Algae problem

[olemiss]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3257237

I agree on the flooding issue, but I figured out the why...There is a little nub just above the over flow tube, if the box gets clogged or blocked for any reason, water squirts out of it and goes on the floor. I used some air tubing because it was the right size, and run a short piece from that nub back to the over flow box…so any water that squirts out goes back into the tank.
I didn’t like the Bakpak2 at all, and Red Sea is garbage too. The octopus I don't know about, but I am tired of buying skimmers for now.
Mine overflowed from the collection cups top. For some reason it would start wet skimming like crazy(always when I was at work) and flood. I still feel that the tap water is the biggest contributing factor to your algae.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by OleMiss
http:///forum/post/3257252
Mine overflowed from the collection cups top. For some reason it would start wet skimming like crazy(always when I was at work) and flood. I still feel that the tap water is the biggest contributing factor to your algae.

Mine makes micro bubbles, not allot, but enough to annoy me, they come from the very top of the over flow box. It also makes noise and it is in the living room where I watch TV. I have my skimmer on a timer to only come on after lights out so I don’t have to look at it or hear it.
I paid $250.00 for this thing and I hate it. That was 6 months ago...I don't want to buy another one until I am sure it will be one I like....I have not heard a soul say they love whatever HOB they use. I don't use a sump.

 

[beaslbob]

you have algae and cyano simply because the nutrient (nitrates, phosphates, carbon dioxide, etc) consumers are not starving the algae. Those nutrients are overwhelmingly from the bioload in your tank.
I would increase the nutrient consumers you desire, (corraline algae, macro algaes, stc, etc) to starve out the uglies.
If you nitrates are low you will get cyano. So in addition to increasing the desirable consumers, you may have to kill the lights to kill off the cyano. Which will return nutrients to the system to favor the desirables over the cyano
my .02

 

[king_neptune]

Originally Posted by Noah's Nemo
http:///forum/post/3257209
115 is pretty low.IMO,this is not your cause of an algae outbreak...
Agreed. Pretty low. Most city water is around 180-250. So his water isnt too bad. Straight from my well it comes out 50-60ppm.
But both are significantly higher than an RO-DI system that will put out 0-3 ppm.
I dont think that 115 ppm is enough to cause that massive algae outbreak. But it deffintatly isnt helping.
I do believe that it is partily adding to the problem. So to say an RO-DI would eliminate the problem wouldnt be too fair.
It will help, but there are also other factors.
I think the trend I'm begining to see is:
A couple bad habbits that stacked together to make a big problem.
Even if your water is only %20 of the problem, its still a part of the problem.

 

[handbanana]

IMO the feeding of flakes and excessive lighting is a big reason for the algae. Tap water changes from place to place. Mine (in PHX AZ) is loaded(LOADED!!) with Phosphates. I used it in my FW tank (never SW) and had a massive hairalgae outbreak. Switched to RO/DI and within a month it was compleatly gone. IDK about SW. Im batteling Cyno myself. I cut feeding in half and lighting down by a 1/4 for now.

 

[handbanana]

Flower, Meowzer, Olemiss,
+1 on skimmers. Buy a good one....ONCE!

 

[bluebob88]

I got a timer for the lights and cut the 10,000k time in half. I am also feeding them 1/4 a cube of frozen shrimp once a day. We will see if that helps.
Also, I just thought about it. Could it also have something to do with having a glass top and not getting enough oxygen exchange at the surface?

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Handbanana
http:///forum/post/3257760
Flower, Meowzer, Olemiss,
+1 on skimmers. Buy a good one....ONCE!

Butthead silly poo...I thought I did 3Xs now. The great question remains...what is a good HOB skimmer???? Or IS there a good hang on the back skimmer?

 

[cableguy]

I have a coralife 100... are those any good?

 

[slice]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3257810

Butthead silly poo...I thought I did 3Xs now. The great question remains...what is a good HOB skimmer???? Or IS there a good hang on the back skimmer?

