Help, my new tank....

[liverock27]

First a little back ground. I setup a 55gallon tank 28 days ago it has a customer built Refug/sump, a turboflotor 1000multi protein skimmer, and i have 2x900 maxijets and 2x400 maxijets on a Redsea Wavemaster system. My lighting is 2x150w MH w/2x130w PC Actinics. Now to the problem, about 2 days ago I noticed hair algea, or what looks like hair algea forming on a rock and now it is spreading. How can I control this. I started out with my Acitincs on for 4 hours and have slowly moved up to them on for 10hrs and my MHs on for 8 hours. Do i need to cut back on the light or should I start adding a cleanup crew. My water parameters are great, I was just waiting a little longer because I am moving my 20gallon reef into this system. Any help that could be provided would be great, because I am sick of hair algea, it is why I am breaking down my 20gallon reef.

 

[pclown]

You can cut back on the lighting until you really need it. If your water is fine then get a cleanup crew and that will help. A lawnmower blenny will have a feast as well.
What type of water are you using?
A good phosphate remove works wonders. I am a big fan of Phosban.

 

[ctgretzky9]

Check your phosphates in the tank, and as well possible phosphates in replacement or top off water. Post any results.
Also, are you overstocked and do you feel you may be overfeeding the tank?
Sounds like you have enough flow.
Light duration as well seems fine.

 

[liverock27]

Thanks yall. Right now the tank is empty except for 80lbs of live rock and 100lbs of live sand in the main tank and 30lbs of sand and about another 12lbs of live rock with calerpa(sp?) in the refug. I cut off the MHs for right now and I did a 10g water change tonight. I am using water from my RO/DI unit, which i tested for phosphate and had a 0 reading (seachem test kit). I will test my water tomorrow night after work and if things look good I am thinking I am going to add a cleanup crew. Maybe 10snails and 10 hermits at first and slowly stock the tank. Any suggestions on what to start w/would be great. Thanks again.

 

[liverock27]

I did my water tests tonight:
Ammonia 0
Nitrates 20
Nitrites 0
Phosphate less than .05
Calcium 450
Alk 6
pH 8.2
Specific Gravity 1.024
Temp 78-79 degrees
I am thinking about adding a small cleanup crew tomorrow to the tank...10 snails 5 hermit crabs...think it is a good idea with the Nitrates still that high? Thanks for any help

 

[ctgretzky9]

Originally Posted by LiveRock27
I did my water tests tonight:
Ammonia 0
Nitrates 20
Nitrites 0
Phosphate less than .05
Calcium 450
Alk 6
pH 8.2
Specific Gravity 1.024
Temp 78-79 degrees
I am thinking about adding a small cleanup crew tomorrow to the tank...10 snails 5 hermit crabs...think it is a good idea with the Nitrates still that high? Thanks for any help

Yes, it is fine to add a clean up crew now. 20 isnt bad at all. I had 40-60 for a long while some time ago.

 

[liverock27]

Thanks for the reply. I added 10 snails, astrea turbo mix, and 5 scarlet hermit crabs and 5 zebra dwarf hermit crabs the other night. My problem now is that I need to start tunring my MH lights back on so eventually I can start placing my corlas from 20 into this tank. Should I start with just an hour for a few days and every couple days add an hour until I get to the desired amount? Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[ctgretzky9]

Originally Posted by LiveRock27
Thanks for the reply. I added 10 snails, astrea turbo mix, and 5 scarlet hermit crabs and 5 zebra dwarf hermit crabs the other night. My problem now is that I need to start tunring my MH lights back on so eventually I can start placing my corlas from 20 into this tank. Should I start with just an hour for a few days and every couple days add an hour until I get to the desired amount? Thanks for all the help so far.

That sounds reasonable, go for it! And good luck!