Suspended Algae

gio28

Active Member
oh ok, im gonna do research on the differences between green algae (which seems more common) and the sludge brown algae that i have, maybe it will help
 

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by gio28
http:///forum/post/3157391
oh ok, im gonna do research on the differences between green algae (which seems more common) and the sludge brown algae that i have, maybe it will help
Good idea...it may need some other treatment.
 

gio28

Active Member
lol wow i already gave up, there is like no info on brown suspended algae i could find that didnt relate to ponds...i guess its kinda rare...and it makes my room smell like poo..i was looking at old pics of my tank when it was crystal clear and im amazed of how bad it got. lol i guess WCs are my only option right now.
and meowzer, what did the carbon help you with exactly? did it like make the water more clear or did it actually trap the algae?
 

meowzer

Moderator
Both I think...LOL...carbon is supposed to help clarify and clean....right????
I also changed my floss in the sump more often, and hung a filter bag with carbon in there too...
 

gio28

Active Member
hmmm, what the most fine filter material...filter floss? if i were to use the Pro Clear to make he algae cluster...then maybe the filter will trap it...worth a shot since the internet research is no help on this topic.
 

meowzer

Moderator
I wish I could be of more help, but I don't know about that stuff...I am not one for using chemicals, and luckily what I did solved my problwm...I actually run NO carbon in any of my tanks...
Unless you find out something negative...maybe you should try it...I'd like to know how it works...so keep me informed :)
 

gio28

Active Member
OK! Im happy to report that I have found the solution to the suspended algae! Its a UV sterilizer!
I spent $50 on a great 9watt one and within 10 hours my tank is looking better than ever! Im amazed at how quickly the thing managed to kill all the algae. By tomorrow afternoon my water should be crystal clear i would imagine.
 

spanko

Active Member
Just a caution here, check your nitrates now. (and phosphates if you have a tester) The algae, if that is what it is, dying will give up any nurients it held and if you are not removing the dying algae then the nutrients are going back into your water. Be ready for some water changes if needed to reduce the nitratesphosphates..
 

meowzer

Moderator
AND keep in mind...the UV sterilizer can not determine between GOOD bacteria..or BAD bacteria.....so it kills all of it (from what I have read
)
 

gio28

Active Member
yup thanks for the precautions guys. Im about to do my weekly water tests anyways so I will see what my levels are to make sure nothing went out of whack.
also, my room is still very smelly despite the crystal clear algae-free water? any ideas? im running a generic carbon and chemi pure occasionally when my skimmer is plugged in (the return chamber). I thought that the algae was causing it but i shut my window and door today to see if the smell would build up and it did.
 

gio28

Active Member
ok so test results:
everything was where it was supposed to be at except ammonia, Ph, and calcium.
ammonia was at .5 so i freaked and poured some prime into the tank. i will test again later. i will also mix up some new SW to do a WC when its done mixing this weekend. it seemed like .5 but my test kit is stupid so idk.
Ph was kinda off but i think it was because i haven't had my MH plugged in since i was super battling with the algae. i think it was at 8.2-8 again my test kit irritates me cause i cant tell exactly.
and calcium dosent really matter cause i have no corals...i just put it in so the snails shells can grow and to prep for corals a few months from now. its at approx 350 right now.
 
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