Green algae taking over
- Thread starter yas2903
- Start date
yas2903
Member
Hey Meowzer. No never really learned how to post pic's. It looks like grass and hair moving in water. Its dark green and on my sand bed surface if i grab it big chunks come off with the bit of sand attach to the bottom of it. Very Very slimy. When out of water it looks like wet hair. Don't really know how else to explain do u understand. If u don't, is there a post on how to post pic's.
thebosch11
New Member
If its really bad, get an emerald Crab or two, they will also keep and bubble algae that might pop up away.
yas2903
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/386782/green-algae-taking-over#post_3399590
It sounds like hair algae.
Cut back on feeding/change to more nutritious food and rinse food if you don't already do so, cut back lighting a little, manually remove as much as you can, bump up water changes and maybe start running some phosphate remover.
Thanks. I do soak with garlic if thats what u mean. I have been cutting back on the lighting. U think it do to phosphate. Been lazy lately have a 180 and used to do 20 gallon a week then I stop because my RO/DI went bad. Is 20 gallon ok
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/386782/green-algae-taking-over#post_3399590
It sounds like hair algae.
Cut back on feeding/change to more nutritious food and rinse food if you don't already do so, cut back lighting a little, manually remove as much as you can, bump up water changes and maybe start running some phosphate remover.
Thanks. I do soak with garlic if thats what u mean. I have been cutting back on the lighting. U think it do to phosphate. Been lazy lately have a 180 and used to do 20 gallon a week then I stop because my RO/DI went bad. Is 20 gallon ok
yas2903
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBosch11 http:///forum/thread/386782/green-algae-taking-over#post_3399618
If its really bad, get an emerald Crab or two, they will also keep and bubble algae that might pop up away.
I heard about that. Same with lawnmower blenny then felt like if i do will my tangs get enough to pick at. 3 Emerald crabs be enough for 180.
Originally Posted by TheBosch11 http:///forum/thread/386782/green-algae-taking-over#post_3399618
If its really bad, get an emerald Crab or two, they will also keep and bubble algae that might pop up away.
I heard about that. Same with lawnmower blenny then felt like if i do will my tangs get enough to pick at. 3 Emerald crabs be enough for 180.
btldreef
Moderator
Thanks. I do soak with garlic if thats what u mean. I have been cutting back on the lighting. U think it do to phosphate. Been lazy lately have a 180 and used to do 20 gallon a week then I stop because my RO/DI went bad. Is 20 gallon ok
No, I'm referring to actually rinsing the food after it's defrosted. Defrosted food leaches a lot of phosphates into the water so many people defrost their food, strain it through a fish need and then put it in new water. Some rinse it in RO or tap water as well when they strain it. I will be honest, I rarely rinse my food, but I have an insane amount of phosphate remover and cleaners in my tank and I feed slowly to observe how much is eaten. ALL fish food contains phosphates, by the way. The one food that I do try to rinse all the time is PE Mysis, that stuff is LOADED with phosphate.
I have a 180 with a 35 fuge and a 30g sump attached and it gets a 25-30g water change weekly, so you're about right at 20g. IMO, weekly water changes of less are better than biweekly of more, at least that has been my experience.
Are your tangs even picking at the algae? Mine won't touch green hair, nor will my 2 algae blennies. I don't keep crabs in my tank, but I have noticed that trochus and astrea snails can make a good dent in hair algae.
As mentioned above, a few emerald crabs might help. 3 in a 180 won't harm much, but could help keep it under control. The most important thingto fo is to figureout what's causing it.
btldreef
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by yas2903 http:///forum/thread/386782/green-algae-taking-over#post_3400178
Cool thanks didn't know that one about phosphates. Yes they actually love it they pick at it all day. I have a phosban 550 but have not hooked it up yet. When u say a insane phosphate remover what equipment are u referring to.
I have a refugium with different species of caulerpa, chaeto in my sump, two phosban reactors, one running phosban and the other running chemi pure elite which has a little bit of phosphate remover in it, 2 purigen pads and a media bag filled with phoslock.
Originally Posted by yas2903 http:///forum/thread/386782/green-algae-taking-over#post_3400178
Cool thanks didn't know that one about phosphates. Yes they actually love it they pick at it all day. I have a phosban 550 but have not hooked it up yet. When u say a insane phosphate remover what equipment are u referring to.
I have a refugium with different species of caulerpa, chaeto in my sump, two phosban reactors, one running phosban and the other running chemi pure elite which has a little bit of phosphate remover in it, 2 purigen pads and a media bag filled with phoslock.
prh123
Member
I put small UV back in mini reef, it kills ick and micro algae, does not impact coralline growth. Petsmart has 9 watt “Green Algae killing machine” buy an extra UV bulb, they run 3-6 months. 9 watt is up to 40 gallon, its low flow application. Fresh or salt water, you still have to maintain water quality.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by prh123 http:///forum/thread/386782/green-algae-taking-over#post_3404488
I put small UV back in mini reef, it kills ick and micro algae, does not impact coralline growth. Petsmart has 9 watt “Green Algae killing machine” buy an extra UV bulb, they run 3-6 months. 9 watt is up to 40 gallon, its low flow application. Fresh or salt water, you still have to maintain water quality.
UV also kills the good bugs that come out at night. (those critters are why you pay so much for live rock) Do you run it only during the day?
Originally Posted by prh123 http:///forum/thread/386782/green-algae-taking-over#post_3404488
I put small UV back in mini reef, it kills ick and micro algae, does not impact coralline growth. Petsmart has 9 watt “Green Algae killing machine” buy an extra UV bulb, they run 3-6 months. 9 watt is up to 40 gallon, its low flow application. Fresh or salt water, you still have to maintain water quality.
UV also kills the good bugs that come out at night. (those critters are why you pay so much for live rock) Do you run it only during the day?
prh123
Member
It runs 24/7, I wanted to make sure the red and green algae is really Coralline, it sure is, I have antennas coming out of the live rock at night, you may have small plankton or something like brine shrimp. Here’s the reality, green algae, everywhere is bad, means phosphates, nitrates, and silicate exists at levels that are too high. It will smother the live rock, and make it into dead rock. I don't think you should have any worries, its for the greater good and its sure sounds like you need it. That and a good quality skimmer I just use a Prizm, the quality of the water will improve "if" you only use RO or distilled for evaporation and water changes. Its just the basic facts on reef keeping, even for just fish tanks. The same principles are also for fresh water.
The natural way is to have a refugium in a sump (low flow 24/7 light) and you grow macro algae like fresh water plants that remove phosphates and nitrates. In both instances then just a couple turbo snails can clean a tank "nice". I think what you described must be the size of a pin dot. I had prawn breeding on the glass once; it was like watching cells under a micro scope. Yes, you need basic maintenance and preventive measures, they call it husbandry.
The natural way is to have a refugium in a sump (low flow 24/7 light) and you grow macro algae like fresh water plants that remove phosphates and nitrates. In both instances then just a couple turbo snails can clean a tank "nice". I think what you described must be the size of a pin dot. I had prawn breeding on the glass once; it was like watching cells under a micro scope. Yes, you need basic maintenance and preventive measures, they call it husbandry.