New to reef tanks

Gringos · #1 06-08-2005, 08:49 PM

I have been talking about wanting salt water fish for a long time. After alot of research my wife got me a 125g tank for christmas. So I proceeded to setting it up with most of the trimmings. Sump, fuge, skimmer, metal halide lighting, overflow box, live rock, base rock and ro unit. Well the tank went through the first couple of months no problems, so I added a hippo tang. He was the reason for the 125g in the first place. He has been in the tank for about 4 months now doing great (grew about an inch). Around the 3rd month came the algea problems. I now face a huge tank full of bubble algea. No sign of any other kind, just bubbles everywhere. So after alot of reading and long nights of trying to manually remove them (I can take out nets full of the stuff from the bottom), I deceided to try some crabs. I have recently gotten 6 emerald crabs. The crabs have been going at it for about a month now. I can see some rocks that I could not before but not the light at the other end of the tunnel. I have reduced feedings from 3 times a day to twice a day. What is causing these bubbles? Could it be my lighting? Please advise.

bluetang · #2 06-08-2005, 08:55 PM

Welcome to the Board

Feeding 3 times a day...

I also have a 125 with a hipo in it. I only feed my fish once every 2 days and have no problem. This allows my tangs to be tangs and actualy be forced to eat any algea in the tank. All my fish are very healthy and are nice and fat. I would cut right back on feeding.I think that may be the largest problem you have in my opinion. What are your levels at?

Thanks
Rob

OCDP · #3 06-08-2005, 10:03 PM

definitely agree... 3 times a day, you mad man!

hehe

definitely cut down those feedings man... haha once every two days sounds good to me too.

smallllllllll portions too, dont overfeed!!! it is MUCH better to UNDERfeed than to OVERfeed... just to clarify.

get back to us with those paramaters, nitrates, phosphates if you can, nitrite, ammonia, all that fun stuff

Beverly · #4 06-08-2005, 10:30 PM

I have had bubble algae in my old 42g hex that I kept trying to scrape off that only got worse with each scraping

I tried an emerald crab that forgot about the bubble algae and began eating coralline algae and then my galaxea

It got so bad that I eventually tore down the tank, boiled each rock for 3-4 minutes, the cured the rock again and used it as baserock in a larger tank.

I admit, those were drastic measures. Since your emerald crabs are doing a good job so far, though not good enough, I would get a half dozen more to see what they can do for you.

Dang, sounds terrible

Good luck

Gringos · #5 06-09-2005, 02:33 AM

As far as paramaters go, yesterdays test results were:
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrites 0ppm
Nitrates 10ppm
Phosphates 0ppm
Alk 8.0
Ca 380
SG 1.024
Temp 81F

Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea of how bad it is. I even have bubbles in my deep sand bed.