SAVE A dieing tank!!!!

von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
Hi this post is for my father . he has a 80 gallon reef. it has around 120 # of live rock and no substraight whatsoever. It is running a wet dry filter with an offbrand skimmer. the lighting is 4 NO bulbs two actinic blue and 2 50/50.
all the reading are 0. PH is 8.1 and temp is holding at a constant 81 deg.
his tank is being completely over run with hair algea. I come home and prune it. I droped 30 scarlet reef hermits and 70 blueleg hermits in there and around 60 turbo snails. is there anything else i can do to help him out? If the tank does not start looking better he is going to get rid of it. Sure he will give he set up to me, but it would be a shame for him to drop this hobby. we have been keeping fish tanks since i was very small and he is the reason that i am addicted to haveing the tanks that i have.
thanks alot for your help
 
kris walker

kris walker

Active Member
I would be most worried about phosphate levels. Was he using RO water from the beginning? Sometimes though even RO water has significant amounts of phosphate. My RO water is usually around 0.2 ppm phosphate (our tap water around here has fairly high phosphate ~2.0 ppm). What about foods? Does he feed the tank anything? Nitrate can also be a problem, but IMO, not as bad as phosphate.
kris
 
stacy

stacy

Member
Do you have any fish in the tank? Maybe would be a good idea to add something that eats the algae. My lawnmower blenny does a great job. Algae never has a chance to grow. Also you can drop the temp a couple of degrees. How long do you leave the lights on for everyday? If no fish or corals then lower the amount of time the lights or on.
 
david s

david s

Member
i am faily new so wait for a few people to post but i think first 81 is to hot try like 78 or so
2rd how long do u run lights and have u done any water changes and u really need sum substrate live sand would be best u said all water test were 0 right what color algie green and how long has tank been setup ??? plz reply need a little more info
 
von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
the tak has beeen set up for 4 years and was fine till he did a water change.
it killed jsuta bout everything in the tank which in turn knocked the nitrates and trites off the roof. He is using RO/DI water. he has one true perc in the tank.
I will have him check the phosphate tomorrow.
he has one blastamousa coral left. but i was thinking about dropping the photoperiod, currently they are on for 11 hrs a day.
 
kris walker

kris walker

Active Member
To lower phosphates, the best way would be to do a water change with water that you know has low phosphates. That will bring it down significantly, but probably not all the way. So to bring it down completely, you need to add macroalgae and/or a phosphate sponge. The macro will eventually outcompete the micro in several weeks. Use of a phosphate sponge from your lfs will help also (but it will not do the job all by itself, as it is only useful for low phosphate levels to begin with, like say around 0.2-0.5 ppm).
Also, remember that your existing algae in the tank has stored up some of that phosphate, which will be re-released back into the tank when that algae dies (or is eaten by a snail, which then poops).
Oh, one more thing, copepod populations explode usually when I get an algae bloom, and I suspect they help rid me of the mess as their principal food source. So adding LS may help with this.
Good luck.
kris
 
von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
how can i add LS to am already established reef tank?? i know one should never run a reef without LS, but my dad was told thw rong data to begin with, should i just dump it i the front and let it slowly move around back??
 
kris walker

kris walker

Active Member
You can put LS in with CC. No problem there. If you just put a little in, it will trickle down to the bottom of the CC over time, and so you will eventually not see it. If you put a lot in, then the sand will trickle down, fill most of the gaps between the CC, and lay on top of the CC, which as I understand from people, does not look appealing.
EDIT: oops, I just realized there is no substrate. I see your point. So I guess adding LS is not really a wise idea, since there is no substrate bed to seed. Sorry bout that.
kris
 
wamp

wamp

Active Member
Nitrates are high? That is probably your biggest problem. Water changes will bring them down some. You need to manually remove as much algea as you can and then your clean up crew should do the rest..
It will take time. Tell him to be patient. My first 180 took about 5 months to get all the algea out. Thanks to SWF.Com's crabs and snails have not seen any since!
 
tykill

tykill

Member
You can add the sand by filling the bag with water inside the tank and pouring out then. It will do fine around the rock.
 
von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
ok i may have to try that tomorrow.
I REALLY need to get his tank looking good,
well who would'nt want a 80 gal dtank with a custom made hood and stand
however I would fel a littl;e bit guilty. hate having morals!
 
blondenaso1

blondenaso1

Member
11 hours is definately way too long for photoperiod. I agree, drop it down to 8 or so and I am sure that you will notice a huge difference! The tow things that algae need to live are phosphates and light, among other things. Removing or greatly reducing one or the other will hopefully solve the problem. The addition of LS would definately make a difference. If there is too much LR to take out then just spread the LS around the base of the rock. Eventually with water current it will spread around and cover any missed spots.
 
cyn

cyn

Member
Another way to add sand:
Get a length of PVC pipe, 3 or 4 inches in diameter and about 20" long. Pour the sand down the pipe into the tank directing it where you want it. Much less mess this way.
HTH,
cyn
 
wamp

wamp

Active Member
11 hours too long??? I run my lights for 12 hours. 8- halides ,10- 4 vhos, 12 2 Vhos..
I think it is a nutrient problem not a light problem.. Maybe change bulbs.. Are they old?
 
von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
the bulbs are brand new, and every time i go over to the house i start cleaning the tank. i pull out atleast a fullsize cup (drinking cup) of algae before i get to bored with it. the bulbs are brand new.
that is a pretty ingenious way to add sand to a tank! i never thought of that one at all.
i have lowered the photoperiod to 8 hrs a day. anything else you guys can suggest??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top