lakerron Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Hello,I have a biocube 14 with a A1 prime light mounted overhead. Love the lighting, but the algae growth is an issue. What do I use to control the long stringy green algae? Thanks! Link to comment
jamescstein Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 How long has the tank been running? How is it stocked? How much do you feed? What is your water source? What is your lighting schedule? What are your current ammonia,nitrite,nitrate readings? Link to comment
lakerron Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 James, heres what I have : Tank has been running 3 months. I have 2 clowns, 1 damsel, 1 zoa and 1 polyp. I feed a very tiny bit of flaked food one a day in the morning. I use Rodi water from the lfs. I use the light all day...working with my A1 prime settings...not sure what is best My water readings have been good..all 3 at or near zero. I am also a beginner to the world of reef keeping Thanks in advance! Link to comment
Admonition Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 You have your light on 24 hours a day? Is that at the same intensity? Link to comment
lakerron Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Yes, 24/7. I've been fooling with the settings on the lights, but I'm not sure they are dimming down.. Link to comment
Admonition Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Running your lights 24/7 like that may be the source of your problem (or at least a part of it). How bad is the algae outbreak? Can you post a picture? Link to comment
lakerron Posted August 29, 2015 Author Share Posted August 29, 2015 Hello, A picture of the algae presently in the tank. How do I get rid of this? Thanks! Link to comment
BRN Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Hello, A picture of the algae presently in the tank. How do I get rid of this? Thanks! Buy a small emerald crab, do a couple of water changes and only run your lights for 8-10 hours a day. Maybe cut back on feeding, but that one is up to you if they are getting enough food then try the latter. Personally i don't feed flake food, id get micro pellets with garlic and mysis shrimp. Link to comment
HOTWATER Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Ya get the phosphates under control and you'll be golden. Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 24/7 lighting is not healthy, you should have it on for roughly 12 hours a day. You can have a LITTLE blue on at night though Link to comment
lakerron Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 Thanks for all the responses everyone. Still having issues with the algae. Attached are my pH and phosphate readings. Also the water I'm using for my top offs is from those 25cent per gallon drinking water dispensers. Are there any issues using that water to top off? Thanks in advance! Link to comment
Fluffeh Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 i do not think the water you are topping off with is RO/DI. you may want to consider a different source of water for top offs. Link to comment
lakerron Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 Thanks fluff.....this is the source I'm using for top offs. Good or bad? Thanks Link to comment
Fluffeh Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Have you ever tested the TDS of the water before adding it to the tank? Link to comment
lakerron Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 No I had not thought of that. I thought that water would be safe. It's must easier getting top off waternrightnherebon site, rather than going to the lfs, but it looks like that's what llI be doing... What about the pH and phosphate levels...any issues? Thanks Link to comment
D Z Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 First off, your ph is fine but that phosphate test kit might as well be thrown out. It is extremely inaccurate and you really should be concerns with the range of .01 - .03. Anything over that is undesirable and needs to be decreased. As for your source of top off water, you must find a new source. That machine is only ro, with no di post filter. Also, they tend to not be mantained well. If you are looking for an easier source of top off, you can buy bottled distilled water and that is usually at or near enough to 0tds. Chances are you do have a phosphate issue. I would recommend a large water change and switching your source of top off. I bet you will notice a considerable difference. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Algae issues are tough - but if you break it down algae is simple the product of a nutrient rich environment. At least that's usually the case with the turf/hair algae you seem to be experiencing. Without a very comprehensive and thorough understanding of your tank, maintenance routines, source of rock/sand, and feeding schedules though we can only really give suggestions based on what we know. That said, here are my thoughts, I hope they're helpful. 1) It's not that I think you have "too many fish", but I think that those 3 fish in a 14 biocube isn't helping your algae problem. Keeping more fish in a smaller tank is a common theme in threads needing help with algae outbreaks. Fish create waste - which becomes nutrients available for algae to consume. Also remember that it just gets worse. As the fish grow the problem does as well. Overstocked tanks aren't set up for long term success. If you see an overstocked tank chances are it's not that old so you have to be careful of which tanks you choose to emulate. 2) Stick with quality water. The recommended way seems to be a hand held TDS meter. Test your LFS water, and if it's good continue using it. Also use RO water for your top off as well - I've used those machines in the past and had algae issues. 3) Switch to pellet or frozen (rinsed). Flake food has a lot of phosphates and it's not a particularly efficient form of food since a lot of it gets sucked into filters and such. The best for the fish is a variety. I feed frozen and pellets. From what you describe you probably under feed. That's one of the dangerous side effects of algae - sometimes people feed way to little in an attempt to control algae. Now I'm not saying to overfeed - but make sure your inhabitants are eating enough. It also helps to have a good clean up crew (CUC). Hermits and other reef safe animals are good for cleaning up uneaten food. 4) Have plenty of flow. Insufficient flow causes detritus to collect in rocks and crevices which become a rich source of nutrients.. 5) Do your maintenance. It's probably the most important aspect. 6) Some people just get bad rock... It's possible to have rock that's laden with phosphates and such. Link to comment
lakerron Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 Wow! Thank you for all the support and ideas!....I've got somwork work to do. Starting with my water source, changing from flakes to frozen and identifying the source of the phosphates. I do a 10% water change weekly. The fish and zoas seem to do well with the current water conditions. .the Duncan and hammer I'm not so sure. Thanks again to all who responded. I'll report back my findings. Link to comment
Mojado Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Running your lights 24/7 like that may be the source of your problem (or at least a part of it). How bad is the algae outbreak? Can you post a picture? I think the lights dim down to moonlight at night. Link to comment
lakerron Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 Heres the current algae outbreak. It is a combination of green and brown algae. Link to comment
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