Questions about Diatoms and Algae on Tongan Branch rock

[tirtza]

Hello! I have two questions....
Question # 1 My tank is slightly over 3 months old and I noticed diatoms showing up on the sand bed. I have 3 Scarlett hermit crabs and 10 Nassarius snails, but they don't seem to do much (if anything) about stirring up the sand. Is it normal to have diatoms show up after the tank is already 3 months old? (I've included pictures below...)
Question #2 One of the pieces of live rock (Tongan Branch rock) is really full of algae and seems to have a bad case of hair algae...none of the rest of the rock or sand seems to have this issue. My Mexican Turbo Snail, and Lawn Mower Blenny take care of any other algae that shows up. I'm under the impression that because it's not a smooth surface like the rest of the rock the bulky (and large) Mexican Turbo can't seems to really get at the algae on this rock and the LMB has no interest in eating it. What should I do about this particular rock? (pictures are below...)
Thanks for you help and suggestions!

 

[snakeblitz33]

Q1: Yes, if your sand is stirred up a little, it can sometimes create a bloom.
Q2: All nuisance algae is caused by excess nitrate and phosphate. Starve it of nutrients and light - and it will disappear.
If that's the only thing on the rock - no coral or anything you want to save - put it in a small rubbermaid tote full of fresh saltwater and put that live rock in it and close the lid. Top it off occasionally, and keep it in the dark for a month. Then, take a new, unused toothbrush and scrub it clean, then rinse it in saltwater, and put it back in the tote for another two weeks. It should be clean by then. If not, rinse and repeat.

 

[1guydude]

shoot take that rock out and let it dry out for awhile... scrub it down in a bucket of sw as said above too!
If ur doin w/c's at room temp and same Sg and such the diatoms/cyano should go away,if its fish only u can do some light off the tank and low feed every other day or something during those low light periods.
I like that red macro algae uve got their though!

 

[meowzer]

OR....you can take a bucket of tank water....and put the rock in there and scrub the heck outta it....then rinse it off in a different bucket of SW......
it should help a lot ...

 

[orca t]

I agree with meowzer, scrub it and rince well during a water change. Typicall however, diatoms are normal with new set ups. Lower your light time and (feed less) as someone once pointed out (oh wait... that was me) LOL .

 

[orca t]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///t/388733/questions-about-diatoms-and-algae-on-tongan-branch-rock#post_3430152
shoot take that rock out and let it dry out for awhile... scrub it down in a bucket of sw as said above too!
If ur doin w/c's at room temp and same Sg and such the diatoms/cyano should go away,if its fish only u can do some light off the tank and low feed every other day or something during those low light periods.
I like that red macro algae uve got their though!

go look at the tank of the month voting thread, this one poster has a-lot of that purple macro in the tank. That is cool.... I like that color in Tirtza's tank too.

 

[tirtza]

Thanks for the advice! Every Friday I do a weekly 20% water change. I took your advice and during my water change last night I took out the Tongan Branch rock and put it in a bucket of fresh saltwater and covered it up so that light wouldn't reach it. I have a new tooth brush that I'll use to scrub it with.
This morning when I fed the fish (which is always a 1/2 cube of Formula 1) I completed a 'snail check' and noticed that 1 of the 5 Ceriths was missing. I checked the Tongan Branch rock I took out last night (which I thought I had examined pretty closely) and to my surprise there was the missing Cerith snail! I thought for sure it'd be dead since the water in the bucket isn't heated and it is actually kind of chilly. I plucked the snail off of the rock and put it in the tank and to my amazement the little survivor was still alive! Lol
Quote:
If ur doin w/c's at room temp and same Sg and such the diatoms/cyano should go away
When I'm doing w/c's I heat the new water (as close as I can) to roughly the same temp as the water in my tank which is 79-80 degrees. My apartment temp. usually runs between 68-71 degrees. I'm a little confused....based on what you said, should I not heat the water and leave it at room temperature in order to get rid of the diatoms? The Sg (specific gravity) is always the same when I do water changes. I use a refractometer to make sure that it's precise. Also, what is "cyano"?
Orca T, thanks for the compliment on the red macro algae! It's just a clump that I purchased at my LFS. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it alive. I have it at the top so that it can get as much light as possible. Since my tank is still so new and I can't have any corals yet, it really adds some color to the tank!
Is feeding 1/2 cube of Formula 1 once a day to much?

