? about going bare bottom.

[Harpo]

If I go bare bottom, will this green garbage eventually go away? Or should I ask, how can I get rid of it? HELP!!!

[Superman]

It really depends on what is feeding the nutrients needed for that algae to grow. If it is you feeding the tank too much, then the answer is no, a barebottom will not help. But if the reason for the nutrients that feed the tank is a sand bed that is full of detritus and other rotting matter, then the answer is yes it can greatly help your problem. My advice is to try to address the problem and figure out what the problem is and then go from there. What size tank, unload as much info onto us as you can, so we can help more.

[motorslave]

I have a BB and recently got over a hair algae outbreak. I was feeding a bit on the heavy side and and my lights were on a little too long.
Im much more aware of how I feed and have cut my lights back some and the algae is gone. I also took all my LR and did s "dunk and swish" in a tub of old water when I did a water change. There was a TON of detritus in the rocks. I also increased the number of snails and crabs for good measure.
My coraline has finaly started to take off nicely since it has a place to grow now! HTH

Robert

[wanareef]

superman has hit it on the head - how old is your sand bed? how much do you feed? what is happening is your phosphate's is feeding your hair algae and might not be able to test for it.

going bb will cause a different problem and might not cure what you have. the rocks will have to be scrubbed off and the dunk/swish done to them and even if you go bb there will be "sloughing" off of the rocks and you will have to siphon the bottom out.

but its the best thing that I did - I'm totally BB no sand anywhere and run a diy phosban reactor too.

[traip93]

I went barebottom about a year ago for several different reasons. Having said that, I never saw hair algea in my tank until I went barebottom. I have no hair algea now, it came and went very fast.

Barebottom is not the cure all for hair algea. Nutient export vs import. CLean up crew, type of fish, corals etc all play a huge part in this. Very importantly is what type of water you use aswell. A quality skimmer can help too. And maybe a refugium...and lighting schdule....

[Doug1]

A barebotton tank obviously denies a place for waste and nutrients to build up over time, but a bare bottom in and of itself is not going to fix the problem, it's simply a tool, if combined with water flow patterns that tend to sweep detritous and keep it suspended so that it can be carried off to the sump for extraction.
Taking out a sand bed then piling the rock backup in same tight piles and relying on a few power heads and a hang on pump, are not going to accomplish much

[traip93]

well said doug, that's what I was getting at, but you illustrated it much better

[Harpo]

This tank is 4 years old, 125gal. This is not hair algae, I am not sure of it's name, but I do know there is nothing that is reef safe that will eat it. Also my feeding is once a day, to every other day. Not heavy feedings. I do water changes about every 2 to 3 weeks. This crudd has been a prolific grower in my tank for some time. If I don't scrub the inside of the overflow every few days, it literaly chokes it, and the water backs up. I am so frustrated with this junk, I have scrubbed the rocks, and it comes right back, but worse.
It is a very healthy tank as far as growing corals, and fish. In the photos you'll notice the huge Hammer in the middle. It used to be about 4", the huge frog spawn to the left, has over 50 heads. Only had 5 when purchased. I have gotten 5 splits, from the Rose Anemone. Stuff grows great. Right along with the green garbage.

[Harpo]

I guess I will try the bare bottom, and hope it helps solve the problem. If not, I think it's time to break this thing down and get rid of it. Thanks for the insight.



Bill

[Jimbo]

What salt mix are you using? From the pics is the stuff that's growing slimey hairy, I can't see it that well.

[Jimbo]

PS you still have one of the nicest looking tanks I've seen

Nevermind I relooked at the first picture and saw the green hair, hermits won't eat it?

[Harpo]

Yes, it is on the slimmy side. Snails, fish, crabs, none eat it.

[Jimbo]

I think we need more information here. Some tank parameters would help

1. Have you tested for phosphates? If so what is the level
2. What level of nitrates do you have
3. Are you using Oceanic Salt? Some have reported a slimy algae problem
4. How old is your sandbend
5. Whats your lighting?
6. Do you have a refugium?
7. Any other parameters that you can tell us

You might try using one of the phosphate sponges that are on the market, but if your sand bed loaded it will just mask over the problem. Removing the sandbed may help, but the rocks may also be loaded with phosphates and take some time to dissipate. If the stuff is slimy it may be cyano and a antibiotic treatment may kill it. Just throwing out some ideas for you

[ski1297]

Do you have any Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit i think they are reef safe. The ones i have do not eat my coral. I had some stuff that looked just like that and they took care of it.

[dme330i]

No doubt the algae is growing due to phosphates. Most likely your rock and DSB are leaching phosphates, causing the algae to grow. A phophate test kit is not going to detect anything because the algae is consuming it.

If you really want to start over, I would "cook" the rock and remove the sand bed. Removing the sand bed alone won't solve your problem. Where algae is growing on the rocks, phophates are leaching. Also, a high performance skimmer that alllows you to aggressively wet skim is an important piece of the puzzle. Finally, be prepared to siphon detritus during your water changes (weekly if possible).

I agree that your tank looks great. From what I can see in the pictures, everything in your tank is tolerant of moderate nutrient conditions and may even be highly prolific in the current condition.

Good luck.