Cleaning up after algae

[Justin_92_92]

I have some algae issue. I just got a ro-di system to help and I realize i was over feeding. My next step is to start cleaning the problem. I postly have red slime algae and green hair. I was wonding if I can take the live rock right out of the tank and brush it off in some fresh salt water mix, Or even water from a water change. But just outside of my tank.

I dont want to start a cycle is my only concern.


Thanks for the help!

 

[mike007]

You need to be testing your water for nitrates and phosphates. Water changes are great but you have to get the nutrient level down with less feeding. Also you need to increase your magnesium level up to about 1600 and that will help also Hope that you have a good skimmer that will also help.

 

[Justin_92_92]

I dont have a skimmer at all. I have the nano cube which overflows to the back part ( i have a sponge only back there that I rinse dailey to remove the floaties). No real filtering besides the live rock.

Ill be doing test again tonight before bed and Ill post my results. I havent been having an issue with any of the test i have been doing (I just have a simple marine test kit (ph,nitrate,nitrite,AMMONIA)

Hmm, magnesium you say. I havent been adding any of that. Gosh I have a lot to learn still.

 

[LPSGUY]

If you started with regular tap water and have added tap water from the beginning you will definately have an algae problem. Now that you have an ro/di this will dramatically help so that's good. To answer your question about taking out the rock. Yes you can do this. Take it out scrub off all the hair algae, red slime, and put it back it. I would scrub it off with saltwater and you can use any type of brush, even a wire brush if you like. Do a larger water change and keep up with the ro/di. You have to change the underlying problem which I believe that was it or you will continue to have algae problems. Also, I wouldnt worry about Mag at this point. If you want add a turbo snail they smash hair algae. But dont get to many because onces it's gone your tank being a nano will not be able to sustain many at all, maybe one.

 

[Mmsetta]

I just recently removed my live rock, cleaned it with a toothbrush and added some turbo's to remove hair algae. Worked like a charm.

 

[Justin_92_92]

Great!

Im about to do a water change and I will pick a LR out and clean it when i do that. I think I will do one Piece every water change.

I dont have alot of hair algae anymore. Mostly it is red slime left.

My glass can get pretty green after a short time too.

I was way over feeding though too.

 

[Dalmatia]

You still are by the sounds of it. Do you shut you flow and filters off while feefing? If not try it, might help you in lots of ways

 

[Justin_92_92]

Still am what? Over feeding? Nope, But the damage is already done. Now its cleanup time and learn from my mistake, Hopefully


I really wish i set up my tank differently. Really thinking about pulling everything out and putting in another tank to do a really good cleaning. I hate to stir up crap with the coral and fish in there.

I will try shutting off the flow and filters and see how that works while feeding.

 

[Dalmatia]

Your not the only one, I hate my aquascape! It's all cause of ich. I had it so nice and than broke out with ich. Pulled it all out, lost a bunch of corals to stress in temp. differences cause I had them in like 5 different bins with no heater going and took a while to catch all the fish and put the LR back. The corals I guess were frozen already
But ya I think in gonna pull out everything again and gonna give it another shot at aquascaping

 

[NanaReefer]

You need to be testing your water for nitrates and phosphates. Water changes are great but you have to get the nutrient level down with less feeding. Also you need to increase your magnesium level up to about 1600 and that will help also Hope that you have a good skimmer that will also help.

You really need to stop recommending raising magnesium for all algae issues. I've seen you do this before.
Raising magnesium using Kent Tech-M is used to fight Byropsis algae ONLY! Not Hair Algae! Not Cyanobacteria!

To the OP. You've realized your mistake, good for you In order to battle the cyano besides doing what your already doing, you'll also need to increase your flow, mainly to the affected areas.
How old are your bulbs?

 

[Dalmatia]

In taxonomy, Bryopsis is a genus of marine algae, specifically of the Bryopsidaceae. It is frequently a pest in aquariums, where it is commonly referred to as hair algae.

 

[TheSaint216]

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/ne...ent-tech-m-magnesium-kill-bryopsis-algae.html Just Sayin. It has to be Kent Tech M though

http://saltwateraquariumsecrets.com/problem-solving/bryopsis-algae-control-method-worked/ Here's another

 

[NanaReefer]

In taxonomy, Bryopsis is a genus of marine algae, specifically of the Bryopsidaceae. It is frequently a pest in aquariums, where it is commonly referred to as hair algae.

It is commonly mistaken for Hair Algae. But Hair Algae it is not. Raising mag levels is found to have NO effect on Hair Algae at all.

 

[Justin_92_92]

Tank looks much better after the cleaning i have done so far. Wife even commented how nice it was looking

My entire setup is 1 year old. I agree that flow is a problem. The aquascape is setup almost leaning on the back wall so it ges alot of dead spots. If I put in the flow it needs, I will have troubke seeing the tank with all the power heads lol.

RO-DI water is helping alot too. I had 134PPM TDS out of tap.

Hair algae is almost completly gone. I have the red stringy things in the sand and then just crud and dust i need to get out now. Wish I had a vaccume that only took the crud and not the water out.

 

[TheSaint216]

It is commonly mistaken for Hair Algae. But Hair Algae it is not. Raising mag levels is found to have NO effect on Hair Algae at all.

Wikipedia doesn't agree. Bryopsis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[TheSaint216]

Justin. Get a turkey baster and blow your rocks off prior to a water change. I do this two or three times a week. Will help rid what's feeding that algae.