Battling algae.maybe light setting

[Michael Gray]

I'm currently using vinnie's light settings. Didnt change anything. I been battling fuzzy algae coming out of the sand. And fuzzy turf looking on rocks. Some look like hair as its longer. But most if it is not longer than a .25" . Not sure if I should cut lights back and if so not aire how to do it without completely ruining or not remembering this setting. Also one torch is not happy I figured it was due to algae taking all nutrients. But its sucked in. White in color. No more color. Maybe it's to much light? Is there a way I can keep vinnie's settings and just reduce the overall intensity keeping the same ratios or do I have to lower every channel same percentage to get it?

The torch is on same disk as another torch and other one is thriving. It's so weird.

Example of the algae I'm fighting

Gonna get a picture of the torch. It's been colorless for maybe 2 weeks now. It never extending crazy like the one next to it. I thought it was just a small tenical one but it had color now its pale/white.

Tank is new. Cycled since Oct 8th. First were transferred that day. Stayed flawless. Added Lps and bam algae galore. Lol

 

[Spare time]

I am not sure what vinnies lights are but I would add phosphate media (even if it reads zero as the algae may throw it off) and get stuff to eat it

 

[ddrueckh]

Be careful with phosphate media!

 

[Michael Gray]

I havent used any yet. I just been scrubbing rocks during water changes. And adding astreae snails slowly. I dont wanna over do the snails and end up with some dying from no food. Plus I need my lawnmower to keep eating. Lol. I added cerith for sand.

I probably need a few crabs of some sort but I'm trying so far to stay away from them. I dont want them picking at coral or eating snails.

 

[AZMSGT]

What algae eating fish do have to help you?

I havent used any yet. I just been scrubbing rocks during water changes. And adding astreae snails slowly. I dont wanna over do the snails and end up with some dying from no food. Plus I need my lawnmower to keep eating. Lol. I added cerith for sand.

I probably need a few crabs of some sort but I'm trying so far to stay away from them. I dont want them picking at coral or eating snails.

fox face and tangs will chow down on your algae.

 

[SDK]

Tank is new. Cycled since Oct 8th. First were transferred that day. Stayed flawless. Added Lps and bam algae galore. Lol

This is both your problem, and the answer to your question. Your tank just cycled two weeks ago and all new tanks go through this. You made it harder on yourself by adding fish and coral so quickly. Now you have to manage break in with strong enough light for the corals and fish to feed.

Don't do anything drastic. Use water changes and possibly gently add chemical media to get your parameters dialed in. Get the NO3 below 10 and PO4 below .05 but don't let either zero out unless you want to trade your algae for cyanobacteria and dinos.

Hopefully most or all of your inhabitants make it through the break in period. Finishing the cycle is just step one of several needed to fully mature a reef tank. Stay calm, focus on parameters and don't add more fish or coral, other than possibly some more CUC, until you get things under control...

 

[porter_painter]

Just a new tank. A dozen other things it could be before the lights

 

[Michael Gray]

This is both your problem, and the answer to your question. Your tank just cycled two weeks ago and all new tanks go through this. You made it harder on yourself by adding fish and coral so quickly. Now you have to manage break in with strong enough light for the corals and fish to feed.

Don't do anything drastic. Use water changes and possibly gently add chemical media to get your parameters dialed in. Get the NO3 below 10 and PO4 below .05 but don't let either zero out unless you want to trade your algae for cyanobacteria and dinos.

Hopefully most or all of your inhabitants make it through the break in period. Finishing the cycle is just step one of several needed to fully mature a reef tank. Stay calm, focus on parameters and don't add more fish or coral, other than possibly some more CUC, until you get things under control...

I made a mistake. It was cycled sept 8. Not october. Mistake mistake. Still new and I understand it's new. which is 2hy I'm trying not to use gfo. Since it's new

 

[SDK]

I made a mistake. It was cycled sept 8. Not october. Mistake mistake. Still new and I understand it's new. which is 2hy I'm trying not to use gfo. Since it's new

You can use a bit of GFO if you add slowly and test as you go. It might be your best bet now that feeding and high light are coming into play in a very new tank. What are your current parameters?

 

[Michael Gray]

7.9dkh. Working on getting it to 8.5 to 8.8 via auto dosing slowly changing.
Ca 390 working on raising it equally with dkh
Salt 1.025
Nitrate .5
Phosphate was 1ppb yesterday just checked it today now 16ppb. Doesnt make sense. (Hanna checker).
Temp 77.2-78
Mg 1400

Trying to feed a little more to get nitrate up. But dont wanna feed to much for algae to take it. So just trying to go slow. I started feeding little amounts more often. So right now I have 9 fish. I'm doing 1 cube mysis. Or a little lrs fish frenzy. I dont want to starve them either. Its learning curve.

