Interesting Algae Problem

[washowi]

I never wash my Frozen mysis...Don't have algea either.. I think the stuff is good for my clams and other things that need very small microsopic sized for a better word. MOF I hold the frozen mysis and let the guys eat from my hand. That's half the fun of it.

But I do a lot of thinks wrong or just by gut instinct. But if Chris washed the frozen - I have seen his tank, it works great for him. It's a beautiful thing. To each his own.

Just dont over feed - skim hard - water changes - and lots of inverts.

TW

Todd

[darren24]

Same as Washowi. I feed frozen mysis, brine, prime reef, etc as a mush 2x per day in small amounts without rinsing. I have a 58G witha 20G sump. I have a small but effective skimmer (Coralife Super Skimmer 65G). I have 0 algae in my tank. I do 10% wtaer changes per week.

[MattTVI]

I don't over feed, i feed once every other day...

the tank is stocked w/ 2 oc. clowns and 1 LMB... that's it fish wise. I have 3x mithrax crabs, 1 lysmata a., and 1 hitchhiker astrae snail.

the LMB doesn't touch my frozen mix, but the two clowns eat right from my hands. I rarely see any pieces make it into the water column becuase the clowns bite it right out of my hand.

[GLXTRIX]

wow, kinda crazy how this turned into a debate war so fast, thats sad. Anywho, I have a 10g with the AC110 fuge on the back, I feed my tank once every other day, I have lil bits of algea, but thats usually due to not changin 10% every week, if I'm a day off algea will start to pop up, but then again, thats prolly due to me not havin a skimmer on the tank. I'm usually on key with it tho and it always looks beautiful, I was just wondering about the rinsing of the food cuz I have such a small tank, cuz I never rinse, I just thaw and release...hmmm.

[simon.kruger]

Guyz I've seen loads of tanks over the past 20 years with a zero Nitrates and mountains of Hair Algae. This is a common problem, usually caused by overfeeding, or inadequate water changes. How can I still have zero Nitrates you ask?

Infact what they are actually making is a crude (natural) algal scrubber. (i.e Surface area, Light, and Nutrients - Nitrate). The perfect breeding ground for Algae which will grow very efficiently. The bi-product of this growth is the absorbsion of Nitrates. Thus the symptoms and attributes expressed in this thread.

Kill or remove the Hair Algae and the Nitrates will rocket.

If your issue is how to get rid of the Hair Algae thats a different thread I'm affraid.

Enjoy........

[GeorgeW]

Speaking of Algae scrubbers: since hair algae seems to be quite easy to get rolling, is there any trick to making an algae scrubber other than essentially making a pan/tank/what-have-you that you perhaps seed and keep free of cleaning critters?

Also, does anyone have any experience with mangroves? Are they good/efficient at absorbing nitrates?

[simon.kruger]

I've seen quite a few people with Mangroves. I'll leave it up to them to comment on how successful they are. One of the key benefits of a refugium is the use of macro algae. Selecting the correct Macro Algae is the key. Light Period, harvesting and all the other good stuff.

Hey I'm no expert on refugiums, infact I dont have one. Am I bad.....

I use another method which is basically using a large volume of water and lots of water changes.

And of course skim, skim and skim somemore.

[JT]

Originally Posted by simon.kruger

I use another method which is basically using a large volume of water and lots of water changes.

The solution to pollution is dillution.

[simon.kruger]

Absolutely, hey i dont want to save the world in one easy step, just one person at a time is enough.

[bob30329]

I found a solution for my hair algae problem in my FOWLR tank. The fish are fine & even seem enjoy wallowing in it.

So I just call it my "planted tank"

[MattTVI]

pre maintianing calcium and alk levels = hair algae out break

post maintaining calcium and alk levels = hair algae almost gone...

nothing else changed as far as feeding, waterchanges, etc...

I guess I don't get what you're saying Simon, who are you addressing in this thread?