I NEED SOME HELP... I am so annoyed!

eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
I can't get rid of the algae in my tank! It is algae that grows on the glass and hair algae. Seems like an easy fix, right? Here is my problem. I have 6 tangs who are too lazy and spoiled with me feeding them seaweed all the time. They don't touch the algae. I have about 100 hermits in my tank. They don't eat it. I can't keep snails because the crabs eat them for their shells (I have tried adding empty shells with the snails. No luck). If I got a foxface or other rabbit fish, they will just turn out like the tangs. What do I do? I know emeralds eat hair algae. What else eats LOTS of and loves LOTS of algae?
135 gallon reef
Unicorn Tang
Vlamingi Tang
Naso Tang
2 Hippo Tangs
Clown Tang
Royal Gramma
Black Sebae Clown Pair
Three Striped Damsel
Sand sifting Star
2 serpent stars
Blue and red leg hermits
Emerald crabs
Cleaner shrimp
2 bubble tip anemone (split from one)
Feather dusters
Purple Tunicates
150+ lb Live Rock
70 lbs Live Sand
CORAL
Brown branch gorgonian
Another Gorgonian with bright yellow/orange polyps
Closed brain
Open Brain (2)
Pagota
Spagetti leathers
Finger leathers
Clove polyps
Yellow polyps
Green star polys
Green mushrooms
Red Mushrooms
2 Frogspawns
Toadstool
Yellow tree sponge
Green Figi Finger leather
pH 8.1 to 8.2
Ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates are high. I know that that is contributing to the algae. Here is a post I made about my trates.
Originally Posted by Eaglephot
My tank sucks when it comes to trates. Mine are always at 40 no matter what I do. I have tried 10% weekly water changes for a month and it had no effect. So I just went back to my normal 20% every 3-4 week water changes and the trates are still at 40. Everything in the tank is healthy and happy it seems. I have a small problem with algea though. I just had an outbreak of cyano and had to use Chemi-Clean which cleared it right up. But the algea grows all over my LR and I have to scrub it off with a toothbrush!
It is a pain. My tangs are too spoiled and lazy to clean it for me.
What should I do about my trates?
Please help. It looks horrible (well, I think it does).
 
I

innerdragon103

Guest
i'm know more about nano's but maybe lawnmower blennies would help????
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by InnerDragon103
i'm know more about nano's but maybe lawnmower blennies would help????

I had one and yes it did help. However, it attacked all of my tangs and most of their tails are still healing from getting a bite taken out of them.
But you are right. They do help!
 
ags

ags

Member
Nuisance algae is caused by excess nutrients in your system. You already know your nitrates are high. The next step is to figure out why. The main culprit of excess nutrients is overfeeding and top off & water change water that is not RO/DI or RO/DI that is using membranes past their shelf life. There are other potential sources but I would start with these.
What is your feeding schedule like?
Are you dosing DTs or some other brand of phytoplankton?
What type of water are you using? RO/DI?
If you are using RO/DI is it store bought? If so, is there another LFS nearby that you can buy water from to see if that is the cause? Or ask the LFS you are buying the water from to test their water in front of you. Chances are they are selling you nutrient filled water and not true RO/DI water.
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
You need to get to the root of the problem or it's never going to go away no matter what type of critter you add to the tank. I would tend to think over feeding and under skimming are usually the problems along with lights that run to long.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
I agree with Ags
Do you think the tank is over stocked I cant tell by you list and tank size, you know its one of those thing that you know when you see it.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by Ags
Nuisance algae is caused by excess nutrients in your system. You already know your nitrates are high. The next step is to figure out why. The main culprit of excess nutrients is overfeeding and top off & water change water that is not RO/DI or RO/DI that is using membranes past their shelf life. There are other potential sources but I would start with these.
What is your feeding schedule like?
Are you dosing DTs or some other brand of phytoplankton?
What type of water are you using? RO/DI?
If you are using RO/DI is it store bought? If so, is there another LFS nearby that you can buy water from to see if that is the cause? Or ask the LFS you are buying the water from to test their water in front of you. Chances are they are selling you nutrient filled water and not true RO/DI water.
Feeding schedule: FISH: Meaty foods once a day, seaweed a few times a day. CORALS: usually 2 times a week and I feed phytofeast.
Water I use: I use RO water from my own system. Membrane and filters are not old.
My light schedule: My lights run from 10 to 10. HO Actinics on at 10am, and off at 1pm, CF 50/50 on at 11am and off at 9pm, CF 10,000K on at 1pm off at 5pm, HO actinics on again at 6pm and off at 10pm. Is this too much? It seems like a lot but I don't think it is. What do you all think?
Tank Stockage: I don't believe my tank is overstocked. Many people would say it could stock more.
I just wish my tangs weren't so spoiled! Is there anyway to get them back to grazing on the algae without starving them?
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by GeoJ
I agree with Ags
Do you think the tank is over stocked I cant tell by you list and tank size, you know its one of those thing that you know when you see it.
Yeah. My tank is understocked. Which is good! But I still have high nitrates. Which is bad.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by maxalmon
You need to get to the root of the problem or it's never going to go away no matter what type of critter you add to the tank. I would tend to think over feeding and under skimming are usually the problems along with lights that run to long.
I definately would not say I overfeed. If anything, I don't feed quite (I said quite. Not, not.
) enough. I have powerful skimming. The problem is always getting to the root of the problem.
Thanks and any other advice would be great!
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by Mach03InFront
have any pictures of it???
Its just a bunch of rock covered in hair algae! LOL. I'll try to get a few up.
 
