Need some help with algae issue…
- Thread starter jackslao
- Start date
they stick in them pretty hard…
Need some details on your tank to help.
How old is the tank?
What are nitrates at?
What are phosphates at?
Rough overview of inhabitants (fish, corals, cleanup crew)?
Feeding regimen?
What kind of filtration (filter socks, filter floss, fleece roller, skimmer, carbon, GFO/Phosguard, macroalgae fuge, algae scrubber, UV, etc.)?
Could be diatoms as stated above, but could also be start of dinos.
How old is the tank?
What are nitrates at?
What are phosphates at?
Rough overview of inhabitants (fish, corals, cleanup crew)?
Feeding regimen?
What kind of filtration (filter socks, filter floss, fleece roller, skimmer, carbon, GFO/Phosguard, macroalgae fuge, algae scrubber, UV, etc.)?
Could be diatoms as stated above, but could also be start of dinos.
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You have 3 different types of algae in your pictures.
Your best bet is going to be to get something that eats algae. Even with perfect water parameters you will grow algae. Algae is only removed by being consumed IME. Even if you get your water parameters perfect, it will still grow given the chance.
I like the company Reefcleaners.org I would suggest getting quite a few animals to help you out. If you have less than one member of clean up crew per gallon, you really will need to add a lot. Whatever you decide to go with, maybe a mix of emerald crabs, peppermint shrimp, trochus snails, and naussarius snails, I would also recommend getting the often skipped over dwarf planaxis snails. They are very small and will get under your rocks and in the tinest of crevices. It is not overkill to put 50 dwarf planaxis snails in a 50g, and still have a mix of 50 other CUC animals.
For the rest, reducing waste and excess nutrients by using RODI, feeding smaller amounts more often then larger feedings, dosing phyto plankton, and boosting your micro fauna (pods and bacteria) are going to be what help you the most.
If you have the ability to add a refugium, it will give you a lot of lattitude.
Other things that are often overlooked are the age of the bulbs if you are running T5, MH, or PC. LED not so much. Also keeping your pH above 8.3 does help with algae growth and nutrient consumption. Changing filter socks daily until it is under control will help as well.
Good Luck!
Your best bet is going to be to get something that eats algae. Even with perfect water parameters you will grow algae. Algae is only removed by being consumed IME. Even if you get your water parameters perfect, it will still grow given the chance.
I like the company Reefcleaners.org I would suggest getting quite a few animals to help you out. If you have less than one member of clean up crew per gallon, you really will need to add a lot. Whatever you decide to go with, maybe a mix of emerald crabs, peppermint shrimp, trochus snails, and naussarius snails, I would also recommend getting the often skipped over dwarf planaxis snails. They are very small and will get under your rocks and in the tinest of crevices. It is not overkill to put 50 dwarf planaxis snails in a 50g, and still have a mix of 50 other CUC animals.
For the rest, reducing waste and excess nutrients by using RODI, feeding smaller amounts more often then larger feedings, dosing phyto plankton, and boosting your micro fauna (pods and bacteria) are going to be what help you the most.
If you have the ability to add a refugium, it will give you a lot of lattitude.
Other things that are often overlooked are the age of the bulbs if you are running T5, MH, or PC. LED not so much. Also keeping your pH above 8.3 does help with algae growth and nutrient consumption. Changing filter socks daily until it is under control will help as well.
Good Luck!
Hi everyone, that's for all the tips and support.
Sorry I ghosted everyone for few months... Had to prepare for a big exam so didn't get around to do stuff with the tank...
So... since last time, most of my SPS die... algae problem went away after I introduced more clean up crew though.
Some corals are thriving while others are either dead or on their way... here's a list:
Thriving:
Mushrooms
most zoas
Dead:
most of my SPS (birdnests, monti, anacropora)
leptos
Dying:
Acans
hammers (they're not opening up)
some monti are coming back, as well as some slimer and anacropora
I tested the water today and here's the result:
kH 7.8
Ca 510
Mg 1400
pH 7.9-8.0
I know my Ca and Mg are high, but not sure how to lower them while keep up with kH...
Any thoughts?
Sorry I ghosted everyone for few months... Had to prepare for a big exam so didn't get around to do stuff with the tank...
