uwharrie Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 So I am coming home to this algae explosion every day. I suspect cyano? It does feel a little slimy. The snails eat it but cant keep up. Lights are running 40% 12 hrs. Not running RODI water right now ( well and I know that can be contributing) tank running four months and this has just started. I was likely over feeding and slacked off a bit on water changes. Back to doing weekly n( should I do twice a week?) only have API test. Phosphate at less than .25. Suggestions ( besides RODI which I already know) Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 12 hours of light seems like a long light cycle. Try bumping that down to 8 maybe. Do you have it ramping up and down? Hard to tell from the photo if it is cyano though - is it the stuff on the glass? On the rocks? If it is the stuff on the glass, that's just a green film algae caused by excess nutrients and easy to take care of with a glass scraper. Flow will also help control cyano as more flow helps it from settling in. So check that as well What are your nitrates at? But yeah, RODI and feeding less and more water changes = less nutrients I did 5 gallon water changes 2x a week in my biocube and it seemed to work well for me. Link to comment
-muse- Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 ^+1 I agree with stella. just looks like film algae Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Yes on the glass and back wall. Lights do ramp up and down a hour fade each way. They are on so long as we are gone most of the day and want to enjoy Will up water changers to two a day and figure where to hook up my RODI system It is easily scraped off but what a pain ^+1 I agree with stella. just looks like film algae Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Yes on the glass and back wall. Lights do ramp up and down a hour fade each way. They are on so long as we are gone most of the day and want to enjoy Will up water changers to two a day and figure where to hook up my RODI system It is easily scraped off but what a pain Can you adjust to come on later in the day so then you can enjoy during the hours you are home? Just a thought But if your corals are happy, changing the light cycle might have a negative impact. Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 All but one Zoa and my Montipora seem happy. But I worry the algae will take over Can you adjust to come on later in the day so then you can enjoy during the hours you are home? Just a thought But if your corals are happy, changing the light cycle might have a negative impact. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 All but one Zoa and my Montipora seem happy. But I worry the algae will take over Film algae generally won't take over as far as I know. Are you getting any other types of algae like hair algae or anything? What do you have for flow in your tank? Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 I think I am getting hair as well. Right now I just have the stock pump. I did get an Rw -8 for Christmas but have not put it in yet Film algae generally won't take over as far as I know. Are you getting any other types of algae like hair algae or anything? What do you have for flow in your tank? Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 would a reactor help? I am also thinking I need to dial in my skimmer a bit ( so far not getting anything in the cup but thinking the skimmer is too high in the tank. planning on getting a better phosphates test during the group buy and really need to figure out where in the heck to set up my RODI system. ( suggestions welcome) Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 would a reactor help? I am also thinking I need to dial in my skimmer a bit ( so far not getting anything in the cup but thinking the skimmer is too high in the tank. planning on getting a better phosphates test during the group buy and really need to figure out where in the heck to set up my RODI system. ( suggestions welcome) I'd get the powerhead in first. What kind of skimmer do you have? Also, what are your nitrates? What media are you running? Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 I'd get the powerhead in first. What kind of skimmer do you have? Also, what are your nitrates? What media are you running? Hydor nano running floss, Purigen and Chempur elite in an Intank media basket Nitrates are low Less than 5.0 Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Hydor nano running floss, Purigen and Chempur elite in an Intank media basket Nitrates are low Less than 5.0 Well, I wouldn't worry so much about a reactor. Work on the WCs and I don't think you would need to run a reactor in conjunction with the media basket. I ran one but only ran floss in the media basket when I added the reactor. Not familiar with that skimmer, but yeah, it might be water level if you're not getting anything out of it. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 thanks! Any time! Let me know how you make out! Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 If the hair algae is persistent, trochus snails mow it down pretty good Link to comment
davy jones Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 You say that the brown algea on the glass is slimy.. Keep an eye on everything. This looks exactly like the algea i am fighting and mine turned into a sort of dinoflagellate problem. I also have had zoas and montiporas suffer from this. However my Acros and other coral seem to be fine. I hope yours is just brown algea from using tap water but if you notice the stuff covering zoa frags and keeping them shut or it start to get stringy then you have what i do. Which isnt fun. Link to comment
Water Dog Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 really need to figure out where in the heck to set up my RODI system. ( suggestions welcome) As a temporary solution, you can grab a faucet adapter and hook it up to your kitchen sink. Then at least you could start making RO/DI water immediately, reducing the excess nutrients going into your system while you figure out a permanent mounting spot. Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 I may very well be dealing with the same. My wall Zoa is not opening and was covered. Doing water changes twice a week. Added the jaboRw-8 pump ( damn that thing is strong flow! ) My poor Condy still has not anchored and was blowing all over. Cut the Rw-8 off till I figure how to help the Condy. You say that the brown algea on the glass is slimy.. Keep an eye on everything. This looks exactly like the algea i am fighting and mine turned into a sort of dinoflagellate problem. I also have had zoas and montiporas suffer from this. However my Acros and other coral seem to be fine. I hope yours is just brown algea from using tap water but if you notice the stuff covering zoa frags and keeping them shut or it start to get stringy then you have what i do. Which isnt fun. Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 This is quickly getting out of control. Can anyone tell me what this is? Hair algae? Link to comment
CronicReefer Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 To me it seems a lot of detritus is settling on your rocks allowing the algae to have a place to draw nutrients from. You should start blasting them with a turkey baster regularly until you can get better flow. Also I would get the skimmer dialed in asap as this will take nutrients out of the water before the algae can use it. Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 ^+1 More flow,less nutrients/feeding, skimming, more snails. Preferably Trochus Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 I have the skimmer ( no skim coming off) and just put in another power head but my Condy Nem refuses to anchor so she gets blown all over (her foot looks fine) any suggestions to get her to anchor would be appreciated I will see about getting more snails, I had a good mix but have lost all but the nerite and Narasrius. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I have the skimmer ( no skim coming off) and just put in another power head but my Condy Nem refuses to anchor so she gets blown all over (her foot looks fine) any suggestions to get her to anchor would be appreciated I will see about getting more snails, I had a good mix but have lost all but the nerite and Narasrius. Check the water level on the skimmer and keep adjusting until you get some skimmate. If algae is growing, the skimmer should be pulling something at least from the water. Not sure about the nem! Wish I had some advice for that. How much do you feed daily? Link to comment
uwharrie Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 I feed the three fish a small amount of shrimp/Mysis daily ( a cube will last a week or more) feeding nems once/ twice a week Check the water level on the skimmer and keep adjusting until you get some skimmate. If algae is growing, the skimmer should be pulling something at least from the water. Not sure about the nem! Wish I had some advice for that. How much do you feed daily? Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 you mentioned you lost a lot of snails. how many? Do you think any are rotting? It doesn't seem like you feed a lot, but something is contributing nutrients to the algae. I'm with the others - boost up the clean up crew - a couple mexican turbos and some trochus. But i'm still wondering what the heck is fueling the algae. Link to comment
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