Algae ID

JohnnyReeftank · #1 01-07-2011, 03:25 AM

Change the water 15-20% every week....Started the tank 4 months ago with tap water (neubie mistake) but the last 5 PWC's were with RO/DI water. I've got a Remora HOB skimmer and I feed small amounts of frozen and pellets 2-3 times a day. I guess I should just wait to see how the new RO/DI unit works out....any thoughts?

fishytime · #2 01-07-2011, 03:32 AM

ok.....couple more questions.......how many fish(and what kind) and how do you feed your frozen food?

JohnnyReeftank · #3 01-07-2011, 03:39 AM

I had 2 clowns and a wrasse....but the wrasse is a bully and now its just him. I thaw my frozen food and occasionally try and rinse it too....although its tough to rinse the brine shrimp without losing them all down the sink. I try to get rid of as much of the shrimp juice as I can.

Aquattro · #4 01-07-2011, 03:42 AM

Used rock? It's possible it came from a high nutrient system if so. Have you tested NO3/PO3?

reefwars · #5 01-07-2011, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyReeftank

Change the water 15-20% every week....Started the tank 4 months ago with tap water (neubie mistake) but the last 5 PWC's were with RO/DI water. I've got a Remora HOB skimmer and I feed small amounts of frozen and pellets 2-3 times a day. I guess I should just wait to see how the new RO/DI unit works out....any thoughts?

is everything good with your ro unit like filters and membrane or is it a used system??

feeding frozen a few times a day is a bit much im only feeding frozen every other day with flakes in between, also what are you using for lighting and whats your light schedule??

edit**** seen your lighting

JohnnyReeftank · #6 01-07-2011, 04:16 AM

It is used rock....buddy said he had it in his system for 5 years and it was covered with growth...not to mention every bad hitchhiker out there...couple red flags I guess

My N03 and P03 both show zero....but it might be because the algae is sucking it up so fast......should I try phosphate absorbant like Daniella said??

I actually just got my RO/DI on boxing day so I've only made 1 water change with it....I've been using store-bought RO water from a local water store for the last month and a half and before that I was using tap water and prime.

I've got my 2 actinics running 14 hrs and all 4 bulbs running 12 hours a day....is this light period too intense?

......a couple before and after pics of the same rock

reefwars · #7 01-07-2011, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyReeftank

It is used rock....buddy said he had it in his system for 5 years and it was covered with growth...not to mention every bad hitchhiker out there...couple red flags I guess

My N03 and P03 both show zero....but it might be because the algae is sucking it up so fast......should I try phosphate absorbant like Daniella said??

I actually just got my RO/DI on boxing day so I've only made 1 water change with it....I've been using store-bought RO water from a local water store for the last month and a half and before that I was using tap water and prime.

I've got my 2 actinics running 14 hrs and all 4 bulbs running 12 hours a day....is this light period too intense?

......a couple before and after pics of the same rock

so youve only had this algae problem since this rock has been added??

JohnnyReeftank · #8 01-07-2011, 04:26 AM

Nope.....just started the tank (and the hobby) from scratch about 4 months ago. The rocks were all covered in Coraline during the cycle and for about 2 weeks after....then algae mania started on the rocks and back pane of glass....its especially thick in high-flow areas if that helps at all

daniella3d · #9 01-07-2011, 04:31 AM

I am not saying you have everything but you seem to have hair algae mixed with something else, something slimy, just not sure what that something else is without looking at it under a mcroscope.

some like dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria can look very similar, so not sure.

reefwars · #10 01-07-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyReeftank

Nope.....just started the tank (and the hobby) from scratch about 4 months ago. The rocks were all covered in Coraline during the cycle and for about 2 weeks after....then algae mania started on the rocks and back pane of glass....its especially thick in high-flow areas if that helps at all

helps alot actually, algae tends to grow more on things like powerheads,and glass where it gets alot of flow thus passing alot of nutrients, so i say its time to sit back and give your tank what it barely needs .....

a tank at 4 mts of age doesnt need 14 hrs of light so i would cut that back to 10 hrs with only 6-8 of " daylight "

id also cut back on your feeding to a little flake here and there and a frozen dinner every now and then(i feed it every few days) but rinse well for phospahtes. 1 single lonely fish doesnt need to be fed frozen and flake a few times a day

its alesson we all learn eventually lol

continue using ro water it will make a diff in the long run.

consider running carbon and gfo or bio-pellets through a reactor as there def are nitrates and phosphates in your system its just being consumed so your test isnt showing it.

are you running a refuge or a sump??