Fallow tank and algae

bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
my dt is currently fallow while my fish are being treated for ich in a qt. I have number of corals, and shrimp so I have been feeding the corals and shrimp, but I'm now seeing a pretty good build up oaf algae. My nitrates and phosphates are at 0. I have 9 turbo shrimp, not sure on crabs but at least 6, 8 sand sifting snails. Ive noticed some of the snails have algae growing on their shells.
Should I increase the cuc or is there something else I should be looking for?
Thanks
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Welcome back Bubble!
I'de cut wayyy back on feeding. Let the snails eat the algae. Your not reading any nitrate or phosphate with your test kits because the algae has sucked up all of it into it's tissues. You could cut your lights back to 3 to 5 hours a day for a couple of weeks. If it's hair algae, you could try to pull some out manually and do some water changes. If your not already using RO water, start using it.
There's a lot of things you can do for hair algae. Personally, I grow it on a screen for my main filtration! lol
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
The nem needs at least 5 hours of light and you could get by with it for a couple of weeks. Just make sure you feed it a bit.
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
Thanks Snake, I've been around, just quiet..lol
The hair algae is just starting to become noticeable. I have a Seabae nem that's bleached. It's currently roaming, so not a happy nem at the moment. I try to feed but it won't take food.
I don't have a sump set up, but i have read your threads, and have thought about doing the same thing to grow it out of the tank as it drives me crazy. My fish have another 5 1/2 weeks in qt, so I need to get this under control fast. Snake do you have a tread on how you set yours up?
I will cut my lights back to the evenings for a few hours. I have a t5 2 bulb 54w fixture and a vertex led fixture running.
Thanks for the help!!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Doesn't really seem like you have enough light to keep an anemone long term, to be honest. If it's bleached and won't eat, then it's probably on it's last leg (so to speak.). Maybe someone else can chime in about it, I hope.
Are you asking if I have a build thread? Yes, I do, but I don't have a demo of how to install an overflow or anything...
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
All I have is a 20g nano tank with a 10g sump. Nothing very impressive at the moment.
If you absolutely want me to, I will make a video tonight of my system, and show you a few things. BUT you have to tell me what you need to know AND you can't make fun of my southern accent.
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
I bought the nem bleached, didn't know it wasn't supposed to look like it does. I bought it bec my clowns were trying to host my bubble, they jumped in within 10 mins of placing it in the tank. I hadn't planned on having a nem, but the clowns were really aggressive with the few corals I had. Unfortunately I lost them to ich....I may take the nem back, see if someone else can get it happy.
I'm going to look into a sump setup, let me look into what I may need help with and then ask for a video! I love southern accents, so I wont make fun...
Btw, congrats on being a soon to be dad!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yeah, you might want to see if the nem will be happier in someone elses tank. It's sad that you lost your clowns to ich. It happens. I recently lost my little clown to ich. :(.
Just let me know when you're ready for a video, and PM me the info and when you're ready. I'll be glad to help.
I'm excited to be a dad. I think it's one thing I'll be good at. I'm having a little girl, named Emma Grace. She's due March 13th, 2012.
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
Being a parent is one of the best things I have ever done! Not that it's easy but kids make you be better people! Hope your wife is doing well! Beautiful name! I have 2 daughters, they are amazing, so I know how much joy yours will bring to you!
I have lost 5 fish to ich, only have 3 left. Tough lesson to learn, losing fish sucks!
I will send you a pm once I get things figured out on what I need, should have an idea by the weekend.
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
I've decided not to go with a sump for now, the largest prebuilt one I could find is 18 gl, I can't go any bigger. I looked into making one and couldn't find anything bigger than a 15 gl. So for now will stick with my canister filter. I did however figure out why I was having issues with algae, improper maintenance, I misunderstood instructions and wasn't cleaning, or even dumping the water from the canister, for the last 3 cleanings...so back to weekly water changes to help clean it up.
 
slice

slice

Active Member
There are options to having a sump.
I personally will not go sump-less again, but my current setup uses an HOB skimmer/refugium combo with a volume of 4.6 gals. Running chaeto in the 'fuge will do wonders in competing with the HA for nutrients. You didn't mention having a skimmer. That would also help.
You didn't mention the types of food you are feeding. Rinsing frozen foods will also help. It took me a while to decide the folks here knew what they were talking about when advising rinsing frozen food, when I finally did, it made a big difference.
How old are your T5 lamps?
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
I've got a tunze skimmer (sized for up to 100 gl) and fluval 305 filter. If I had more room under the stand I would add the sump. I know there are ways to help with the algae, my tank is not drilled, so am hesitant to add anything else on. Could I do a refugium without the sump?
My t5 lights are almost 8 months old. I defrost the food, drain the water then mix with a bit of selcon and saltwater from the tank.
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Yes, there are HOB refugiums. CPR makes several sizes.
There are even DIY modded Aquaclear 70 refugiums if you don't have enough real estate across the back for anything larger.
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
I will see what I can find here for a HOB fuge. I will have to measure to see how much room we have behind the tank, it could be moved out a bit if necessary.
For now, my corals are all still doing very well and showing lots of growth. I did lose my nem and wont likely try another one for a while.
I need to get my ro system hooked up, hopefully by this weekend, hate lugging bottles....
 
bubblegurl

bubblegurl

Member
I picked up a little hob filter, added some egg crate and now looking for some cheato, got me a refuguim. The fellow at the store was awesome, showed me how to put it together, I tested when I got home and it's ready to go. Even got some lights. I actually need a new power bar, no more room for the electrical, and another timer, thought bought it after I left the store. Hopefully can get it going this week.
 
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