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Those are some lovely frags, awsome colors. Did you take the sand from your old tank and put in new cube without giving it a good freshwater wash? Did you notice any ammonia spike at the begining? If this is the case it may be the reason of algea problem.
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It was brand new sand, which I rinsed extremely well. Sorry, I doubt my new sand is the source of my GHA issues. Any other thoughts?
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I forgot to include today's parameters:
Temp: 80.3 pH: 8.2 SG: 1.025 dKH: 11 (Oie! I've turned down my Calcium reactor) Ca: 480 Nitrite: 0ppm Nitrate: 0ppm Ammonia: 0ppm Magnesium: ~1200ppm I also forgot to mention that I clean out about 1-3 cups of hair algae every few days. Here are a few more photos from today, I'm trying to refamiliarize myself with our old camera. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/PICT0032.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/PICT0033.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/PICT0035.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...CT0004_1-1.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0005-1.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...CT0007_1-1.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0010_1.jpg |
Wow Cathrine congrats on the tank it is a very attractive tank. I relay, relay like the frags in the tank. I am starting to add frags to my tank slowly but surely as well.
PS your tank makes me jealous :lol: |
Have you tested the TDS of your tap water? Have you considered running a phosban reactor? And...I know I keep throwing this out there for people, but sea hares are the best! Maybe if someone has one, you can borrow it for a few weeks. I'd lend you mine if we lived in the same city.
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I'm not using tap water anymore, just RO/DI. No I'm sorry I don't know what the TDS is of the tap water in the building I'm in.
I have too many frags for a seahare. I debated one about one yesterday, and settled on the longspine urchin instead. I guess I should have included a quick recap of what I've tried in regards to the GHA. 1) Changing out all bulbs, everything is new now within a few months. 2) Macro algae, I tried to avoid pruning it until it got to the point where it was almost too big for my 'fuge hoping that the bigger surface area would absorb more of whatever is triggering the GHA. It didn't seem to make a difference. 3) Switched back to RO/DI water 4) Manual removal of the algae 5) Running the tank with a reduced photo period, I now run for only 5 hours a day with MH for a total of 7 hours of light. 6) A Blackout period, I kept the tank completely dark for 3 days, there was no reduction in algae, and it got worse after I was done. 7) Run a phosphate remover in a high flow area, just below the return. I'm still doing this. 8) Larger water changes, I do 10g over the course of a week. 9) Ensure all my water parameters are in order, hence the addition of the calcium reactior. 10) Added additional members to my clean up crew, and added a longspine urchin 11) Remove my rocks and scrub them all down and pluck them clean. Only three rocks weren't scrubed, but it was because they have clams on them. They were however picked clean. Other options: 1) Changing my salt brand, I don't seem to have any phosphates, nitrates, nitriates, or ammonia after mixing up fresh salt water. Aside from low alkalinity, I really hesitate to change my salt brands. This is a total shot on the dark I feel. 2) Learn to love GHA 3) Go crazy and tear down the tank. Other thoughts? |
When I transfered most of my stuff from my 150 to the 120...noticed hair forming on a couple rocks...foxface to the rescue.
Catherine, he cleaned up everything in two days and it's never returned. I have since passed him on to help others...He saved me hours and hours of work. RJ |
Maybe my foxface was the reason for which I never had GHA in my other larger tanks. I miss having a large tank for the sole reason of having big fish, and more room for clams!
I wish I could accomidate a foxface. Maybe I could aquire a really tiny one for a few weeks, and then pass it on to a new and much more appropriate home. |
Your water parameters look fine. I had a similar issue in a 35 gal. almost 4 years ago.A friend of mine gave me some CarribSea base rock that he used in his fish only tank and kept dry after parting off the tank. Within a few weeks all my LR, glass, and SPS corals covered by hair algea and cyano. It was nasty. After making a big amount of water change and trimming i put 250 ml Seachem Phos Guard in a filter bag (more than reccomended amount) and started to run it in an AC 500 HOB filter. I also used Red Slime Remover for cyano. I don't know which one worked for me but within a week or so both were gone and never had any problem after that. Maybe none of them worked it was just a miracle :) It sucks but when GHA is introduced to the tank it is realy hard to get rid of it since it can utilize the minerals in the salt and proper light etc. and continue to grow even if everything is fine.
