flboyinohio
Member
I have a 20 gallon long up and running no for about a month. I am now getting an outbreak of black "hair" algae (i made that up) I dont know if this is algae or bacteria, can someone give me an idea of what 2 do and how to fix it
Bacteria?
- Thread starter flboyinohio
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scopus tang
Active Member
Originally Posted by FLBOYINOHIO
http:///forum/post/2552708
I have a 20 gallon long up and running no for about a month. I am now getting an outbreak of black "hair" algae (i made that up) I dont know if this is algae or bacteria, can someone give me an idea of what 2 do and how to fix it
Generally speaking, hair algae blooms are caused by excessive nitrates in the system, and are fairly common in a new tank. Any chance you have a test kit and could give us test results for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? Also, are you running a shallow sand bed or a DSB, live rock? how much? sump or sump/refugium, HOB filter, canister ect. The more information you give us, the more helpful we can be.
http:///forum/post/2552708
I have a 20 gallon long up and running no for about a month. I am now getting an outbreak of black "hair" algae (i made that up) I dont know if this is algae or bacteria, can someone give me an idea of what 2 do and how to fix it
Generally speaking, hair algae blooms are caused by excessive nitrates in the system, and are fairly common in a new tank. Any chance you have a test kit and could give us test results for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? Also, are you running a shallow sand bed or a DSB, live rock? how much? sump or sump/refugium, HOB filter, canister ect. The more information you give us, the more helpful we can be.
flboyinohio
Member
Sure, sorry about that I should have included more information to begin with. Currently I am running a DSB of probally3 inchs maybe? I am not exactly sure but I woudl say on average 2-3 inchs. I have probally about 40 lbs of LR and a HOB filter, BUT i just took the media filters out because they were so nasty and filled with crap from a previous tank that the water flow was very slow. I plan on using this HOB filter to make a HOB DIY sump/refugium (using an Emperor 400 which has 2 sides or chambers with the intake in the middle of them) I was going to use "chemi-pure" on one side (thats what someone told me to use) and then use the other side with rumbles of LR, chaeto (spelling), and a small light.
I also have been reading and saw that aqua clears are a little easier for this kind of HOB sump so i might buy one from a friend for like $10 (i could care less which I use because I plan on still using both HOB filters, if i do get the aqua clear ill just use the emperor with media filters and my heater)
as far as the tests go....
my nitrates are between seem to be 20 ppm, my nitrites seem to be 0, but my alkalinity seems INSANLEY high? like higher then 300 ppm... could that be right?and my ph is right around 8.2
I also have been reading and saw that aqua clears are a little easier for this kind of HOB sump so i might buy one from a friend for like $10 (i could care less which I use because I plan on still using both HOB filters, if i do get the aqua clear ill just use the emperor with media filters and my heater)
as far as the tests go....
my nitrates are between seem to be 20 ppm, my nitrites seem to be 0, but my alkalinity seems INSANLEY high? like higher then 300 ppm... could that be right?and my ph is right around 8.2
flboyinohio
Member
bump
scopus tang
Active Member
I would also adjust your sand bed depth; a true DSB depth should be over 4". 2 to 4 is considered an intermediate level which can actually become a nitrate trap, causing just such issues as you are seeing here.
flboyinohio
Member
Ok thanks everyone for the input!
Michael, that was a great link you sent me and after reading it I found that cyno can range from greenish to red to straight black. After looking at the "hair" it is actually more of a dark purple to black, so it is def. cyno.
Scopus, I think what I will do it add a plenuim, does that sound that a good solution?
Michael, that was a great link you sent me and after reading it I found that cyno can range from greenish to red to straight black. After looking at the "hair" it is actually more of a dark purple to black, so it is def. cyno.
Scopus, I think what I will do it add a plenuim, does that sound that a good solution?
scopus tang
Active Member
Originally Posted by FLBOYINOHIO
http:///forum/post/2554294
Ok thanks everyone for the input!
Michael, that was a great link you sent me and after reading it I found that cyno can range from greenish to red to straight black. After looking at the "hair" it is actually more of a dark purple to black, so it is def. cyno.
Scopus, I think what I will do it add a plenuim, does that sound that a good solution?
Addiing a plenium in an already existing tank is a major headache
! It requires that you tear the entire system down. Will most likely result in experiencing a minicycle. Personally, I would just increase the depth of you sandbed.
http:///forum/post/2554294
Ok thanks everyone for the input!
