add a GFO and GAC reactor. You'll have to be proactive here, but you'll also need to be patient and give all this some time to work.
If your tank is overstocked, with too many or too big fish, you may be fighting a losing battle. If you are feeding too much, that will contribute to the problem. Some dry flake foods have a high level of phosphates. If you use frozen food, are you rinsing it. If you aren't using a good RO/DI unit you may be adding more with top off and water changes. What is your water change schedule? Do you have a good skimmer? Is it in good working order? Are you using and type of reactor, i.e. GFO, GAC?
If I were you, I'd take a look at what I've been doing and make some adjustments. Cut back on feeding. Make sure you're using good water, and do more frequent water changes. Siphon off as much of the "film" (cyano) as you can. Make sure your skimmer is clean and in good working order. Add a GFO and GAC reactor. You'll have to be proactive here, but you'll also need to be patient and give all this some time to work.
No reactors, feed every other day/frozen only, water change every week/week and a half, have 5 fish(2 dartfish, lawnmower blenny, skooter blenny, YWG), skimmer is undersized for the tank but fine with the small volume of inhabitants/empty every other day, just scooped most of the Cyano off the sand, well water/no RODI, don't test phosphates(picking up a test kit next trip.
The Cyano only started taking over when I scraped a ton of HA off the glass, the only other change is I got new lighting a month ago. As for what I test for everything is good except my nitrates are maybe <5ppm.
The Cyano only started taking over when I scraped a ton of HA off the glass, the only other change is I got new lighting a month ago. As for what I test for everything is good except my nitrates are maybe <5ppm.
Do you rinse your frozen foods in RO water before feeding? Frozen foods are full of phosphates.
You are going to have to figure out to get an ro/di unit. Whatever is in your well is going to constantly give you more algae problems, and if you use red slime remover and then do a big water change you are just putting the nutrients right back in the tank.
This is all I have, and it works great.
One caveat with the RO/DI unit. If you are using well water, you will have to have about 60psi at your tap for it to work properly, if not you may have to get a booster pump.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...tems/75-gpd-ro-di-4-stage-economy-system.html
Do you have a sump? I think your skimmer is undersized, its not a SeaClone is it? You might keep an eye on "Deals and Steals" for some used equipment.
It might be a good idea if you were to post some pictures of your set up.
One caveat with the RO/DI unit. If you are using well water, you will have to have about 60psi at your tap for it to work properly, if not you may have to get a booster pump.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...tems/75-gpd-ro-di-4-stage-economy-system.html
Do you have a sump? I think your skimmer is undersized, its not a SeaClone is it? You might keep an eye on "Deals and Steals" for some used equipment.
It might be a good idea if you were to post some pictures of your set up.
OK, that's and AquaC Ramora skimmer, nice unit, but undersized for your system. Do you have room in your sump for a skimmer?
If you have to go with a hang on, here's one that you can get with the current group buy and will be a good replacement:
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/CV-SRO-LX2000S.html
If you clean up the Ramora, you shouldn't have too much trouble selling it in the Deals and Steals forum.
Here's a basic RO/DI you can get from PA, which we're running a GB on right now:
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/AFX-BUD-RODI100.html
See how easy it is to spend money in this hobby.
If you have to go with a hang on, here's one that you can get with the current group buy and will be a good replacement:
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/CV-SRO-LX2000S.html
If you clean up the Ramora, you shouldn't have too much trouble selling it in the Deals and Steals forum.
Here's a basic RO/DI you can get from PA, which we're running a GB on right now:
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/AFX-BUD-RODI100.html
See how easy it is to spend money in this hobby.
The HA was most likely using up the nitrate and phosphate so it was undetectable. By removing the HA the cyano now has excess nutrients to feed on. Water changes with RO/DI and a couple of tiger tail cucumbers will help with cyano and detritus on the sand bed.
As far as my sump goes its water pours onto a sponge then into a tank with LR and then pumped back up. Heres a pic of the skimmer i have.
How often do you clean the sponge that the skimmer flows onto?
Bob
There is not sponge. Just a overflow box that attaches to it.
What would be a quick fix until I get a RODI system. The cyno doesn't bother me to much because it scoops out easy and is localized to one spot in the sand bed, but the HA and brown mossy looking algea is starting to cover my frags and the brown algea is actually growing on the edge of my monti. Is there a snail I can throw in there until I can fix the problem permanatly?
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, all these issues (HA, Cyano, Dino's, diatoms) are a result of the same problem...excess nutrients, i.e. nitrates, phosphates, etc. So, the remedies would include doing more water changes, using good water. "The solution to pollution is dilution". Aggressive skimming, with an appropriate sized skimmer, to help extract dissolved organic compounds. Use of GFO for the phospates, and GAC reactors. Reducing your photo period.
I can help you with some good water until you can get your RO/DI unit on line. What kind of salt mix are you using? Do you have some buckets, you can transport water in?
I can help you with some good water until you can get your RO/DI unit on line. What kind of salt mix are you using? Do you have some buckets, you can transport water in?
Is there a way to keep diatoms off corals until it starts to recedes?
I have a 17 gal tote, and I'll let you know when I can make it out there. MAI Crystal salt mix.
On another note. Why did all these problems occur out of no where? Back when I had a FOWLR I barely had algea, and those fish were messy. Even as early as my 2 Tom Clowns there was almost no algea. I guess when it rains it pours.
Josh
There are some snails that will help graze some of it off and help to keep it under control, to include: Cerith, Nerite and Margarita's, but they need to have a fighting chance. So, having a good clean up crew is one component of dealing with it, in the short and long run.
Five gallon buckets with lids would be a better choice. I'm not familiar with that salt mix, and what might be in it(good or bad). Have you ever tested your make up water?
I can't answer this question, there are probably a number of reasons, i.e. what's in your raw water? Salt mix? Skimmer issues? General husbandry.
What are you using for test kits? i.e. API, Salifert, Red Sea, Hanna. How do you check your salinity? i.e. refractometer, hydrometer?
What kind of substrate are you using?
Josh[/QUOTE]
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