Good Idea? Bad Idea? Let me know.

[ErinGoBragh]

I don't believe I have any hair algae, the water is just green and I can see about halfway through the water (from front to back.). I did have what looked similar to hair algae growing on one rock, but it was black. It was on the bottom of the tank, directly in the path of the filter return. I took the rock out and cleaned it off at the last water change.


So here is where I stand now, just to make things ultra clear (no pun intended)
1. Buy my live rock.
2. Buy an algae clean up crew.
3. ditch my tightwad skimmer (I already knew this, but haven't done it yet)
4. start keeping my lights on for more than 4 hours.
5. continue weekly water changes

Anything else?

[David Grigor]

Point #5, Your better off not doing water changes unless you know the water your putting in is phosphate/nitrate free. Most municipal water contains nitrates in it, you need a better water filter plain and simple.

[ErinGoBragh]

Originally Posted by David Grigor

Rockster, I don't dissagree with you at all. However, I think a big key you missed early on is he/she is using just tap water with a brita filter ( ie: carbon ). It all starts there......Water changes and topoff with nitrate/phosphates fuels the fire.

He/She needs to invest in some equipment. The things you mention are all valid IMO: Better Water filtration is the place to start before adding LR etc.....

I am no longer using tap water, I am purchasing water for my water changes. I thought it was ro-di, but it is ro- ozonation. I realized this last night. I will continue to use this until I find some RO-DI water.

So are you saying forget the rock for now?

Thanks

[David Grigor]

Purchasing RO water is definatley better than Brita filter however, you still need to check the water for nitrates/phosphates. RO will not eliminate this completely like adding DI can. Also buying RO water, your at the mercy of whoever your buying it from keeping the filters changed out on a regular basis etc and may not be a pure as you think it is. Also, should easily be justified because it will pay for itself in no time vs. buying water and you are more in control of filter maitenance and water quality. Not to mention lugging the water back and forth. Even just for the last issue it's well worth it.....

Begins with good water. Definately want LR and critters after you know all your inputs your little ecosystem are nitrate/phosphate free as possible.....

[Booboo33062]

Thanks for the abbreviation list. Great help

[ErinGoBragh]

okay, I know my nitrates, nitrites are all 0, but It was my understanding that there was no practical way to check for phosphates. I Did call the water company and they do not add phosphates to the county water, but that is really irrelevent now since I have started with the purchased water.
I know I need to make some purchases to get my tank the way I want it, but without boring you guys with a really long story that no one wants to hear (I don't even like it.), Its not happening today.

On a side note, How were people able to keep saltwater tanks full of dead coral skeletons, UG filters, and using polluted natural sea water or homemade salt mix and tap water. I believe water changes were put off for months and months, basically until the water absolutely had to be changed. Protein skimmers are a fairly new concept in the aquarium world, and I understand how they have changed the hobby for the better, but I refuse to believe that it is impossible to have a saltwater tank without spending over $1,000 on skimmers, rock and RO. That being said, understand that I will be getting a better skimmer, more LR, and possibly RO-DI, but it will take some time and some planning, and as for now, I believe that the general consensus is that purchasing Algon for my cannister filter would not be a wise investment

[rockster2599]

Originally Posted by David Grigor

Rockster, I don't dissagree with you at all. However, I think a big key you missed early on is he/she is using just tap water with a brita filter ( ie: carbon ). It all starts there......Water changes and topoff with nitrate/phosphates fuels the fire.

No I didnt miss that, I read later that he (I presume "he" since a wife is mentioned) was using RO water. I Agree with you to a point but since he has started using RO water and he has started that his parameters are fine, I believe now is the time for more rock. If he does have excess nutrients from the britta filtered water it wont damage the rock (carbon filtration should remove harmful chlorines, heavy metals, and ammonia) it will just grow algae on them.
This is what I believe his tank need because his problem at the moment isnt hair algae.His main problem seems to be unicellular algae clouding the water. The rock will allow hair algae a niche to dominate (over the unicellular algae) which can then be removed by grazing. He also needs a better skimmer.
Does that make sense?
Erin no matter if you ignore me, dont follow six types of advice-you will go in circles.
Rockster

[rockster2599]

You were typing at the same time as me .

Originally Posted by ErinGoBragh

On a side note, How were people able to keep saltwater tanks full of dead coral skeletons, UG filters, and using polluted natural sea water or homemade salt mix and tap water.

You can test for phosphates, they are the result of agricultural run off and detergent residues in municipal water. In answer to the above question usually they couldnt keep them algae free. The problem was exacerbated when people started to use better lighting and live rock (which cant be treated with chemicals to clear the water. Heavy reliance on canister filtration kept the water clean so the predominating types of algae that you would find in an old school tank were hair and cyano (actually a bacteria). This means coral skeletons would have to be periodically boiled or bleached.
Rockster

[mwanttie]

Check ebay for your RO/DI unit. Great deals on really nice units. I bought one that was recommended here for $70. I haven't had it very long but I have only heard good things about the unit and the seller.

[rockster2599]

Oh and to add, phosphates wont harm your rock either, just grow algae on them. This is a natural part of tank cycling and can be dealt with by grazing pressure. Even if you change 100% of your water to RO/DI before adding rock you may still get an algae bloom after you put your rock in due to die off (or poor water at the LFS).
Rockster

[ErinGoBragh]

Originally Posted by rockster2599

This is what I believe his tank need because his problem at the moment isnt hair algae.His main problem seems to be unicellular algae clouding the water. The rock will allow hair algae a niche to dominate (over the unicellular algae) which can then be removed by grazing. He also needs a better skimmer.
Does that make sense?
Erin no matter if you ignore me, dont follow six types of advice-you will go in circles.
Rockster

thank you Rockster, so far the contradictory advice has mostly been on the LR issue, and I have been getting fairly frustrated. you are correct regarding the type of algae I have, and I must say, I have never heard of trying to "cultivate" hair algae! So crazy it just might work!

BTW, I don't want anyone that to think I don't appreciate their advice, I am just already frustrated both with the tank and unrelated topics.

[ErinGoBragh]

rockster, "he" is correct. I guess "ERIN" throws people, but my family is very irish, and I grew up listening to my grandma screaming at me in gaelic. I considered "kiss my a_ _" in gaelic, but decided "ireland forever" would be a better choice for a log on name.

[ErinGoBragh]

Originally Posted by mwanttie

Check ebay for your RO/DI unit. Great deals on really nice units. I bought one that was recommended here for $70. I haven't had it very long but I have only heard good things about the unit and the seller.

can you let me know which one it was, also, I have seen tons of ebay skimmers, are any of them worth anything?

[ErinGoBragh]

Well, the water company basically lied to me, there are phosphates added to the tap water. It is required by the state of California, The govrernator must have stock in aquarium water filtration systems. That would definetly explain why the algae started in the first place, and maybe the other tank is fine because with all the time I have devoted to this one, the other one hasn't had a water change in a while.

[rockster2599]

Originally Posted by ErinGoBragh

rockster, "he" is correct. I guess "ERIN" throws people, but my family is very irish, and I grew up listening to my grandma screaming at me in gaelic. I considered "kiss my a_ _" in gaelic, but decided "ireland forever" would be a better choice for a log on name.

Yeah, my in-laws are irish so I kind of assumed it was a gaelic thing (although I dont understand a word they are saying when they talk in gaelic). Anyway Good luck and I hope you managed to make some sense out of the opinions. With the rock it may look hairy for a while (no pun) but I thinlk it will resolve your problems in a shorter time span and be less frustrating for you.
Cheers.
Rockster