Month old tank

[Fscarr2216]

So I started my 55 gal tank up in the beginning of the month, and I’ve been posting updates every now and then. This is my third attempt at starting a saltwater tank, and so far I haven’t had any catastrophes yet. I just did another weekly 4 gallon water change, and all of the brown algae is gone now. Instead, it was replaced with this green long algae, I was told it was hair algae, and I was also told it was turf algae. My 3 turbo snails are hard at work but it’s still a constant. Other than that everything is going good, no deaths and my water parameters are still really good. Would that algae be a concern or will it dissipate as the tank matures? As always thank you for all feed back!!!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

It's a VERY young tank so it just needs time to mature. If it was a dry rock started tank, adding biodiversity to the tank may help.

 

[Stephen8169301]

Get that build thread going!!! So I can follow updates like seeing progress really like your scape as for the GHA what type of water do you use?

 

[Fscarr2216]

It's a VERY young tank so it just needs time to mature. If it was a dry rock started tank, adding biodiversity to the tank may help.

The rocks were sitting in my friend’s tank, i have 3 turbos and 2 emeralds, two clowns and a nassarius somewhere lol.

 

[Fscarr2216]

Get that build thread going!!! So I can follow updates like seeing progress really like your scape as for the GHA what type of water do you use?

Thank you i appreciate it! When i do my water changes i go to my local fish store for the premade saltwater. And whenever i add water for evaporation i have a gallon of purified water i buy.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I was under the assumption that your nutrient levels were under control. If not, then that would be an obvious cause. How long were the rocks in your friend's tank? Were they dry rocks you bought and just placed in his tank? If so for how long?

 

[Stephen8169301]

Okay couple things like mentioned above need a little more on the rocks and how they were stored or cured this could be an issue another thing you just mentioned is purified water is this for top offs? If so don’t use purified used distilled this could be a result to the issue at hand

 

[Fscarr2216]

@livinlifeinBKK The rock’s were in his running tank for almost a year i bought them dry and he let me put them in his tank for, and I use the test strips for testing the water. I just checked now and my nitrates/nitrites are low. But i do use purified water for Top offs though,@Stephen8169301 i’ll buy a gallon of distilled

 

[Stephen8169301]

@livinlifeinBKK The rock’s were in his running tank for almost a year i bought them dry and he let me put them in his tank for, and I use the test strips for testing the water. I just checked now and my nitrates/nitrites are low. But i do use purified water for Top offs though,@Stephen8169301 i’ll buy a gallon of distilled

Dont trust those test strips try and use salifert or hannah but salifert is a good brand to trust

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

@livinlifeinBKK The rock’s were in his running tank for almost a year i bought them dry and he let me put them in his tank for, and I use the test strips for testing the water. I just checked now and my nitrates/nitrites are low. But i do use purified water for Top offs though,@Stephen8169301 i’ll buy a gallon of distilled

I'd highly advise you to go ahead and invest in a small RODI filter. They aren't too expensive on Amazon but are very effective. I use the RO Buddie.

 

[Stephen8169301]

I'd highly advise you to go ahead and invest in a small RODI filter. They aren't too expensive on Amazon but are very effective. I use the RO Buddie.

Same I use ro buddy off Amazon

 

[Moronta12]

You can help on the process. On next water change remove by hand as much algae as you can and syphon it out.

 

[Fscarr2216]

I appreciate it, i’ll go ahead and try to order one next week, and when I changed the water i scrubbed alot off. I appreciate all the feedback

 

[kevgib67]

I agree with all the suggestions above. I would like to add that after implementing these suggestions add a tuxedo urchin or two. There gha eating skills will put your turbos to shame.

 

[Fscarr2216]

I agree with all the suggestions above. I would like to add that after implementing these suggestions add a tuxedo urchin or two. There gha eating skills will put your turbos to shame.

Are they relatively easy care?

 

[kevgib67]

Yes very easy, however when there is no algae left you will have to supplement with nori, I rubber band it to a rock, or algae wafers so they don’t starve.

 

[Fscarr2216]

Yes very easy, however when there is no algae left you will have to supplement with nori, I rubber band it to a rock, or algae wafers so they don’t starve.

I’ll try to see if i can find one!

 

[Zero_Cool]

What lights are you running and what is their schedule? Is the tank near a window?

Nitrate/Phosphate levels may be reading falsely as the algae is taking it up.

Manual removal during a water change will help.

If you have a sump you could rubberband a toothbrush to a length of 1/2 inch vinyl hose, run the end end into a filter sock in the sump, start a siphon and scrub the rocks with the toothbrush. The siphon will pull the scrubbed algae into the filter sock and the tank water will drain through. This allows you to spend however long you need to clean the rocks off without running your tank down (just keep your return pump running).

If no sump you can do the same with a 5 gallon bucket. Just turn off the return pump, attach the filter sock into the bucket and dump the filtered water back into the tank when the bucket is full. Repeat until you get the algae scrubbed or you get tired of dumping a 5 gallon bucket back into the tank.

Ultimately finding/reducing the source of the Nitrate/Phosphate and the proper clean up crew will be the best cure.

 

[Fscarr2216]

What lights are you running and what is their schedule? Is the tank near a window?

Nitrate/Phosphate levels may be reading falsely as the algae is taking it up.

Manual removal during a water change will help.

If you have a sump you could rubberband a toothbrush to a length of 1/2 inch vinyl hose, run the end end into a filter sock in the sump, start a siphon and scrub the rocks with the toothbrush. The siphon will pull the scrubbed algae into the filter sock and the tank water will drain through. This allows you to spend however long you need to clean the rocks off without running your tank down (just keep your return pump running).

If no sump you can do the same with a 5 gallon bucket. Just turn off the return pump, attach the filter sock into the bucket and dump the filtered water back into the tank when the bucket is full. Repeat until you get the algae scrubbed or you get tired of dumping a 5 gallon bucket back into the tank.

Ultimately finding/reducing the source of the Nitrate/Phosphate and the proper clean up crew will be the best cure.

I’m using the fluval marine and sea 25k spectrum light, and i have it on the schedule where it goes throughout the day/night cycle. And unfortunately i don’t have a sump i have a 100gallon canister filter

 

[Zero_Cool]

I’m using the fluval marine and sea 25k spectrum light, and i have it on the schedule where it goes throughout the day/night cycle. And unfortunately i don’t have a sump i have a 100gallon canister filter

You could still go with a 5 gallon bucket and filter sock. Just turn off the return and any flow pumps, scrape/siphon through the filter sock until 4 gallons or so, stop siphon, dump water back into tank, repeat, profit.