Suspended Algae

[gio28]

i think the problem i have with my tank (as Meowzer suggested) is possibly suspended algae. my water is always like a brown cloud and has been like this for months. i have a skimmer, sponge filter, 2 carbon bags in my tank and this is doing nothing. all my params are perfect and my lighting is already reduced. im almost positive that i have algae that is suspended in the water column. i've read that a UV light will kill the algae (but they are exppensive) and Kent Pro Clear will help cause the single cell algae to clot together so they can be filtered out better. im not sure how to fix this problem so i need some help. i really want to be able to see my tanks rockwork and fish after months of nothing but brown water.

 

[cranberry]

Diatoms filters or water polishers can help with that.

 

[meowzer]

Exactly what type of filter do you have???

 

[gio28]

i have a HOB aquaclear. and an aqua c remora skimmer. my sump still isnt done yet...
i will look into diatom filters as im almost sure that is what i have.

 

[cranberry]

An aquaclear is not a diatom filter.
EDIT: I just saw where you were concerned about the price of a UV filter.... diatom filters are more expensive :-(

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by gio28
http:///forum/post/3153546
i have a HOB aquaclear. and an aqua c remora skimmer. my sump still isnt done yet...
i will look into diatom filters as im almost sure that is what i have.
Which filter model???? I am wondering if it in not big enough...

 

[gio28]

lol i meant that i had diatoms not a diatom filter...but i looked them up (the diatom filter that is) and they are a little pricey. would it be better to see if the water polishers help first before i spend the money?

 

[deon nyc]

i turn my uv fliter when this happens i know it is a alittle pricy but it clears it up in a few days

 

[gio28]

so UV is a good idea. i heard they can be bad

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by gio28
http:///forum/post/3153556
so UV is a good idea. i heard they can be bad
Do you have another filter you can add for now???? IMO what I have found with SW is you need filters that are rated for more.....does that make sense? LOL

 

[gio28]

yeah, makes sense lol. i know what you mean. i got that size cause my (STUPID) LFS recommended it. i dont have any other filters till my sump is hooked up, if that even counts.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by gio28
http:///forum/post/3153567
yeah, makes sense lol. i know what you mean. i got that size cause my (STUPID) LFS recommended it. i dont have any other filters till my sump is hooked up, if that even counts.
LOL...I wish I lived closer to people, I have some HOB's that you could use for now......
change your carbon more often, and maybe add some xtra

 

[gio28]

lol...thanks for the offer though. so you think a bigger filter would help? what about water polisher or UV? my sump will be hooked up in a few days...will that help?

 

[deon nyc]

it depends of how much u are looking to spend if u can get both it cant hurt the tank just your pocket

 

[meowzer]

Yes I think the sump will help...you will be able to add carbon or whatever to it....
I hang a filter bag with carbon in my sump flow when I need extra "chemical" help....
I know nothing about water polishers, and uv filters have its good points as well as its bad...I got one and returned it....I did not want ti kill my beneficial bacterias along with the bad...know what I am saying

 

[gio28]

yeah i get what your saying meowzer, i guess i dont want it to kill the good especially since i got it to where i never get any nitrates anymore. i will run carbon for sure. right now one bag is in the HOB and the other is in the skimmers return.

 

[gio28]

so i finally got the refractometer a few days ago, so im planning on mixing some saltwater tomorrow for a water change later this week. i have some pics to post later that shows how bad the suspended algae has gotten. right now my entire tank is a deep sludge brown and i can even see the algae floating around like a huge cloud in my tank. my params are perfect and i've been using tap water forever so i dont think its the main cause. so anyways, how should i go about fixing this problem step by step?
i was thinking about doing a big WC, then using some Kent Pro Clear, and then waiting to see if it has any effect. when i post the pics later i also took a few of my anemone, i think the algae is actually blocking a lot of my MHs light so my anemone is like dying cause theres none left for it down at the bottom of my tank. any help?

 

[meowzer]

Anemones will not do well with bad water, so it is a possibility that the anemone is reacting to the algae..
you need to continue with large water changes, and keep changing the carbon

 

[gio28]

i've been changing the carbon...every week id put a new thingy of it in. and im gonna attempt a 50% WC over the next week...like 25% at a time...
anyways...just from new carbon i've seen 0 progress, hopefully the WCs will help. i think that wouldnt solve the cause of the problem anyways cause the algae would just repopulate the new water...would using the Pro Clear help since it makes the individual cells of algae cluster together for removal in the filtration system?

 

[meowzer]

I know nothing about pro-clear....sorry
I just know when I had a greenish tint...I used extra carbon, I acutally added another HOB filter ..changed the carbon every 2-3 days, and did larger water changes...it took a couple of weeks, but that did it...