Just need some Advice

texasgiraffe

texasgiraffe

Member
I have a 30 gallon tank...it's been up and running since August '02- It is an Eclipse tank- (probably not reccomended for salt water) but live and learn :) I have the Eclipse filteration system and two power heads 32 lbs of LR, 2 tank percs and 1 bicolor, and a crab or two. My tank looks pathetic- I have the healthy algae growing in there but I also have tons of nasty green hair sludgy like algae and a sudden bloom of some other algae looks like green balloons?? I have CC on the bottom currently ( which was also a bad decision) I am switching that out with LS with in a day or so. What should I get to eat up all this algae?? How many??? What fish could I get to stock the tank?? Inverts?? I would like to make this tank look really nice. Thanks for all your help- in advance!!:confused:
 
rook

rook

Member
The balloon algae is bubble algae or valonia. The only thing I know that eats it well are green emerald crabs. But, these crabs sometimes like to eat small polyps and small corals just starting to grow. You could pick it off by hand, but if you break it open, it will spread. If it is not bad, you could give your tank time to mature before adding an emerald.
I would not suggest any other fish. Wait a few months to give your tank some time to mature, especially if you are thinking of switching to live sand.
Maybe a couple of peppemint or cleaner shrimp would be nice to give you more activity.
 
texasgiraffe

texasgiraffe

Member
What about the age old question of a skimmer?? The SeaClone is the one reccomended for my tank- anyone have any experiance with that?
 
rook

rook

Member
Actually that filter you have with the eclipse system is probably a nitrate trap and causing more problems that it is fixing. You should look into a sump and refugium setup. That with the live rock and dsb will give you good filtration. Also, what kind of powerheads do you have. You could maybe use more water movement. If you do get a sump/fuge, then the return pump will give you better water flow. If not, then maybe another powerhead or two could be helpful.
Skimmer? Well I don't use one, but many people love them. I have heard many grip about the Seaclones, but I have also heard that the newer models are better built. If you go with a skimmer, do a search as there have been many disussions on which is best. It will depend though, on if you need a hang-on, or one for inside of a sump.
 
texasgiraffe

texasgiraffe

Member
On the subject of nitrate trap- probably yes- I was instructed my a aquarium service co. to remove that carbon filter and the bio-wheel?? I have two power heads in the tank now- I am not sure what power- I will have to look. Any Advice??
 
bbuck_camelback

bbuck_camelback

Member
As long as you replace your filters and do regular cleaning it shouldn`t cause a nitrate problem. If you are using tap water for water changes then you need to switch to RO. Most tap has heavy concentrations of silicate and phosphates. Also try using a phospahte/silicate sponge, Kents makes a good sponge as well as Seachem. Good luck with that algae, it can be a real pain.
 
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