Green Algae

sfilingeri · 04-16-2006, 03:31 PM

This Stuff seems to have started to grow everywhere in my tank, what should i do? any help greatly appreciated..................

ReelFreak · 04-16-2006, 04:08 PM

Have any pics or more detailed descriptions, is it hairlike or does it cover the glass, rocks or sandbed....

If this is a well established tank, then you probably have high phosphates and/or nitrates.....

Post up your tank specs/parameters from your testing w/ pics if possible and you will get some good help.

Phishnoob · 04-16-2006, 04:09 PM

A lawn mower blenny and clean up crew will help you out a lot.

If it is the hard kind that is on the glass then you gotta get a razor blade and start scraping.

I assume you have a protein skimmer that is working well? If not then let's help you along.

Also, cutting the light back a little will help with reducing this. Can you give us more information about your tank, skimming, lighting and what is in there?

mtfatwork · 04-16-2006, 04:12 PM

also how often do you feed?

sfilingeri · 04-16-2006, 05:28 PM

Its a 60 gallon with a AquaC Remora skimmer, Current USA PC lights (4x65) and a Fluval cannister with a Coralife UV on the return.

Tank has been established since Jan. Im not overfeeding and as far as water parameters everything is fine, but i do not have a phosphate test kit and im assuming tom i will be investing into one.

About the lights how many hours should i be running them? (im at 10 to 8)

VWD · 04-16-2006, 06:02 PM

The tank is still very young and You can have a few type of algae or cyno in the first few months, Brown, green and so on, Try to keep feeding down and add good water, RO/DI water for Top Off and Water Changes.

sfilingeri · 04-16-2006, 06:17 PM

Doesnt RO unit need a drain? if it does it is kinda out of the question right now due to my arrangements at the moment.........Have another idea up your sleeve?

wolfie · 04-16-2006, 06:49 PM

Put the RO/DI unit under your sink. Once you move you just take it with you and close the drain hole.

It real easy to install 1 and also easyer to remove 1.

ReelFreak · 04-16-2006, 07:21 PM

RO/DI is a necessity for a clean healthy reef. I went my first year w/o it and wish I never had. I second the idea that the tank is very young and will experience multiple kinds of algae. I wouldn't worry too much, just keep up on the water changes, top off RO, limit feeding and keep on skimming.

As for lighting, I run mine close to 14 hrs w/ the dawn and dusk effect....kinda like the middle of the summer daylight hours. Actinics on 1130a, all lights on 1230p then daylights off at 12a and actinics off at 1am . It's longer than most people seem to do, but I don't have any big problems with it now.

Good luck.

Nyles · 04-16-2006, 08:00 PM

If you want to have any success in this hobby you absolutly have to have pure water, how are you to diagnose a problem if you are starting with a problem? Hair algae will overtake without a ro/di if the water is not up to par, I have heard of people not using ro/di and diong well but they where fortunate and at least made water 1 week in advance and had it under a powerhead and heater in the dark for over a week to get it to "Settle" I use RO/Di and still use this teknique as an added percaution. But there is no better way to start than purifying water, try ebay in short, I recommend Aqua Safe systems because the price is low and they work, I think it was $85 plus 25 shipping for a 6 stage 100 gpd filter.

Whatever you decide is fine but at least start removing the copper and other "Nasties" in the water to give your sea life a fighting chance.

skeety · 04-17-2006, 08:01 AM

ALL good advice so far. Tank's young, so some algae's expected. however, I'd like to also chime in on the importance of RO/DI water. Most people's tap water actually contains around 20ppm of Nitrate, and also contains Silicates and Phosphate (the processing plants add this stuff on purpose). These are ALL things that we, as SW tank keepers try are darndest to keep down. Doing water changes won't help, as you're just adding more to the tank. Granted, there are a FEW places where the tap-water is almost as good as RO/DI water...but believe me when I say that's maybe 2% of us. Not an exaggeration...just the truth.

Also...know that most RO/DI unit's can be attached to your sink spout (might have to get a $5 attachement or something) and just have a small tube that comes out. You can put this tube in a bucket...let it fill up, and shut off the spicket when you're done.

I run mine to a 34 gallon rubbermade trash-can. Let it run for a day...shut if off. VIOLA....a tub FULL of sparkling fresh water that's as close to pure H20 as you can get!!

Either way....just wanted to share that info with ya.

And agreed that the tank's still early in the stages of running. If you have the ability, sharing a photo of the tank/algae with us would GREATLY help us make a good diagnosis.

Good luck, and keep us posted!