 

[michaeltx]

are you rinsing the food before adding it to the tank. If not that adds nutrients to the tank and can cause it have an outbreak.
when doing the W/C you want to get the water as close to tank temp as possible.
Diatoms are the skeletal remains of a microscopic critter that lives in our tanks. All tanks will go through a diatom outbreak and as the use up what they need to survive they will die off leaving that brown stuff everywhere. It just takes some time.
I did not see it but are using a RO/DI unit to make your water change water up?
Mike

 

[kiefers]

Heya...... I have that maco in my tank too!! Lol.... I beileve orca T is talking about my mess of a tank in the contest hahaha
If i may butt in here, i'm not a fan with the Formula one is a waist of money. (personally) sorry. I see your thinking about giving a little extra but in my opinion, it's over kill and it just makes a mess. But.......if your fish enjoy and like it great.
Mysis and some other foods like brine shrimp would be ideal. Since my pipe fish came into play, I would add in some rotifers or cyclops in with the mysis. The corals pick up the left overs and everyone is happy. I do add a half clove of garlic in to entice them to eat plus it's good for them with the vitamin C.
Why can't you add corals?

 

[tirtza]

I always rinse the Formula One twice before I put it in the tank. When I swish the net around in the aquarium it releases tons of tiny little pieces of food. All of the fish go crazy for it. I tried giving the fish some frozen brine (I know it's not nutritious), I just wanted to see if they'd actually like it. It turns out they refused to eat it. In fact the only one who ever eats it is my Betta.
I also tried giving the fish some mysis, they were very ambivalent about the mysis and didn't eat much. The Lawn Mower Blenny had absolutely zero interest in it and the clowns and fire fish only ate a couple small pieces. It's possible that if I soaked the mysis in garlic that might decide they love it. However, going through the process of using part of a garlic clove to prepare their food each day seems like a really big hassle.

Hi Keifers!

How often do you feed your fish? Do you always soak their food in garlic before you feed them? Also, in answer to your question...although I would LOVE to start getting corals its still to early. My aquarium is a little over three months old, and I was told by the LFS guy that it needed to be at least 6 months old. I'm also concerned about my lighting...since I have a 29 gallon Biocube with only stock lighting, I'm going to be very limited in what types of coral I can get. Do you have any suggestions?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On to a totally different topic........
Here's how I mix new water:
I use a very large Rubber Maid plastic storage bin.
I add 2.5 cups of Kent Marine Salt (the instructions call for 1/2 cup per gallon of water)
I add 5 gallons of RO water
I hang an aquarium heater on the side of the Rubber Maid container (the heater is meant for up to 20 gallons)
I use a large plastic spoon to stir the water until the salt is dissolved.
I check the salinity using a refractometer to make sure that it's exactly 1.025 which is what is is in the aquarium.
*The big problem I'm having is ALL of the stirring! Warming the water up takes FOREVER!! If I stop stirring the heater only senses the water around it and it turns off thinking the water is heated to 79 degrees. When I start stirring again the water flow turns the heater back on. I need to find a way to keep the water moving while the heater is warming it up. Does anyone out there in SWF.com world have any suggestions??? I would GREATLY appreciate it!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

 

[spanko]

Get a pump and put it in the bucket to mix the water. Diatoms will go away when the silicates are used up. When you do a water change, scrub the tonga in the water it is in, then use the newly removed water to replace it.
I would think about the use of peroxide to combat the hair alage since you have the rock out of the tank.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tirtza http:///t/388733/questions-about-diatoms-and-algae-on-tongan-branch-rock#post_3430794
I also tried giving the fish some mysis, they were very ambivalent about the mysis and didn't eat much. The Lawn Mower Blenny had absolutely zero interest in it and the clowns and fire fish only ate a couple small pieces. It's possible that if I soaked the mysis in garlic that might decide they love it. However, going through the process of using part of a garlic clove to prepare their food each day seems like a really big hassle.

