My ugly tank

[keisersosei]

My tank looks like like crap. It's algae ridden and the water is murky. It has been this way for a while. I posted a question a while back and we ruled out natural sunlight and it was decided that I should run a skimmer. I got a skimmer but haven't started my sump yet; I will do it this weekend. But I have noticed that during the morning the water is clear and everything looks normal (except the hair algae). After several hours it starts to look bad and by the end of the evening before the lighs go out I can barely see anything in the tank. The next morning everything is clear and the cycle continues. So what could be affecting the water quality during the day that would not at night? The only thing I can think of would be the lights. They are PC lights, 4X55 watts, 2 daylight, 2 actinic.

 

[saltyrich]

I'm certain you've already heard this but, Are you using tap water or RO/DI water? Start there. RO/DI will eliminate most algae problems because you're no longer adding elements they need to thrive. Do you have a decent clean up crew? How big is the tank? You'll need a VARIETY of snails, hermits, etc. They all clean different elements. A skimmer will help. What are your other means of filtration? Try using carbon in a powerfilter. How long are you running your lights? How old are your light bulbs?

 

[beth]

I don't know what info you posted in your previous post about your tank.
Is the water a greenish color, or milky?

 

[javajoe]

if you dont have a filter to put the carbon in, you can also get a filter bag, and just put the filter bag with carbon right into the tank. I had this problem as well after a month or so when i started my tank, and the protein skimmer and the bag of carbon did the trick, as did physically removing any algae from the rocks with a tooth brush. also, small, weekly water changes with RO/DI water is a good idea.

 

[dad]

I went back and looked at your post.
I would still not dismiss the natural light being the problem.
If you would, do a simple test.: after your lighhts go off(at night) cover your tank with something and unplug your lights.
At the end of the next day(when the tank usually looks the worst) Take a peak and see how it looks.
NOTE:uncover slowly not to put stress on anything.
This will help all to pinpoint the problem.
In the meantime, you could tell everyone more in detail your readings, filters, lights (also length of times they are on and when), and any thing you can give us.
The smallest detail might not sound imporant to you but it could lead to the answer.
HTH,

 

[keisersosei]

Saltyrich -- I'm using RO/DI water and my phosphates are at .1, which I've been told is not enough to cause a major algae attack. I have 20 bluelegs, a scarlet reef hermit, 5 trochus snails (my 20 turbos are pretty much all dead). The tank is 55 gallons. I have an Emporer 280 and am running carbon in it. I have been taking it out and cleaning it once or twice a day. I'm running the lights 10 hours a day. I cut back from 12 hours and run the lights from 12 - 10pm. The bulbs are brand new -- I just bought the lights about 2 months ago.
Beth -- I would say that it's a milky color.
Dad -- I have thought of trying that. Even if I have to do this everyday I am willing to do it if it clears the tank. I could turn the lights on later in the day and keep it covered during the day. Moving it isn't an option right now.

 

[aileena]

Get rid of the phosphates and get a UV steralizer if you get REALLY DESPERATE!!! The UV will kill all the algae definetly. Everyone will tell you about the disadvantages of getting one, but I think that it will help your situation! Just a suggestion

 

[beth]

Originally posted by keisersosei
I have an Emporer 280 and am running carbon in it. I have been taking it out and cleaning it once or twice a day.
Why are you cleaning the filter 1x a day? This could be the problem. Since you said that water looks milky, I'm inclined to think you have a bacterial bloom which proliferates with light and heat.
Do you have any other filtration besides the Emperor? Do you notice any white film on your glass?

 

[keisersosei]

I'm not $150 desperate right now. I will look into this and maybe in the future I will invest in one but there will be no more money going into "the pit" right now. I'm a little discouraged and broke, which go hand in hand.

 

[beth]

If its milky whitish water, its not algae. Free-floating algae in the water will have a greenish or yellow tint to it.

 

[keisersosei]

I'm cleaning it just to make sure it's clean enough to filter 100%. No, there's no other filtration. This weekend I'm setting up my sump and refugium. The only other filtration I'm using is natural biological filtration (DSB and 60 pounds of live rock). No, I haven't noticed a white film on the glass.

 

[keisersosei]

I withdraw my color statement. I think it's more of a brownish yellow than a white milky color. Maybe I'm colorblind. I can never tell 0 and .25 apart on my ammonia test.