Axiously awaiting this answer! I've been reading a lot of reviews and they tend to point me towards the AquaC Remora (for a 47g). Please, oh please, give us the magic answer! Thanks!

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by cableguy
http:///forum/post/3257811
I have a coralife 100... are those any good?

You have one...you tell us.
So far:
HOB Coralife 250 ….My Rating...CRAP
HOB Octopus ……….My Rating...CRAP
BakPak2……………….My Rating...CRAP

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by Slice
http:///forum/post/3257814
Axiously awaiting this answer! I've been reading a lot of reviews and they tend to point me towards the AquaC Remora (for a 47g). Please, oh please, give us the magic answer! Thanks!
LOL....I went with the Octo instead of the Aqua c.....

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3257817

You have one...you tell us.
So far:
HOB Coralife 250 ….My Rating...CRAP
HOB Octopus ……….My Rating...CRAP
BakPak2……………….My Rating...CRAP
I have the bakpak 2 on my 29G....constant bubbles...but skims like crazy
I hate to say this.....BUT the HOB that I had the least problems with were my cheapo Seaclones

OH HOW I MISS THEM....LOL

 

[mrdc]

Skimmers are like salt purchases when it comes to opinions!

I actually saw your pictures in another section this morning. I was thinking the pics looked good but then I saw the full tank shot and was like whoah ... you have some algae issues. Glad to see you are addressing it.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3257824
LOL....I went with the Octo instead of the Aqua c.....

I have the bakpak 2 on my 29G....constant bubbles...but skims like crazy
I hate to say this.....BUT the HOB that I had the least problems with were my cheapo Seaclones

OH HOW I MISS THEM....LOL

Everyone said Seaclones were crap so I stayed away from those…figures.

 

[king_neptune]

Originally Posted by BlueBob88
http:///forum/post/3257249
any suggestions on what i should do then? Could it just be the lights being on too long?
No.
Its a combo. Not just one thing. You should have already reduced your lighting by now. You were also advised to reduce(or better yet eliminated) your flake feeding, and be doing 1/4 mysis cube a day. It cuts well with razor or steak knife.
Also when was the last time you did maintainace on the tank? that growth looks like its sat a while.
When you do these Water changes you should be scrubbing everything, then sucking up the free floating debris as you siphon/pump it out. Wipe the powerheads clean. Use a brish onthe walls, and rocks.
Its how you do a proper waterchange.
I take a maxijet 1200 and wave it around when I do my WC. I blast it at all the walls, rocks ect. It gets all the debris floating, then I suck it out with a pump, then I add my new saltwater. It takes a few hours to settle, but if you do it every time, you end up with les and less debris/algae. as you repeate the same method.
Also for your cyano... have you picked up some chemiclean?

 

[king_neptune]

Originally Posted by BlueBob88
http:///forum/post/3257767
I got a timer for the lights and cut the 10,000k time in half. I am also feeding them 1/4 a cube of frozen shrimp once a day. We will see if that helps.
Also, I just thought about it. Could it also have something to do with having a glass top and not getting enough oxygen exchange at the surface?
OK, there you go. that will be a SIGNIFICANT start. Still heed the words about a proper water change. That is also good practice.

 

[handbanana]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3257810

Butthead silly poo...I thought I did 3Xs now. The great question remains...what is a good HOB skimmer???? Or IS there a good hang on the back skimmer?

Im on my 2nd. thinking about the 3rd..... have the above mentioned corallife superskimmer...

The skimmer debate could rage on forever. My Corallife superskimmer borders on the crap line. Im always messing with it

 

[king_neptune]

Originally Posted by BlueBob88
http:///forum/post/3257767
Also, I just thought about it. Could it also have something to do with having a glass top and not getting enough oxygen exchange at the surface?
That would be more for PH control. If your worried about it, point one of your jets(that smaller looking one in the back wall) slighty upward to creat surface agitation. And crack the glass a bit to allow airflow inside.
It certainly shouldn't hurt. Then again if it aint broke dont fix it. Try it as an experiment, and if things go haywire, you can always revert.