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So the urchin is doing a pretty good job. He completely cleans off the rock or clam shell were he stops. He moves in a very jerky fashion over my rocks so we call him Lurchin Urch.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0002-4.jpg Since my last update I've changed how I administer my phosphate spong. I switched my kalk. reactor from my DIY phosban reator back to my old kalk reactor with a stirrer from the 230g. I'm now using the phosban reactor to run Rowaphos and hopefully it will make some sort of difference. I'm trying to be better about photo documenting changes in my tank, so I plan to take a photo every couple days, or a week, for a month and then I will have a visual and data record to refer back to. This photo is from today, day 2 of the phosban reactor, and day 4 with Lurchin Urch. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0022-2.jpg |
Full tank shots from August 17th.
Front http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0002-6.jpg Left side http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0005-3.jpg Right side http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0004-1.jpg I think I'm seeing a resession in the algae, and I think it may be loosing its deep green color. If I really am seeing what I think I am, I think it may mean that things are turning around in my system! |
Catherine looks good I do see a bit of recession on the GHA,
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Thank you!
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man those are gorgeous clams, so you're keeping them under power compacts? i was wondering if my halides were enough but it looks like they might be..
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The lighting is actually 1x175w metal halide bulb, with 2x 28w actinic bulbs. I run moonlights as well in the evenings.
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Recently I've been seeing tons of growth everywhere in the system.
Here is a shot of purple digitata that I picked up from Snappy in Calgary at the end of July. Photo from August 3rd: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/PICT0033.jpg Photo from today, September 7th: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...CT0001_1-2.jpg Red Milli on August 9th http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0002-3.jpg Today: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0004_2.jpg Odd acropora on July 29th http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0003-2.jpg Today: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...CT0003_2-2.jpg Birdsnest (on the left) from August 3rd. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/PICT0032.jpg Today: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...CT0005_2-1.jpg Semi-full tank shot from today as well: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0008_2.jpg |
Cath you have alot of HA sorry to see. othe then that looking good KIDO
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Now I just need a bigger tank because there about three time as many corals in the tank as what you see! |
Super nice corals. Yeah, I see what you mean about the filamentous algae! :eek: Have you thought of a seahare? They eat the stuff wicked crazy ..
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I'm doing the urchin thing, and it works well, albeit slowly.
I've looked at seahares and I've been terrified by all the stories of them being sucked into powerheads, or wiping out someone's tank. |
I dunno, if that were my tank I'd have one already. They're pretty voracious eaters of most filamentous algaes. I've had some before, for me they seemed to last anywhere from six months to a couple years, they would go on and off the powerheads all the time, but a couple eventually did get stuck and that was the end of them. But, after a year or so of going on and off the intakes. So it led me to wonder what their natural lifespan is anyhow, and if old age was a factor to their demise that way. I dunno I could be way off. Since they seem to be prone to starvation (the other common cause of losing them), the thing to do is have them clean up your tank and then consider selling them for the next person having similar troubles. Or, try feeding them rolled nori sticks like you would for a tang, the ones I had that figured out that this was food were the ones that lasted the longest for me. Never had a tank wipeout from them, I'm not sure if this is a species specific thing or what, or if it's like cucumbers - when attacked by a predator maybe the risk is higher?
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Okay Tony you've convinced me! I'm going out, after Saturday morning cartoons of course, to get one. Maybe this will bring an end to my algae drama once and for all.
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Oh sure, now that Tony suggests it.....;) lol
Hope it works. Corals are looking great! |
Lol! Nah, I figure many people have suggested them, and I was on the edge of getting one a little while before. I guess you can just say Tony pushed me over the edge!
