What type of Algae?!

[ReefNerd76]

Standard 29 gallon.

That's the size I'm thinking of upgrading to once I do upgrade but I want to buy everything for it first and cycle the sand and cycle all the rock before I even switch it over to a new tank

 

[Subinay70]

Place it on back glass so it pushes the water against the front wall breaking up your current water flow direction

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too

 

[Subinay70]

Works well. Also, I loaded it full of marine pure spheres so it serves 2 purposes now!

Nice setup you got there!

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Nice setup you got there!

Thanks man, let us know what you decide on to help your slime problem. Increased flow along with chemical media and/or a natural solution like an ats or refugium are both viable ways to correct and control nutrient issues. In no way is one method more correct then the other, just different. Most people on here would be appalled that I use a canister filter and an HOB on a reef tank (o and I don't have a sump). But it works for me, so find what works best for you and stick with it, consistency matters above all else! Also, during water changes I would vacuum out as much slime as you can and stir the top layer of the sand bed. You can use the slime as a form of nutrient export for the time being.

 

[Subinay70]

Thanks man, let us know what you decide on to help your slime problem. Increased flow along with chemical media and/or a natural solution like an ats or refugium are both viable ways to correct and control nutrient issues. In no way is one method more correct then the other, just different. Most people on here would be appalled that I use a canister filter and an HOB on a reef tank (o and I don't have a sump). But it works for me, so find what works best for you and stick with it, consistency matters above all else! Also, during water changes I would vacuum out as much slime as you can and stir the top layer of the sand bed. You can use the slime as a form of nutrient export for the time being.

Alright I will keep you guys updated! Btw would my tank being new still have anything to do with the problem?

 

[Maritimer]

The algae?

Absolutely. There are several algaes which could be considered more or less part of the typical new-tank progression, diatoms and cyanobacteria among them.

~Bruce

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Alright I will keep you guys updated! Btw would my tank being new still have anything to do with the problem?

Absolutely! There is a reason it's called the uglies. As the tank ages for the first year or so you will go through many that may include brown diatoms, Cyano, Dino's, hair algae etc.

 

[dnyceli]

Will do. I have two circulation pumps that are 800gph on each side. I'm looking in to another one, maybe an MP40, but where would I place it?

I have one in the back towards the bottom to circulate what the rockwork is blocking and the other one you could have midway cross tank. My 100G I just have a Gyre and that it done

 

[Subinay70]

The algae?

Absolutely. There are several algaes which could be considered more or less part of the typical new-tank progression, diatoms and cyanobacteria among them.

~Bruce

Okay that makes me feel a little better. Hopefully no other algae grows. So far haven't got hair algae (knock on wood). I did do a small water change and sucked and brushed all the visible algae off, and added some GFO to my sump in high flow.

 

[Subinay70]

Absolutely! There is a reason it's called the uglies. As the tank ages for the first year or so you will go through many that may include brown diatoms, Cyano, Dino's, hair algae etc.

What's the best method to fight that the first year, also how much does a no light period help?

 

[Orcus Varuna]

What's the best method to fight that the first year, also how much does a no light period help?

For the first month or so after adding fish I like to let it ride and focus on water changes, along with manually removing as much algae as I can with each water change. After about a month with fish I will see where the tanks phosphate and nitrate levels are and attack nitrate with carbon dosing and phosphate with GFO. Once I have them under control I usually start a refugium. As that takes hold I back off on or maintain carbon dosing and begin to lessen the amount of gfo used and see what the refugium can maintain on its own. From this point forward I only supplement with carbon dosing and gfo as needed. Just remember though each tank is different and my approach changes slightly depending on what a given tank is telling me. Finally, I am not a fan of black outs I think they just mask the problem for a few days and don't help much. I personally try to use these algae blooms to my advantage by removing as much of the algae as I can as frequently as I have time for. This manual removal is a great way to get rid of nutrients like silicate which fuel these first year algae blooms.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Also, if you have a good skimmer carbon dosing in conjunction with a bacteria additive can be very effective at reducing both nitrate and phosphate. A few of these probiotic methods include but are not limited to Prodibio, Dr. Tims & Aquaforest.

O and I almost forgot the algae turf scrubber is an excellent alternative as well if you have the space. They can be made really easily with a few pieces of pvc, a water pump, a 6500k lightbulb and some mesh screen.

 

[Subinay70]

Also, if you have a good skimmer carbon dosing in conjunction with a bacteria additive can be very effective at reducing both nitrate and phosphate. A few of these probiotic methods include but are not limited to Prodibio, Dr. Tims & Aquaforest.

O and I almost forgot the algae turf scrubber is an excellent alternative as well if you have the space. They can be made really easily with a few pieces of pvc, a water pump, a 6500k lightbulb and some mesh screen.

Okay, I think I might go and buy the things I need for a ATS sometime this week or next. I have a small refugium with cheato under an LED light. I've seen growth but not to the point where I remove them. It is a great place for all the copepods swimming in there though. My skimmer is a Reef Octopus 150 and it's doing great and collecting dark skimate.

Also is running gfo in a mesh bag in the sump effective?

 

[ReefNerd76]

Okay, I think I might go and buy the things I need for a ATS sometime this week or next. I have a small refugium with cheato under an LED light. I've seen growth but not to the point where I remove them. It is a great place for all the copepods swimming in there though. My skimmer is a Reef Octopus 150 and it's doing great and collecting dark skimate.

Also is running gfo in a mesh bag in the sump effective?

Before you go and buy a bunch of stuff, look at my ATS, it's simple , it's cheap and best of all it works. Yes it actually works, it's just simple science. Gravity pressure is all it is brother

 

[Subinay70]

Before you go and buy a bunch of stuff, look at my ATS, it's simple , it's cheap and best of all it works. Yes it actually works, it's just simple science. Gravity pressure is all it is brother

I tried looking for it can't find it.

 

[ReefNerd76]

I tried looking for it can't find it.

Try this video, I show it in a few of my videos

 

[Subinay70]

Try this video, I show it in a few of my videos

Okay I see what you did! Thank you!

 

[Subinay70]

This is what my tanks looking like now, the algae on my sand bed doesn't seem to be that bad, some patches here and there I forgot to vacuum. But usually they would come back by now. Hoping the gfo is working

 

[ReefNerd76]

Okay I see what you did! Thank you!

You are very welcome

 

[ReefNerd76]

This is what my tanks looking like now, the algae on my sand bed doesn't seem to be that bad, some patches here and there I forgot to vacuum. But usually they would come back by now. Hoping the gfo is working

Looks pretty good I think you'll be alright