A Lawnmower Blenny is a herbivorous fish that solely eats algae and plant life. You should try feeding nori sheets, algae flakes, dried hair algae, and frozen algae foods. I've never used garlic, ever. Even when my fish sometimes get ich. It is a big hassle for something I see so trivial. If you are going to soak it in anything, try Selcon. Selcon has loads of vitamin C and vitamins, and trace minerals that fish need.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On to a totally different topic........
Here's how I mix new water:
I use a very large Rubber Maid plastic storage bin.
I add 2.5 cups of Kent Marine Salt (the instructions call for 1/2 cup per gallon of water)
I add 5 gallons of RO water
I hang an aquarium heater on the side of the Rubber Maid container (the heater is meant for up to 20 gallons)
I use a large plastic spoon to stir the water until the salt is dissolved.
I check the salinity using a refractometer to make sure that it's exactly 1.025 which is what is is in the aquarium.
*The big problem I'm having is ALL of the stirring! Warming the water up takes FOREVER!! If I stop stirring the heater only senses the water around it and it turns off thinking the water is heated to 79 degrees. When I start stirring again the water flow turns the heater back on. I need to find a way to keep the water moving while the heater is warming it up. Does anyone out there in SWF.com world have any suggestions??? I would GREATLY appreciate it!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
Never add water to salt. Always add your salt to your water. It says so in the instructions on the container. The reason being is that by adding water to the salt, it doesn't allow the salt to outgas properly, and causes certain elements to precipitate out of the water column, until atmospheric CO2 in the air and in the water reaches equilibrium. So, add your water, turn on your powerhead/pump, add your salt to the water, use a powerhead/pump to stir the water and let it mix like that for 24 hours before using your new saltwater. If your powerhead/pump is strong enough, you can use some flexible tubing to pump it to your tank when you do a water change to save your back.

 

[kiefers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tirtza http:///t/388733/questions-about-diatoms-and-algae-on-tongan-branch-rock#post_3430794
I always rinse the Formula One twice before I put it in the tank. When I swish the net around in the aquarium it releases tons of tiny little pieces of food. All of the fish go crazy for it. I tried giving the fish some frozen brine (I know it's not nutritious), I just wanted to see if they'd actually like it. It turns out they refused to eat it. In fact the only one who ever eats it is my Betta.
I also tried giving the fish some mysis, they were very ambivalent about the mysis and didn't eat much. The Lawn Mower Blenny had absolutely zero interest in it and the clowns and fire fish only ate a couple small pieces. It's possible that if I soaked the mysis in garlic that might decide they love it. However, going through the process of using part of a garlic clove to prepare their food each day seems like a really big hassle.

Hi Keifers!

How often do you feed your fish? Do you always soak their food in garlic before you feed them? Also, in answer to your question...although I would LOVE to start getting corals its still to early. My aquarium is a little over three months old, and I was told by the LFS guy that it needed to be at least 6 months old. I'm also concerned about my lighting...since I have a 29 gallon Biocube with only stock lighting, I'm going to be very limited in what types of coral I can get. Do you have any suggestions?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On to a totally different topic........
Here's how I mix new water:
I use a very large Rubber Maid plastic storage bin.
I add 2.5 cups of Kent Marine Salt (the instructions call for 1/2 cup per gallon of water)
I add 5 gallons of RO water
I hang an aquarium heater on the side of the Rubber Maid container (the heater is meant for up to 20 gallons)
I use a large plastic spoon to stir the water until the salt is dissolved.
I check the salinity using a refractometer to make sure that it's exactly 1.025 which is what is is in the aquarium.
*The big problem I'm having is ALL of the stirring! Warming the water up takes FOREVER!! If I stop stirring the heater only senses the water around it and it turns off thinking the water is heated to 79 degrees. When I start stirring again the water flow turns the heater back on. I need to find a way to keep the water moving while the heater is warming it up. Does anyone out there in SWF.com world have any suggestions??? I would GREATLY appreciate it!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
Water then salt one big powerhead to stir up the water for atleast 24 hours check water s salinity.. Get a heater to put in with new water. since your only doing, Well lets see here, 2.5 cups salt so your doing what 5 gallons water? Get a small heater and throw in there to heat up the water. Put the lid over the top loosly to allow air to get in and gases to get out. check temp later in the day.

 

[1guydude]

+1 I use a pump in my bucket and add the water, than the salt.
Let it mix and airate fot 24hrs prior to use.
Maybe mix some of the new foods with ur fornula stuff to try nd give some variety as well as wien them on the new foods....
kent marine makes a garlic solution that is as simple as one drop in the cup of food....
i just add all the foods to the water and cup, one drop of garlic, than i make my own cubes and re freeze em... simple and easier than making their food every day LOL....

