My first Pics

monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Gmusick,
I'm definitely going to go for the chaeto algea once I do a phosphate test to see where I'm at there. I don't have a ton of hair algea just yet, but I don't want it to escalate. I actually think that it's receding quite a bit since putting my skimmer in 2 weeks ago. But, I really, REALLY like the way the chaeto looks in your tank! This might be a stupid question, but is there anything that you do to keep it looking so green and healthy?
Also, after I get the hair algae under control, I really want to find something to stimulate the coraline growth on my rock...any suggestions?
Responses much appreciated...
Lisa :happyfish
 
gmusick

gmusick

Member
MonaLisa, I haven't done anything special to keep the chaeto looking green and healthy in my tank. I do have 2 fairly nuisance problems with it, though...
1. It captures food, so my shrimp and crabs are constantly foraging through it to get any food particles that are caught in it, so they constantly break small pieces off. Those pieces get caught up in the intake for my power heads, skimmer and filter and I, routinely, have to take off the intake pieces and clean them out.
2. They don't root, so I have to seat them under pieces of rock. Occasionally, a piece will break loose and free float around my tank until I have a chance to put it back where it belongs.
Other than those two issues, the maintenance on it is simple. It stays green and healthy and my nitrates stay low or non-existant. As for the coraline growth, make sure your calcium stays at good levels, around 400 ppm, as well as your alkalinity. I have read where coraline algae likes a specific gravity around 1.024. Using good reef suppliments will help matters. I use Seachem's Reef Advantage and Reef Builder in alternating doses, but make sure that you don't add anything to your tank that you cannot test for.
Hope that helps some.
Glen
 
jeo

jeo

Member
hey I think your tank looks great! Also, your piece of LR with the GSP looks exactly like my old LR, which I think is very good looking rock. Keep it up, your tank is going to be amazing once things start growing.
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by gmusick
MonaLisa, I haven't done anything special to keep the chaeto looking green and healthy in my tank. I do have 2 fairly nuisance problems with it, though...
1. It captures food, so my shrimp and crabs are constantly foraging through it to get any food particles that are caught in it, so they constantly break small pieces off. Those pieces get caught up in the intake for my power heads, skimmer and filter and I, routinely, have to take off the intake pieces and clean them out.
2. They don't root, so I have to seat them under pieces of rock. Occasionally, a piece will break loose and free float around my tank until I have a chance to put it back where it belongs.
Other than those two issues, the maintenance on it is simple. It stays green and healthy and my nitrates stay low or non-existant. As for the coraline growth, make sure your calcium stays at good levels, around 400 ppm, as well as your alkalinity. I have read where coraline algae likes a specific gravity around 1.024. Using good reef suppliments will help matters. I use Seachem's Reef Advantage and Reef Builder in alternating doses, but make sure that you don't add anything to your tank that you cannot test for.
Hope that helps some.
Glen

Glen,
Thanks loads, that's exactly what I was thinking, that I didn't want to supplement for something that I wasn't testing for. Actually, I'm interested in the chaeto because I was told that it would significantly decrease the phosphate in my mix, which is what the hair algae is feeding on. At this point though, I'm more interested in putting it in because it looks really awesome in your tank...I think I can manage the breaking off, being sucked up, etc. (been doing that with this crappy algae all along). I don't have tests for phosphates or calcium at this point, but they are definitely coming...I want some really awesome coraline growth, which isn't happening right now.
Thanks again,
Lisa :happyfish
 
gmusick

gmusick

Member
I'll tell you something that really helped me. If the phosphates are in your salt mix, then try a brand called Marinemix. My LFS recommended it to me and it has helped me tremendously.
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by gmusick
I'll tell you something that really helped me. If the phosphates are in your salt mix, then try a brand called Marinemix. My LFS recommended it to me and it has helped me tremendously.
I use Instant Ocean salt, and on the bag it specifically says "nitrate free, phosphate free". The hair algea that I'm dealing with at this point came in on a piece of "base" rock that also came with about 15 little feather dusters (which is why I haven't been able to just take it out and scrub it). It's actually receeding quite a bit since I put my skimmer in, but there is still the matter of my coraline growth. I would like to accellerate that a bit if I can. I'm planning on getting a phosphate and a calcium test soon to see where I'm at.
Again, I love the way your tank looks, can't wait to get some chaeto in mine.
Lisa :happyfish
 
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