Michael, that was a great link you sent me and after reading it I found that cyno can range from greenish to red to straight black. After looking at the "hair" it is actually more of a dark purple to black, so it is def. cyno.
Scopus, I think what I will do it add a plenuim, does that sound that a good solution?
Addiing a plenium in an already existing tank is a major headache
flboyinohio
Member
Ok, but what about this?
I am moving out of my dorm and into my apartment at the end of the month so no matter what I need to break everything down and move it a block down the street.
WHEN i do this, SHOULD i add a plenium or just increase/decrease sandbed?
also just a side question, how can I increase the coraline on my LR? better lights, H2O quality?
I am moving out of my dorm and into my apartment at the end of the month so no matter what I need to break everything down and move it a block down the street.
WHEN i do this, SHOULD i add a plenium or just increase/decrease sandbed?
also just a side question, how can I increase the coraline on my LR? better lights, H2O quality?
scopus tang
Active Member
Originally Posted by FLBOYINOHIO
http:///forum/post/2554328
Ok, but what about this?
I am moving out of my dorm and into my apartment at the end of the month so no matter what I need to break everything down and move it a block down the street.
WHEN i do this, SHOULD i add a plenium or just increase/decrease sandbed?
also just a side question, how can I increase the coraline on my LR? better lights, H2O quality?
The purpose of adding a plenium is to create a dead oxygen space where anaerobic bacteria can exist undisturbed and convert nitrates into atmospheric nitrogen. IMO, you get the same results with just the DSB, although there is greater risk of disturbing the sandbed and releasing toxic substances into the DT. Adding a plenium may or may not be more expensive than just adding the sand, depending on how you do it.
As far as coralline, the best luck I had getting good growth actually had to do with the lights (although calcium levels are also important). What type and what wattage of lights are you running?
http:///forum/post/2554328
Ok, but what about this?
I am moving out of my dorm and into my apartment at the end of the month so no matter what I need to break everything down and move it a block down the street.
WHEN i do this, SHOULD i add a plenium or just increase/decrease sandbed?
also just a side question, how can I increase the coraline on my LR? better lights, H2O quality?
The purpose of adding a plenium is to create a dead oxygen space where anaerobic bacteria can exist undisturbed and convert nitrates into atmospheric nitrogen. IMO, you get the same results with just the DSB, although there is greater risk of disturbing the sandbed and releasing toxic substances into the DT. Adding a plenium may or may not be more expensive than just adding the sand, depending on how you do it.
As far as coralline, the best luck I had getting good growth actually had to do with the lights (although calcium levels are also important). What type and what wattage of lights are you running?
flboyinohio
Member
right now I have a 2x30 fixture (normal output) BUT i think the bulbs are only 15 watts, so 30 total. I was thinking of upgrading my lighting so i dont really want to dump money into bulbs i am only going to use for maybe 2 months but if you think it 1.) it would significantly increase my coralline or 2.) 60 watts would be sufficiant to keep some easy corals, then I woudl consider getting new bulbs
scopus tang
Active Member
Originally Posted by FLBOYINOHIO
http:///forum/post/2554406
right now I have a 2x30 fixture (normal output) BUT i think the bulbs are only 15 watts, so 30 total. I was thinking of upgrading my lighting so i dont really want to dump money into bulbs i am only going to use for maybe 2 months but if you think it 1.) it would significantly increase my coralline or 2.) 60 watts would be sufficiant to keep some easy corals, then I woudl consider getting new bulbs
I kept mushrooms under marine-glo lights (fit normal florescent lighting) when I first started, and also got some (limited) coralline growth. Don't really recommend this for long term success however. Your going to get much better growth with a better light. Best coralline growth I've ever seen was accomplished under PC actinics lights, but I would recommend T5s nor over the PC. PCs simply generate too much heat IMO.
http:///forum/post/2554406
right now I have a 2x30 fixture (normal output) BUT i think the bulbs are only 15 watts, so 30 total. I was thinking of upgrading my lighting so i dont really want to dump money into bulbs i am only going to use for maybe 2 months but if you think it 1.) it would significantly increase my coralline or 2.) 60 watts would be sufficiant to keep some easy corals, then I woudl consider getting new bulbs
I kept mushrooms under marine-glo lights (fit normal florescent lighting) when I first started, and also got some (limited) coralline growth. Don't really recommend this for long term success however. Your going to get much better growth with a better light. Best coralline growth I've ever seen was accomplished under PC actinics lights, but I would recommend T5s nor over the PC. PCs simply generate too much heat IMO.