 

[kiefers]

Step by step food preparation and serving size.
Mysis o cutting board. Take off good sized chunk and cut 2 -3 times both up and sideways. Put into strainer over a bowl
and any other mix of food you like. I use rotifers or cyclops. Throw in strainer with mysis
One garlic clove, give it a good whaking with the butcher knive to break off skin. Cut clove in half and cut little slits into the meat of the garlic to release garlic juices.
rinse with ro water, in a cup or so, and mix together in a separate bowl. I add selcon to the mix every other food preparation sais above.
I feed a little in the morning, just enough so the fish kids eat there fill.
night before the water change I get the left over foods puree them by putting it on a cutting block. I then squish (hahaha) them flat with a knife. Put back into the bowl and add selcon (3-4 drops) and feed my sun corals. (After turning off lights and all pumps) after that I put .5 off the droplet into the tank, wait 15 minutes and turn on power heads to mix in the tank. 15 Min. later I turn on the pump and go to bed.
Next day, the water change, clean the glass, all filter media, rinse off the chem pure elite's and clean the skimmer, sit back and enjoy the view!

 

[tirtza]

Thank you so much for your advice! I had no idea I was mixing the water incorrectly, I should have been more careful.

I guess I'm lucky that I didn't kill anything. I'm heading to my LFS today and will definitely purchase a powerhead to mix the water. Do you think I should get another Koralia 450 to use in mixing the water?
Kiefers - thank you so much for the details on how to soak the food in garlic! Can I reuse that clove of garlic if I leave it in RO water and keep it in the fridge? I have a garlic press, would it make the process any easier?

 

[1guydude]

i use a zookeeper rotating thingy! lol....id look at it and tell u but its in the bucket lol...
it rotates though... !

 

[kiefers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tirtza http:///t/388733/questions-about-diatoms-and-algae-on-tongan-branch-rock#post_3430905
Thank you so much for your advice! I had no idea I was mixing the water incorrectly, I should have been more careful.

I guess I'm lucky that I didn't kill anything. I'm heading to my LFS today and will definitely purchase a powerhead to mix the water. Do you think I should get another Koralia 450 to use in mixing the water?
Kiefers - thank you so much for the details on how to soak the food in garlic! Can I reuse that clove of garlic if I leave it in RO water and keep it in the fridge? I have a garlic press, would it make the process any easier?
the bigger the powerhead the better with the new water.
As for the food, don't leave the food in water. Strain it. This way you are able to just take some out with a fork or tweezers or a small baby feeding spoon. Once the food is strainned put it and the garlic half of garlic in a small tupawear bowl with a lid. The food will stay good for 3 or 4 days then when your done with it merely throw out the old clove and food and wash it good and start the process over again. The Garlic thing you can do maybe every other time you make food for the fish. One half for them and the other half for garlic spegetti and garlic bread for you!! hahahaa see how that works?

throw out the water you used to rince the food with or you can ..... no just throw it out in the sink and forget about it.

 

[tirtza]

That's great that the food will last a few days. It's good to know I don't have to go through a 1/2 of a garlic clove every day when I feed my fish kids. I had no idea that fish are such garlic fiends!
I got the pump/powerhead this afternoon. I purchased a 'Marineland Maxi Jet 1200'. I made sure to get one powerful enough to pump the water up 6 feet from the plastic tub (that I mix the water in) up into the DT.
I added a little more to my CUC and purchased an (over-priced) Skunk Cleaner Shrimp and 5 Astria snails today. I had to search all over the SWF.com website to find out if I should QT inverts, and after reading a bunch of discussion threads I feel confident adding them without quarantine first. The cleaner shrimp is so far the most expensive creature in my aquarium. How strange is that?!
I do need to get the materials set up to create a QT though. After reading a bunch of threads and how quickly things can go south I consider myself (and my fish) very lucky so far. My aquarium is over 3 months old and I haven't QT'd anything and I've been preparing my water incorrectly, I'm soooooo surprised that my fish, shrimp, crabs, and snails are all alive and haven't gotten Ich or anything else.
I still couldn't have gotten this far without SWF.com.........you guys all rock!!!!
Much Love & Respect! - Terri

 

[travelerjp98]

Yep... a qt is a very good thing. As for the price of the shrimp being the most expenisive thing in your tank so far...well... this hobby is ironic!