algae

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angelofdeath132

Guest
been having algae problems for awhile now. checked my nitrates last nite and they're off the charts:eek: would that be causing the algae outbreak? nothing to speak of for a cleanup crew. i know i need more of one desperately!! i'm running a emperor 400 on the tank also. i've heard the discussion about the filter pads causing nitrates, is this true? should i take them out? :help:
 
fatbear

fatbear

Member
mechanical media (filter pads, and bio balls) can be hosts for nitrate factories. However, depending on what all you have in your tank will also play a roll in amount of nitrates. The rule that i go by is 'if you have at least 1 pound of live rock for every 1 gallon of water, then bio balls are going to create nitrates'
also, it is important to keep your filters clean...I usualy rinse my mechanical filters under tap water about once or twice every 2 weeks....
other factors include....what type of water do you use? (tap, RO?)
tap water can have trace elements that promote unwanted algae growth and nitrates.
also if you are using Amquel to treat your water, this may have a ill effect on your water test results....
I too had this nitrate problem not too long ago so some of the steps i took were: removed bioballs (progressionally), stoped using tap water (used water from walmart .33/gal) and stoped using amquel...
hope this helps!!!:yes:
 
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angelofdeath132

Guest
northwest iowa here:) i use RO/DI water for my top offs and changes, no " supplements" like amquel or anything like that . i have a 3.5" to 4" DSB with 55-60 lbs. live rock.
 
fatbear

fatbear

Member
well....what type of bio load do you have on your tank? maybe there is too many fish? you may want to try some astria snails....turbo snails (but they poop alot) blue leg hermit crabs, and a serpant star (great scavangers)
or perhaps you may want to do a large water change, wait 2 days and check the parameters again. wait a couple of weeks and do another large waterchange (its a pain, but it will help)
what type of algae problems are you having (hair? brownslime?)
 
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angelofdeath132

Guest
pc lighting 110w.
2 clownfish
2 blue damsels
1 yellow tang
reddish/brown slime-like algae mainly in one corner of my tank. i know i need more circulation of water too.
about 20 miles or so from Okoboji. ring a bell?
 
fatbear

fatbear

Member
My grandparents were from Esterville...so yeah that does
what size of tank are you running? it doesn't seem like the bio load is too much.... although you may want to reconsider the damsels before they get too big....the will get more aggressive the older/bigger they get
maybe a new power head (as you mentioned)
 
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angelofdeath132

Guest
actually, Estherville is where i am. small world huh? i'm thinkin maybe a pair of maxi jet 1200"s. the tank is a 55gallon
 
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