Raising lights!!

[meowzer]

OK went to the fish store that's 2 hours away to bring my killer raccoon...I met a couple of "experts" that say the reason my water shows some green tint is cause my MH lights are too close...they are on the stands that came with them..about 3" off top of aquarium...so My husband (great guy) is in the process of installing the hanging kit...We are going to hang them about 8" from top....
Does anyone think this will be high enough from top????

 

[spanko]

Sounds like an algae bloom. Usually from too much light and nutrient from overfeeding.
How long are your lights on?
What are you feeding and how much?

 

[meowzer]

MH 250W X 3...center light comes on at 1 goes off at 8:30...2 side lights go on at 2, go off at 8.
I don't think the food is an issue. I have a link...I'll find it that tells all my food and an example of what I feed....I don't know how to attach it tho so I'll tell you where it is...

 

[meowzer]

FOUND IT:
OK, I am going to put a list of what is in my tank, a list of my foods, and an example of what I feed...Can someone please tell me if what I am doing is ok...I am having a bit of cloudiness...alll water parameters are great
Occupants:1 sailfin tang,1 yellow tang,1 blue hippo tang,4 green chromis
2 black 3-spot damsels,1 yellow tail damsel,1 pseudochromis,2 Clowns (percula),2 Yellow clown gobys,1 bicolor blennie,1 firefish,1 lawnmower blennie
1 Cortez ray,1 raccoon butterfly,1 coral beauty,1 McCosker Flasher Wrasse
1 dwarf flame angel,1 sandsifting goby,1 spotted mandarin,Nassarius Snails and more snails,2 cleaner clams (I think),Some blue leg hermits
3 featherdusters
Food: Frozen cubes: Mega-marine angel, formula 2, brine w/spirulina, brine, cyclops, rotifiers, prime reef cube, angel & butterfly diet, blood worms, saltwater multipack, mysis
dry: formula 2 flakes & pellets, osi marine flakes, boyds vita diet pellets
red, green & brown algae sheets
On a normal day, I mix one cube frozen formula 2 & one cube (ex) marine cuisine with garlic, zoe, selcon & zoecon...let it defrost and mush it up...
They get one cube (examples) spirulina w/brine, angel & butterfly diet, & cyclops
The dry they get a small pinch here and there a couple of times a week for a variety...
The algae sheets, I rip off 2x3 pieces a few times a week.
(stingray gets shrimp, silversides and scallops, she is hand fed)
Am I feeding too much? Too little? Just right? I have no leftovers so I figured I was doing ok, but I have no explanation for my mild cloudiness.

 

[meowzer]

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[meowzer]

Anyone have any opinions or suggestions

 

[brian_wis]

if I counted right you have 28 fish, what size tank is this? I hope at least 180g. and with that many fish I hope your skimmer is in the 300g range?

 

[meowzer]

it's a 225g....I have 2 protein skimmers...a seaclone 150 and a seaclone 100...And the raccoon butterfly is now gone,..except for I now have 2 flame cardinals and a pincushion urchin

 

[jpa0741]

Your lights being too low is not the problem. That will NOT cause an algea bloom. Excess nutrients causes algea bloom. Your main problems are with your skimming. Those 2 skimmers are doing very little to export the nutrients you are adding. You really need to invest in a good skimmer IMO.

 

[meowzer]

OK, I have been looking...I need a HOB, and I only have maybe 5" clearance...Can you suggest a good one that doesnt cost $500, or a degree to use.

 

[jpa0741]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2918740
OK, I have been looking...I need a HOB, and I only have maybe 5" clearance...Can you suggest a good one that doesnt cost $500, or a degree to use.
I would look into a overlow and running a sump with fuge and you could put your skimmer in there. I don't know much about HOB models but am guessing it will tough to find something like what you need with only 5" of clearance.

 

[meowzer]

Yes, I am finding that out...It's hard to find anything for a 225g period. I was thinking of having a sump built, but didn't realize that then you need over flows...etc...

 

[snakeblitz33]

Naw, you can have a sump without an internal overflow. Just setup an external overflow. They work well as long as you get a pump that pushes enough water up to your main display. You should really consider a 50% water change and adding a sump/fuge and phosphate reactor to your system. Having that much algae is not a good thing.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2918873
Naw, you can have a sump without an internal overflow. Just setup an external overflow. They work well as long as you get a pump that pushes enough water up to your main display. You should really consider a 50% water change and adding a sump/fuge and phosphate reactor to your system. Having that much algae is not a good thing.

MORE STUFF!!!! AHHHHH....You mean a 50% water change once....and then regualr smaller ones? Where the heck would you mix 110g of water?

 

[spanko]

Please don't take this the wrong way but I think you have too many threads with problems being discussed in them. Some of them are related. I would be nice if you could consolidate them somehow into one tank thread so that everyone could see the different problems in one place aand come up with some suggestions that relate.
JMO FWIW

 

[meowzer]

LOL, It wasn't intentional...I started out with 2 subjects, and they kinda merged into one. I don't know how to combine the threads...do you?

 

[spanko]

Start a new thread, for instance;
My merged problem thread.
Please help with the .........................
problem
1.
2.
3.
4.
etc etc etc. Then everyone can see the multiple things you have going on in this tank, lights, anemone, cloudy water, etc. etc. and can maybe give some advice that addresses your tank in general. Now that I see a picture in this thread I am wondering what that plant is on the right side and if it may contributing to your cloudy water thread.

 

[meowzer]

Its just a plastic plant that I have not removed cause my clown gobies live in it (I've had it in there since the beginning)...OOPs...pic is in the other thread...LOL..I'll move them here, and drop the other thread.

 

[snakeblitz33]

two 55g barrels should suffice. Find how low you need to go on your aquarium, mark it with a permanent marker - siphon it out into your toilet or yard. Then, pump in the 110g of saltwater back into your tank. Easy.

 

[meowzer]

The emptying part is no problem, I only have a 32g pail and a 13g pail, so I think I will mix another 30g and do that Wednesday and then again on Saturday...That has to help.