So... since last time, most of my SPS die... algae problem went away after I introduced more clean up crew though.
Some corals are thriving while others are either dead or on their way... here's a list:
Thriving:
Mushrooms
most zoas
Dead:
most of my SPS (birdnests, monti, anacropora)
leptos
Dying:
Acans
hammers (they're not opening up)
some monti are coming back, as well as some slimer and anacropora
I tested the water today and here's the result:
kH 7.8
Ca 510
Mg 1400
pH 7.9-8.0
I know my Ca and Mg are high, but not sure how to lower them while keep up with kH...
Any thoughts?
I keep mg >1500, not a problem, Ca is high but more importantly alk is on the edge of low.
Do an icp test. Checks for a wide range of contaminants
https://www.marineandreef.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RFM45872
There are a lot of ways to raise alk, baked baking soda is cheep and easy.
I’ve been using this calculator for 20 years
https://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
Do an icp test. Checks for a wide range of contaminants
https://www.marineandreef.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RFM45872
There are a lot of ways to raise alk, baked baking soda is cheep and easy.
I’ve been using this calculator for 20 years
https://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
Is it possible to raise kh without raising Ca? I tried seamchem marine buffer and brs soda ash, but both raised Ca and kH.
Both levels are okay. I think phosphate might be a little off at 0.1 and nitrate is pretty much at 0-10 mg/l.
I keep my skimmer on all times. Last time when I change my skimmer setting I got an algae bloom…
Both levels are okay. I think phosphate might be a little off at 0.1 and nitrate is pretty much at 0-10 mg/l.
I keep my skimmer on all times. Last time when I change my skimmer setting I got an algae bloom…
What test kit are you using?
I’d do an ICP test to get your baseline.
regular arm and hammer baking soda, spread it on a cookie sheet and bake it at 250? For like 20 minutes, store it in an airtight container and dose as prescribed in the calculator link I posted. It won‘t raise calcium but it is quite accurate for adjusting DKH
I’d do an ICP test to get your baseline.
regular arm and hammer baking soda, spread it on a cookie sheet and bake it at 250? For like 20 minutes, store it in an airtight container and dose as prescribed in the calculator link I posted. It won‘t raise calcium but it is quite accurate for adjusting DKH
So, I just looked into marine buffer a bit more and I was mistaken - it does say that it includes calcium, I had confused it with reef buffer. Stick with the soda ash as it won't increase your Ca levels. Even when you're ready to start dosing calcium again you'll want to stay away from the marine buffer as it contains borate salts which are not consumed by anything in our reef tanks and will accumulate. Also, I don't believe SeaChem has any actual information on how much Ca is in their products.
Best way is to just wait for corals or coralline algae to consume it. Keep in mind that doing a large water change will only reduce your Ca levels if your salt mix has levels lower than your display tank. What salt do you use?
What is your salinity and what do you use to measure it? Salinity is often overlooked but it is the basis for all of the minerals in your water.
Also keep in mind that you're not using the "pro" version of the test kit, so you're looking at an even wider range of values (15-30ppm vs 5ppm). Make sure reagents are not expired as well.
Best way is to just wait for corals or coralline algae to consume it. Keep in mind that doing a large water change will only reduce your Ca levels if your salt mix has levels lower than your display tank. What salt do you use?
What is your salinity and what do you use to measure it? Salinity is often overlooked but it is the basis for all of the minerals in your water.
Also keep in mind that you're not using the "pro" version of the test kit, so you're looking at an even wider range of values (15-30ppm vs 5ppm). Make sure reagents are not expired as well.
I am using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt. For Salinity, I have two refractometer and I use them to cross reference the salinity... Since it's been so hot these days with the evaporation, that might be an issue (I top it off every night though).
I think I will try the soda ash path for now and see if I can raise my kH. Doesn't look like the corals and coralline algae is consuming much of the calcium though. I will try to get kH a little higher and go from there.
Will report in about a week.
I think I will try the soda ash path for now and see if I can raise my kH. Doesn't look like the corals and coralline algae is consuming much of the calcium though. I will try to get kH a little higher and go from there.
Will report in about a week.