jmick

jmick

Active Member
I think your tank is way overstocked with 6 tangs in a 135. Also, I think you are feeding to much and if I were you, I'd stop feeding the corals all together and see how they do without the food for a few weeks. YOu need to try to cut down on your nutrients on way or another if you want to get rid of the algae.
Also, do you have a refugium? I'd wager if you had some macro algae in there it'd probably out compete the hair algae for the nutrients and help to solve the problem.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by Jmick
I think your tank is way overstocked with 6 tangs in a 135. Also, I think you are feeding to much and if I were you, I'd stop feeding the corals all together and see how they do without the food for a few weeks. YOu need to try to cut down on your nutrients on way or another if you want to get rid of the algae.
Also, do you have a refugium? I'd wager if you had some macro algae in there it'd probably out compete the hair algae for the nutrients and help to solve the problem.
The tank isn't overstocked, its just "tang" overstocked. It doesn't make much of a difference if I have 2 tangs 2 angels and 2 butterflies. The fish load would still be the same. A tang doesn't make a tank more overstocked than anyother fish, right? Is feeding once a day too much? I don't have a refugium. I am hoping there is another way around the problem without having to spend lots of money on a refugium. :(
Oh, and you're in Carol Stream! That's cool to know some people on this message board live so close! I am in Winfield.
 
digitydash

digitydash

Active Member
I would cut back feeding I only feed my fish 2 to 3 time a week.Cut back phytoplankton dosing.Also do a water change put some phosphate sponge in,and turn lights off for a couple of days.
 
jmick

jmick

Active Member
Originally Posted by digitydash
I would cut back feeding I only feed my fish 2 to 3 time a week.Cut back phytoplankton dosing.Also do a water change put some phosphate sponge in,and turn lights off for a couple of days.
I have a couple tangs in my 125 and feed them meaty food (Rods) two times a week and I feed them a piece of an algae sheet another 2 times a week and they are very healthy. Also, I do not feed my coral at all, between the lights and fish waste they do just fine.
I think that 6 fish that can grow to be fairly large to large in a 135 with a few additional smaller fish is slightly overstocked and if you wanna get rid of one I'll be happy to take it off your hands

Oh ya, I have an old 29 gal sitting my shed I'd give to you for next to nothing and would help you baffle it..would also give you some chaeto for free.
 
porthosandjazz

porthosandjazz

Member
6 tangs are a lot in your 135.
"The Unicorn Tang prefers a tank of at least 150 gallons with plenty of places to hide & swim. This fish can reach up to 24 inches but even longer if you include the forehead spike that gets longer as the fish ages. "
"The Naso Tang prefers a tank of at least 150 gallons with plenty of places to hide & swim"
"The Clown Tang prefers a tank of at least 150 gallons with plenty of places to hide & swim. "
"The Vlamingii Tang prefers a tank of at least 150 gallons with plenty of places to hide & swim. "
Plus two more tangs... that's just really a lot. :) Plus, you are feeding them a LOT so they are going to get real big real fast ;)
But I know why you have them. Tangs are just the coolest fish. So active and awesome.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top