algee bloom problem

[superb]

hi everybody,
First let me say that I have plenty of flow via Vortech and I just changed my 8 bulb- T-5 fixture (new bulbs via reef geek) I also switched salts from coralife to oceanic. My tank is one and a half years old and is a 150aga. I run a CS6-2+ protein skimmer from euro reef and have not had an algee problem this bad before.
My levels all seem to be within range and I will be reducing the photo period, and feeding amounts. any product to speed me to recovery? any ideas.
thanks.
Ben.

 

[the gift]

yum my faorite cyano...all i did was cut my photoperiod down to 6 hours a day and it went away in like a week then i slowly worked it back up...

 

[whitey_028]

You need a slow sand turnover rate...Your sand looks stagnate. A gold headed sand sifter goby would clean it up nicely but you might run into problems even if your turn your light down to 6 hours a day... You are going to need something to get your sand moving just a little...twin spot or 4 wheel gobies is another suggestion.

 

[seannmelly]

Best advice that I have to offer is the following:
1) Keep lights one for 4-6 hrs a day tops.
2) Feed your fish(depending on what your stock is) every other day
3) Get a goby that sifts the sand for a living. For example: Bullet barred goby, diamond sleeper goby, or golden head goby. I personally have a diamond sleeper that takes care of my 125 gallon w/ absolutely no problem whatsoever.
Melly

 

[superb]

thanks for your replies. I currently have two gobies. A yellow watchman and a pink spotted. I guess i'll look for something to stir my sand.
B.

 

[reefkprz]

you could add some nassarius snails or sand shifting crabs, you could probably get away with keeping a horseshoe crab in a tank that large. horseshoes love to bulldoze sand you could make a pile and they will bulldoze it flat over night.

 

[gsxr1100]

Water flow tooo low.

 

[kainex]

from what you stated I would guess it was from changing your bulbs, If your old ones were really old or weak, adding new bright bulbs will set off any canyo that may have been in your tank before but not causing any problems or even showing signs that it was there. I would suggest cutting your lighting back for awhile and sucking out what you have growing now. it should only take a week or two before it starts clearing up. 2 weeks max

 

[gsxr1100]

Originally Posted by kainex
from what you stated I would guess it was from changing your bulbs, If your old ones were really old or weak, adding new bright bulbs will set off any canyo that may have been in your tank before but not causing any problems or even showing signs that it was there. I would suggest cutting your lighting back for awhile and sucking out what you have growing now. it should only take a week or two before it starts clearing up. 2 weeks max

bulbs are one, water changes is one, over feeding is one, poor RO/DI cart etc. I think lighting is the wrong way to go. I know if I did that, my coral would not be happy. I would increase flow and get a reactor (#1 thing). I had IT BAD along with hair algae and alomst gave up. I think 15X flow is the mine for tanks. My 75 is running with 2,000 per hour and that is fine for me,.

 

[superb]

I have always used ro/di with tds meter and have approx. 20X flow in my 150aga. what is a "reactor".
Ben.

 

[gsxr1100]

phos reactor. Fill with phosban or and GHO and it will help.

 

[gsxr1100]

based on the algae it look like bad flow in the area and how are your phos levels?

 

[bluemantr]

when i had red slime problem I used red slime remover. It worked awesome with 0 bad effect. It cleared up in 48 hours and it has been a month it didnt come back yet.

 

[rbaldino]

I'm dealing with a situation just like yours. Someone suggested that it might be red slime, so I tried Chemiclean. While there was some red slime in the tank, and it is now gone, I don't think your problem (or mine) is red slime. Looks like diatoms. I've also been told to up my flow, and my turnover is now over 20x an hour, and I still have the problem. Most likely, it's the lights and nurtrients. I'm currently trying Phosguard and cutting back on my photoperiod, and keeping my fingers crossed.