 

[lurch694u]

I say get the sump and skimmer up and running and see if that improves it before you go and spend anymore money...

 

[keisersosei]

I will definitely do that, Lurch. But I just wondered what could make my water cloudy in the evening but perfectly clear in the morning, and would do this consistently, day after day. It doesn't seem like water chemistry is the answer unless the pH would affect it. But this is very unlikely. Lights would be the number one guess but they're no different than the lights thousands of others use in this hobby with no problems. It does seem that all my problems started when I introduced these lights, though.

 

[bigbonedee]

Any anenomes in your tank?

 

[keisersosei]

no

 

[dad]

Like I said before; the smallest detail may lead to the solutin.
Beth(HiBeth) may have found the problem. Cleaning the filters once a day is very bad. Infact I would not clean then but once every 3 months.
Filters do more than just filter. They hold "things, lol" that help our tanks out.
I dread everytime I clean mine.
Also how have you been doing this?
Please do asked I ask before and keep us updated if this is not the problem/solution.

 

[broomer5]

Hi keisersosei
Is this the tank next to the window ?
If so
Let's put it all together now.
If you do not have corals - no need to light the tank 10 hours a day. Cut them way back to just a few hours a day when you are there to view the tank.
Install the sump/skimmer and get it running.
Drip kalkwasser to try and precipitate the remaining phosphate.
Actually 0.1 mg/l is still too high. Most algaes will not grow if concentrations are less then 0.02 mg/l.
Strive for this.
Do not clean the filter media - especially if this is your only form of mechanical/biofiltration. Doing so everyday can actually cause more problems. The slime (bacteria) not only convert nitrogen compounds, they assist in filtering the very fine particals. My tanks always got cloudy after cleaning filter pads/media.
Increase water circulation with a powerhead, or redirect your existing one(s) and make sure the surface water is aerated/agitated, and that water from the deep is circulated up to the top. CO2 is an algaes best friend.
Maintain pH up around 8.2-8.3 - the kalk will do this.
Cut way back on feeding for a week or so too.
When the noticible algae begins to die - siphon or hand pick any bits out you can.
As this stuff dies - it will foul the water - so be prepared to do a series of water changes over the next few weeks.
20-25% water changes with good quality phosphate free freshwater.
Try to put up a barrier to the window, or draw blinds/curtains.
Natural light.
Hit all the possibilities that cause alage to grow.
Light, nutrients(nitrates/phosphates and CO2
Hit all the things that cause bacteria blooms - overfeeding and cleaning filters too often.

 

[kelly]

I have to agree with the others. It is most likely that light and heat are causing the water to cloud. Try this one day as a test. Keep the windows covered so no natural light comes in, and do not turn the lights on until early evening. If the tank is clear when you turn on the light, then you know it is the light ( most likely the natural sunlight ).
Leave the lights on until bedtime, and then check and see if the tank clouds up. If you tank does not cloud up, the next day, again keep the sunlight out, and as usual turn your lights on at noon, and check the the tank in the evening.
Post the results and let us know what happens. It sure sounds like a type of algal bloom to me. The skimmer will definately help, but find out the root of the problem first if possible. This test takes only 2 days at most.
Best wishes.

 

[keisersosei]

Thanks, everyone. Broomer, great information. I will do each of these things one at a time. Right now I have a sheet over the tank that won't allow any natural sunlight in. The lights will still come on as usual and at the end of the day today, if the tank still looks clear, I will conclude it's natural sunlight. If it looks like it usually does in the evening, then it's something else (I'm kind of hoping it is something else because I can't move the tank away from the window and I don't want to keep it covered during the day). Then tomorrow I will uncover it and keep the lights off all day. If clear, it's the lights in the tank; if cloudy, something else.
I will stop cleaning the filter pads. I didn't realize it was a bad thing to do so. I have no fish right now so overfeeding isn't an issue. Right now it's an invertebrate-only tank. My pH is 8.4 so no need to bring it up any. I was using Instant Ocean salt and it had .1 mg/L of phosphate in it. I just switched to Red Sea but I haven't tested it yet. I will do that tomorrow. This could be test #3 -- changing all of the water (if the Red Sea tests as 0) to elliminate phosphates.
I haven't been dosing kalkwasser because I knew I would be doing some massive water changes and it seemed like a lost cause.