I'm changing my poly filter and filter mesh sock everyday even when it's not to bad to atleast get whatever it caught out. Which is green particles which I think is algae from blenny eating and throwing it up in the water.

My rodi water is 0 phosphates. 8.5dkh last batch I mixed. Its esv salt

I have a uv sterilizer on

My 4 wrasses are done with qt. So I been putting 1 at a time in acclimation box for a few days. The 4th is in box now so I know that will create more waste as well. And just gotta learn what is feeding to much and 2 little.

Current stock is
2 clowns
Lawnmower blenny
Banggai cardinal
Pink margin fairy wrasse
Pintail fairy wrasse
Hooded fairy wrasse
Carpenter flasher wrasse
Firefish

 

[Michael Gray]

If I was to run gfo it says 1 tbsp per 4g water. I have waterbox 130. It says 16tbsp is 1 cup gfo.

I'd probably go safe and only use 1 cup. Tops. I ordered it now but I definitely dont wanted crash my system. Maybe I should do less


Just retested phosphorus ulr hanna now its 5ppb. I'm assuming tested right after I feed prob caused the high reading of 16ppb.

 

[Saltyreef]

There is no reason to add phosphate reduction media as your tank is brand new. Your bacteria isnt established 100% yet so your phosphate uptake is benefitting only the algae at this point.
You would benefit better by adding more bacteria in a bottle vs any phosphate reducing product, adding a couple or a few large mexican turbos( 1 for every 10 gallons) and removing the GHA by hand.
Youll be thru it in about 4 weeks if done correctly.

 

[Michael Gray]

There is no reason to add phosphate reduction media as your tank is brand new. Your bacteria isnt established 100% yet so your phosphate uptake is benefitting only the algae at this point.
You would benefit better by adding more bacteria in a bottle vs any phosphate reducing product, adding a couple or a few large mexican turbos( 1 for every 10 gallons) and removing the GHA by hand.
Youll be thru it in about 4 weeks if done correctly.

thanks... ill continue to do 20-25g WC every 2 weeks and during those ill try to scrub rocks and somehow suck up the top layer of sand to get the algae fuzz without removing to much sand....lol its hard to do... i added some more astraes ill see what they do... i can add more just trying to do it slow. i dont want CUC to starve or my lawnmower!..

Ill keep GFO on hand stash it in the closet.. my tank is better from snails especially the rocks.. its just the fuzzy algae on sand.. the snails dont seem to get it.. blenny eats sand sometimes but its hard to tell if hes spitting it out with the rock or getting it... but ill give it another month or 2... its actually not THAT bad.. ive seen worse and it has been worse...

just noticed coraline growing on the tunze PH. little specs... .its a good sign. maybe my tank in time will take care of itself...

 

[Michael Gray]

What's a good bacteria to add to a tank. I thought it was for cycle only. I'll add some good bacteria!

 

[AZMSGT]

You need algae eaters. All those Wrase are going to be hungry all the time and you need to feed them more than most fish. Wrase need to get fed 3-4 times a day.
what do you have for CUC? multiple Turbo snails?

Also the ugly stages could be kicking in.. good ole Diatoms.. my 625 is going through that stage now... Yuko

 

[Michael Gray]

You need algae eaters. All those Wrase are going to be hungry all the time and you need to feed them more than most fish. Wrase need to get fed 3-4 times a day.
what do you have for CUC? multiple Turbo snails?

Also the ugly stages could be kicking in.. good ole Diatoms.. my 625 is going through that stage now... Yuko

i dont have any turbos as i read they die quick... First order was 25 trochus, 15 margarita, 15nassarius (some parished since i added them early and some didnt move for days so i tossed them to be safe..

Recently added 15 astrea snails which do good on rocks.

Tuesday i got 10 more astrea and tried 25 cerith. but i swear like 10 are empty shells.. LA shafted me on those. ***** blank shells but oh well..

i only got very small brownish algae on glass.. most of it is this fuzzy turf and hair stuff..

 

[AZMSGT]

Yea.. defiantly get a tang or two and a fox face. They will prune things nicely. I wasn’t a fan of Fox Faces but now that I have one.. they eat algae all day long.

 

[Michael Gray]

Yea.. defiantly get a tang or two and a fox face. They will prune things nicely. I wasn’t a fan of Fox Faces but now that I have one.. they eat algae all day long.

i have a blue tang and kole tang QT'd they will be joining the crew in about 2 weeks.... those are the last 2 fish and its done. i really wanna concentrate on acros but i wont dare until i get it all under control!... reason why i built this to begin with lololol