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Aw, just givin' you a hard time. He he.
Good luck! |
:D
Well I came home with something, and now I'm waiting forever to acclimatise it. My SG, and the store's SG are pretty far apart! |
Yesterday, after much searching, I came home with a consolation prize
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...PICT0001-6.jpg This is Noodle, my super cheap Lettuce Nudibranch. They also eat hair algae. We'll see how he does in the meantime while I hunt down a sea hare. I also forgot to post that I've also removed a few fish from my system into temporary homes, and some to permanent homes. Needless to say it hasn't really made any impact on the GHA. I'm hoping to move for December 1st so I've been making arrangements to have someone watch my tank at their home for about a week while I actually move. I guess until then I won't be adding anything new, unless its a sea hare. |
There's a sea hare at Reef Werkz Catherine.
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Apparently Lettuce seaslugs are seaslugs and not technically "nudibranchs." To a biology nerd apparently there's a difference but I'm afraid I am not that particular biology nerd. :)
Good luck, with the ample food supply he might do well. I never had much luck with these guys though (couldn't find them after 3 days, and after that, maybe only a fleeting glimpse of a body-less slug head zipping around the tank. :neutral: Weird..) Let us know how he does though! I hope he does the trick. :) |
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There you go, the actual coral! http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...CT0004_1-2.jpg |
Quick update on the battle with hair algae.
I've officially given over to trying other living options, since it seems like I've expended all the others. I have added a seahare, and a super tiny foxface. Neither the seahare, or the foxface seem to be doing much, but they both are pretty! The foxface will be going to a new home when I upgrade this tank in a few weeks, assuming he hasn't touched the hair algae. So...well this officially marks the end of my list of options. If nothing else works, I just don't know what to do! |
I'm sorry to hear that. FWIW, when I added a rabbit and an urchin to my cube, it was a big green hairy mess as I had given up on trying to fix my nitrates at that point. They didn't do much for a few weeks, but all of a sudden I saw both just going at the stuff on the glass. Sooo .. I dunno. Maybe yours will still come around? Hang in there, there's a solution, one way or the other (even if that solution is starting over in a new tank. ;) ) Good luck!
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Thank you!
I know the urchin isn't a dud, but so far the foxface, lettuce nudibranch, and seahare seem to be. Although I'll give them some time and hopefully they will come around and start cleaning off all the horrid algae. At least I know there is still hope that one of the three new additions will do something! :D |
Quicky update:
GHA - The urchin is still eating like nobody's business, slowly but surely he is doing is job. - Lettuce Nudibrance is eating the GHA, he has grown, probably added about 1/4 of his original length. He, Noddles, is active and looks healthy. - It also occured to me that my Calcium reactor may be putting phosphates into my system. I'm looking to do something along the lines of Chin_lee's idea, running the effluent through a phosban reactor. - The foxface is officially a dud, albeit a cute one. He readily accepts all foods, and occasionally picks at a rock or two, but nothing to be considered useful. I can also finally say that I've gotten my green clown goby to eat prepared foods. He will eat brine, mysis, ocean plankton, blood worms, and small pellet foods. I also won Gold's contest. I'm going to be starting to dose and document the use of Aqua Connect's Energy Elements. That should be starting next week or so. Growth is taking off in my birdsnests, digitatas, and a cap. I'm happy to see the growth, and the color, but excited to see what Energy Elements can do. Overall the tank has been holding stable which is nice for a change. Sorry no photos. There was a puppy vs. camera incident in which the puppy won. New camera this coming weekend with photos! |
I'm testing out a new camera, Nikon D40x so I'm snapping a lot of shots over the next few days. I figure I might as well share some of them:
My hitchhiker plate coral: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0045.jpg Noodles the nudibranch or seaslug, whatever she/he/it is: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0234.jpg Sixline wrasse: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0181.jpg Kole tang: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0165.jpg |
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