Redoing my first tank

[largefarva]

I have a 56 gallon column tank. It is about 1 year old and I have 2 clowns. It has become over run with some type of macro algae and a brown type of algae. I am currently cycling a 20 gallon to hold the clowns while I start the tank over. I want to do my tank right this time and create a reef tank that will mainly house zoas and some lps. Possibly a sps or 2. Any ideas or suggestions to help me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mike007]

Have you tested your water? Hope you are using ro water.To have nuisance algae it is caused by excess nutrients. That is usually caused by overfeeding and excess phosphates.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Have you tested your water? Hope you are using ro water.To have nuisance algae it is caused by excess nutrients. That is usually caused by overfeeding and excess phosphates.

+1 tell us about your water and also about your setup and maintenance routine. I'm sure you'll get some great advice from the good folks on here.

 

[largefarva]

I do use or water. I went to a different lbs than I normally do. They tested my water and my pH 7.2 and salinity 1.28 were the things that were off. I had a coralife skimmer and was told that it's not a good skimmer. He talked me into the reef octopus hob skimmer (seems good so far). He also told me that in order to get rid of the macro algae I would have to kill the tank. He also tried selling me a phosphate reactor. Not sure if it's needed. When I started I was sold junk from a different lfs

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I do use or water. I went to a different lbs than I normally do. They tested my water and my pH 7.2 and salinity 1.28 were the things that were off. I had a coralife skimmer and was told that it's not a good skimmer. He talked me into the reef octopus hob skimmer (seems good so far). He also told me that in order to get rid of the macro algae I would have to kill the tank. He also tried selling me a phosphate reactor. Not sure if it's needed. When I started I was sold junk from a different lfs

With ph at 7.2 it's pretty impressive that your clowns are alive. The minimum for a saltwater tank is generally about 7.8 with the ideal at around 8.2. How confident are you in those test results? How often do you change your water?

 

[largefarva]

I was changing 5 gal every month. Now I'm trying to stabilize the water so I can transfer them to a holding tank. I'm doing a 2 gallon change every 4 days. Instructions from lfs

 

[Towner]

I agree with bannister with specific gravity at 1.28 I find it hard to believe the ph is 7.2. I would highly not recommend not killing off the tank. It's better to solve the problem the to make the same mistake and be killing off another tank in a year. Additionally I'm sure there is a lot of good stuff in the sand and on that rock. I subscribe to the multiple small water change method. I have a 90 gallon reef with a 25 gallon sump and a 30 gallon refugium and I do a 5 gallon water change about 4 times a week. As far as the algae goes it looks like some kind of a caulerpa. My One Spot Rabbit Fish loves the stuff. It took him about two months to decide to start eating it, but once he did he cleaned the entire tank in about 2 days! Now I have to scavenge the stuff from some of my maintenance tanks to give him the occasional treat! The trick is to reduce not necessarily feeding but wasted food that falls on the ground and isn't eaten. Feed small portions let them eat it all then feed a little more. Having a good nutrient removal system is key! True that some skimmers are better then others. I use a Reef Dynamics skimmer, but any skimmer is better then no skimmer at all. Also hand removal of the algae is helpful. I have 2 algae scrubbers on my tank as well as the skimmer and a refugium that is growing algae in it! Add to that the small water changes and you have a lot of nutrient removal. It allows me to be a little more liberal with my feeding which also helps to feed some of the LPS corals as well!

 

[Towner]

whoops! I would highly recommend not killing off the tank!

 

[largefarva]

Ok. I would rather not kill off the tank so I would be happy if I could get rid of caulerpa naturally. Would a yellow tang eat the stuff. Looking for different options of fish that may eat it

 

[largefarva]

I'm going to continue with the small water changes and hope the brown algae just goes away. Would a phosphate reactor be a good investment to help keep out excess nutrients

 

[Towner]

You could do a phosphate reactor, but doing water changes should eliminate a lot of phosphates anyway. Make sure you are using rodi water in your changes. Tap water will just continue to add to the problem. Also Make sure to use a high enough quality salt that does not put additional phosphate in the tank. It's all about nutrient balance. right now you have more nutrients going into the tank then you are removing. I would also drop the salinity down to 1.024 for so. A Yellow tang or most other tangs of that type should eat the caulerpa. Like is said my rabbit fish took a couple of months to start eating the stuff, but when he did he devoured it. I recently took over a tank that has a massive caulerpa problem so we added a yellow tang and a Ctenochaetus Tominienses tang (Tomini or Flame Fin tang). I will let you know if the algae starts disappearing!

 

[Wbrian]

As far as your PH goes, that must be fixed. Do you add any reef buffer to your top off water? It makes the ph 8.3 in the top off water. I'd gradually get your PH up so you don't kill your fish. Let them acclimate to the PH slowly.

Hath,
Brian