Algae is kikkin' my butt ? - Page 2

Bob I · #1 03-29-2003, 07:32 PM

I am moved to give a bit of advice that may hurt some people's sensibilities, but half baked ideas will not cure a full blown problem.

Remember that algaes are the world's most common organism. It is in the air we breathe and the water we drink. It did not get that way by being sensitive.

By your own admission the algae is on the rocks. Ergo you must remove ALL of the rocks. Leaving the rocks out in the air will not cure the problem. You will have to kill the problem, probably with bleach.

I would got to Riverfront and pick up some Calcium Carbonate rock. It looks good, and you can leave it in the tank when you are sure all the rock you took out is put back in. You just need a few pieces as temporary decorations.

As I said at the start, half measures won't help.

Diomedes · #2 03-29-2003, 08:28 PM

Sorry the text didn't convert too well...lots of numbers...

Well when you have algae problems, you can tackle them with a greater understanding of the problem, or you can just revert to bleaching and blasting your rock with medications. Learn more about algae from reading and you can destroy it without killing all the rest of the life on your rock. I have defeated very bad algae problems with husbandry based on understanding, and I will never, ever bleach or medicate my rock.

Learn or Destroy.

Stephen

Bob I · #3 03-29-2003, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diomedes

Sorry the text didn't convert too well...lots of numbers...

Well when you have algae problems, you can tackle them with a greater understanding of the problem, or you can just revert to bleaching and blasting your rock with medications. Learn more about algae from reading and you can destroy it without killing all the rest of the life on your rock. I have defeated very bad algae problems with husbandry based on understanding, and I will never, ever bleach or medicate my rock.

Learn or Destroy.

Stephen

Exactly right, that is the beauty of a forum such as this. The poster is left with a couple of clear choices. He can tackle the problem by using the solution that allows him to enjoy his aquarium right away, or one that will proibably take a lot longer. Both solutions are good in the final analysis, however, the choice is his, and his alone. It is also a fact that none of the folks giving advice will be affected in any way by what he does.

TANGOMAN · #4 03-30-2003, 12:00 AM

"Half baked..." hmmm, that sounds like a mental state from the earlier years.

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Bob, don't go gettin' your poop in a group...

This lava rock issue seemed to hit a nerve. I'm doin' the process of elimination thing. I have with this tank for close to a year and a half. Obviously, I'm going the slower of the two processes available. Nuke it with bleach...?

. That too is simply treating the symptoms, not the cause. However, I value the suggestion. I gather suggestions when I no longer know what to do and make an educated guess from that. Clean-up crew. Yes it helps to control but it is not a must in my opinion. Again, treating the symptoms. My 60g has two snails and 5 crabs. They do very little I think.

Carbon has been mentioned and experimented with. Mechanical pre-filter is changed every second day. Dosed kalc for two months. Coraline increased niceley but cannot compete. I'm skimming, but just "moderately" as it's a small skimmer. I've scrubbed this crap of and gave enough blood in the process to make the Red Cross envious...
Phosphates and nitrates are the same as the 60g. Minimal to nil. I figured perhaps the evil nutrient must either be Iron or silicate. Only the 90g has lava rock so thats where I conjured up a suspision Iron may be leaching...

Over the past year, I have removed "artificial" bio-filtration. (bio-balls & Fluval 404). That should have been beneficial given all the rock I presumed. I'm goona' try this: Get the foams for the fluval established in the sump for a few weeks. Run the Fluval for bio-filtration. Pull all the rocks. Lava rock will go into storage. Live rock will be subjected to darkness for two(?) weeks in rubbermaids,(warm & wet). Hmmm, another state of mind from earlier years

.
"honey, where's the Band-Aids..."

Bob I · #5 03-30-2003, 12:32 AM

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Quote:

I figured perhaps the evil nutrient must either be Iron or silicate. Only the 90g has lava rock so thats where I conjured up a suspision Iron may be leaching...

Why not think the other way, as in perhaps there are no "evil nutrients" at all. I am dreaming that perhaps you brought the stuff in on a rock, or something else, and it just likes it at your place.

If you go that route there would be no harm in removing the offending material, as there is really no cause, and removal would cure the problem.

I hope you can see where I am going with this.

StirCrazy · #6 03-30-2003, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcipema

Why not think the other way, as in perhaps there are no "evil nutrients" at all. I am dreaming that perhaps you brought the stuff in on a rock, or something else, and it just likes it at your place.

If you go that route there would be no harm in removing the offending material, as there is really no cause, and removal would cure the problem.

I hope you can see where I am going with this.

Bob, with out these so called "Evil nutrients" the algae would eventualy wither away to nothing. so it make more sence to find the cause of the excessive algae growth and remove it (yes the nutrients) removing the algae its self is only a bandaid not a cure. and not trying to bore you but Lava rock is a knowen leacher of iron and other minerals wich are knowen for causeing algae growth

now having said that, it does not mean that every lava rock will leach.. it all depends on the chemical make up of that perticular lava rock.

Steve