algae on steroids! ! help
- Thread starter aquaman91
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bairdimusprime
Bill
i would get an in line model, something like this http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/emperor-aquatics-smart-high-output-uv-50-watt.html
they help kill waterborn parasites yes. they're well worth the money if used properly. a good reactor system makes a huge difference as well [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]
they help kill waterborn parasites yes. they're well worth the money if used properly. a good reactor system makes a huge difference as well [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]
WetWhistle
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If you don't have corals in the tank shut the lights out for a few days. The fish will be fine if you have ambient light in the room. Keep running carbon and phosphate remover and add some mechanical filter like filter floss or a filter sock if you run a sump. Keep changing it every few days to remove anything that can break down. You can also look for a product like MicroBacter7 by brightwells to add some beneficial bacteria into the tank to help stabilize things. Do you have a skimmer? If so clean it and adjust it so it is running efficiently. Is that green haze on the glass or in the water? If it is in the water it is an algae bloom. The lack of light will stop that. I have fixed a few friends tank by doing this. They were completely covered in algae.
You need to figure out where the phosphate is coming from. Look at source water, fish and coral foods, cheap or wrong kind of carbon. These are the usual suspects. What are you feeding the tangs? I see an algae clip and the wrong kind of algae can add phosphate as well. Also how old are your T5? Old bulbs can cause this as well.
If you don't want to turn the lights off because you have corals cut it down by a few hours. (If you don't have SPS)
You need to figure out where the phosphate is coming from. Look at source water, fish and coral foods, cheap or wrong kind of carbon. These are the usual suspects. What are you feeding the tangs? I see an algae clip and the wrong kind of algae can add phosphate as well. Also how old are your T5? Old bulbs can cause this as well.
If you don't want to turn the lights off because you have corals cut it down by a few hours. (If you don't have SPS)
I have 2 corals a toadstool leather and mushroom. The green you see in the picture is on the glass itself water is clear as crystal. I do run a skimmer it's a reef octopus 150. and it's dialed in perfect I can't go a day without emptying the collection cup. I feed the tangs omega 1 flakes twice a day. In the morning and the late evening and mysis maybe twice a week. The algae clip is used for the omega 1 green seaweed strips I feed once or twice a week. The t5s are only 3 months old. I don't use carbon but I have a section where I put filter floss since I'm not using filter socks at the moment. I used the thick wooly type socks n they are hard to clean and clog easily so I took them out and getting the mesh type socks to replace them
I'm pretty sure the phosphates are coming from the well tap water I used to fill the tank initially. I will be doin frequent water changes with ro/di water to help with that. I got some phosban today and will be using it as well. I can cut the lighting down to a few hours a day too and see what happens.
ChuckFu
Community Member
Do waterchanges with RODI mixed water until it's 100% changed. When using GFO, don't use a stocking, doesn't work all that great, pony up for a reactor, and make sure it's set up properly. You can get away with carbon in a bag, but GFO doesn't work nearly as well in a bag, as it does in a reactor. Kill lights until problem is corrected. The fish will be ok. Don't add coral until the big 3 are stable. Sure sign of a stable system is coralline algae growth.
Thanks chuckfu that's really helpful information. I think I'll look into a reactor lol Im starting to realize how expensive this hobby really is! I had really good success with my first sw reef tank it was a 20 gal long. Beautiful and full of coral that thrived. Then my next was a 40 long and didn't go as well probably from being under skimmed and lighting wasn't sufficient. So with this 140 I wanted to do it right and make a beautiful display. and it's turning out to be the most challenging of all three :/
