leopard_babe
Active Member
I have tank with about 60lbs of LS and 20Lbs of live rock, and 20lbs of dry rock. There is green algae growing on my live rock. Can I clean it? Is is bad? What can I do or not do?
LR algae
- Thread starter leopard_babe
- Start date
leopard_babe
Active Member
i just started my tank. I set it up about 5 days ago. i went away for the weekend, and now there is green algae. So my tank has not cycled yet. How do you know when your tank has cycled, and what does that mean exactally? My nitrite has not spiked in my tank yet.
bbuck_camelback
Member
You will know it is cycled when you can no longer detect ammonia and nitrite at the end of the cycle you are left with nitrate. This can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to fully cycle. When the cycle is done you can start doing water changes to control the nitrate.
leopard_babe
Active Member
The algae is thin like hair. I can't get my powerhead to reach it. It is fine and long. Will it eventually loosen and go through the filter? There is not alot. It is just in one little spot. i have no ammonia or nitrite in my tank now. Will it just spike on its own. Because it is a new tank how often should I check my chemicals?
psychoskater
Member
When this happen to me i made the mistake by ignoring it but when it got out of control i used something called marine SAT. It is organisms that eat the nutrients that the hairl algea needs to survive. It took like a couple months but it worked great. Now im almost hair algae free!
leopard_babe
Active Member
So i should use chemicals to kill the algae? Snails, shrimp won't clear it up? It is on one on my rocks, but not the others.
moopiespoo
Member
Since your tank hasen't cycled yet, you might want to just take that one rock out and replace it. Otherwise, after your tank is cycled add some snails first thing and they should clean it up.
leopard_babe
Active Member
Does the green aglae on it indicate that the rock is unhealthy? Will it be alright?
D
daniel411
Guest
You should be alright, it sounds like hair algae. I'd just take the rock out, scrub it off, and get all of it. Than put the rock back in, it should be fine. It may take a few tries to get it all. I try to avoid adding chemicals to tanks. Did you use tap water or ro/di water?
leopard_babe
Active Member
I was told that when you start a tank you can use tap water. I did and I added the dechlorinator. Now I am using RO water. So I started the tank 5 days ago. As the water level went down, I started to add RO saltwater to the tank. It is still pretty cloudy in my tank. Is there anything I can do to help it get clean? Also do i need to do the shrimp thing to make my tank cycle?
D
daniel411
Guest
What do you mean by, when you needed to add water? Are you just refering to evaporation? If so, you need to not add saltwater. The water evaporates, leaving the salt (minus any salt creep) in the water. If you're replenishing evap. water with saltwater your salinity is going to start rising.
Do you have your filter running? Is there any mechanical filtration? If I remember right you had an all-in-one wet dry, right? There should be a pre-filter above your bio-balls. Is that getting dirty yet? It can take a few days for your tank to clear up. I wouldn't worry about it still being cloudy yet.
Do you have your filter running? Is there any mechanical filtration? If I remember right you had an all-in-one wet dry, right? There should be a pre-filter above your bio-balls. Is that getting dirty yet? It can take a few days for your tank to clear up. I wouldn't worry about it still being cloudy yet.
michaeltx
Moderator
on the algae it sounds like hair algae. and it is a nasty part of the reef and become a pain to get rid of. I broke my tank down and started over because of it. it will spread rapidly and kill things that it starts to grow over.
if you can get the rock out and brush it with a stiff brush and rinse in SW to try to get ride of it. also watch your phosphates and nitrates because it feeds off of them.
and no the ahir algae wont let go and go though the filters some of it might as ot grows but a main portion willstay and become another large clump within a few days.
HTH
Mike
if you can get the rock out and brush it with a stiff brush and rinse in SW to try to get ride of it. also watch your phosphates and nitrates because it feeds off of them.
and no the ahir algae wont let go and go though the filters some of it might as ot grows but a main portion willstay and become another large clump within a few days.
HTH
Mike
leopard_babe
Active Member
I just started my tank. I will clean it off. Will this be a continuing problem? Many people have told me to use a turkey baster. Will that work???
D
daniel411
Guest
What are you going to do with the turkey baster? You really need to make sure you remove all traces from the rock and aquarium. If you scrub or shoot it off with a turkey baster inside the aquarium, in a few days you're have an outbreak of hair algae. Remove the rock, scrub it in a sink or bucket.
leopard_babe
Active Member
Ok, thanks. I will take it out and scrub it. I have to buy more salt and the store is closed today. I was going to take the immediate and easy way out. I will wait till tomorrow and do it the right way, like I should. Thank you!!!
When you say scrub what exactally would I scrub with??? Won't I kill my little crabs and bacteria in my rock?
When you say scrub what exactally would I scrub with??? Won't I kill my little crabs and bacteria in my rock?
michaeltx
Moderator
scrub it with a very stiff plastic or wire brush that way it will actually scrape of the top layer of rock where the roots to the algae is. if you dont get it all it will start to grow back.
what kind of crabs do you have in the rock? the bacteria will repoipulate the rock quickly so its not a big deal and if you keep it wet with SW then the bacteria and the critters alove inside the Rock.
Mike
what kind of crabs do you have in the rock? the bacteria will repoipulate the rock quickly so its not a big deal and if you keep it wet with SW then the bacteria and the critters alove inside the Rock.
Mike
leopard_babe
Active Member
i don't know what kind of crab. i turned the lights out and took a flashligh to the tank. I was looking for interseting critters. I saw what looked like a miniature hermit crab. He had a little shell, and was walking on the rock. I can't always find him. But I see him every now and then.
dreeves
Active Member
You know Leopard_babe...here is something for you to consider...
After reviewing alot of your posts/questions...it is kind of apparent to me you haven't done alot of homework with the marine aquaria hobby...
As a suggestion to you..to aid in the prevention of numerous headaches and frustrations and expenses...while your tank is cycling...study up on the hobby you are venturing into. One cannot come into this hobby blind and expect it to produce positive results...take this time to slow down and get your knowledge of the hobby up to your equipment level.
I certainly hope you do not read more into this then there is...it is not intended as a flame or anything of that nature...very far from it. Knowledge is power in this, as well as the success or failure.
Good luck.
After reviewing alot of your posts/questions...it is kind of apparent to me you haven't done alot of homework with the marine aquaria hobby...
As a suggestion to you..to aid in the prevention of numerous headaches and frustrations and expenses...while your tank is cycling...study up on the hobby you are venturing into. One cannot come into this hobby blind and expect it to produce positive results...take this time to slow down and get your knowledge of the hobby up to your equipment level.
I certainly hope you do not read more into this then there is...it is not intended as a flame or anything of that nature...very far from it. Knowledge is power in this, as well as the success or failure.
Good luck.