Hairy Tank ! !

[morpheus1969]

OK, I getting a little worried. I am new to reefing and my tank 55g is still cycling. About 3 weeks ago, I went to Europe for a week and came back and my tank was covered with a green hair like algae. Everything I have read says it is part of the cycling process. How long should this last. My water test appear good. I have them done at the LFS. I would like to add, nothing but RO water is and has been used. I have about 60-70lbs of LR with about a 2 inch DSB made up of 40lbs of crushed coral and 20 lbs of live sand. I have added about 6 hermits and 1 snail (LFS ran out). The algae is covering the majority of my LR and even the sand. It looks ugly! ! I keep my blue actinics on for 12 hours and daylights on for 8 with a 2 hour overlap on each end. I just added more LR a week ago, and not too sure if I should add any fish yet.

HELP ! ! I am freaking out ! !

[Popeye]

First check your water perameters...especailly your ammonia and nitrate. I would check your Phospate levels too. Sounds like your tank has cycled because you now have green algae. Is your tank in direct sunlight? Many tanks have some hair algae but I know it is ugly. I have some now in my 100 gallon. Get about three or four large(1")turbo snails for cleaning up your tank and start using Phosphate Sponge. I place the stuff in my hangon power filter. Do a 25 percent water change each week for a month. Things should improve but it will take some time.

[Ray1214]

The other thing to do besides get the snails and phosphate sponge is try to increase your water movement. My son had a hair algae problem that went away (seme deal ro/di water, no fish..etc) but he added a power head to circulate the water really really well. I think one snail isn't enough for a 55 gal, I have about 20 Astrea and/or turbo snails in a 40 gal breeder.

Ray

[morpheus1969]

It isn't in direct sunlight, it is on the wall farthest from a sliding glass door therefore the room is well lit. I presently do not have any filtration on the tank and was wondering if that could be part of my problem. The nitrate and ammonia was fine according to the LFS. Not too sure of the numbers. On the topic of filtration, I have been torn with sump or no sump. HOTB or not?? I am about out of funds for this little project and still haven't even got a fish ! !

[Jimmer]

Morpheus, you really should consider getting at the very least a protien skimmer to bubble out some of the dissolved solids in your tank.
Do you have any circulation in your tank now?
Have you tested your RO water to see how clean it really is?
A sump is really nice for hiding away your heater and skimmer but is not necessarily essential.

Lets not worry about fish for your tank until it has sufficiently cycled (like 5-8 months).

Remember, nothing good happens fast in a reef tank!

[morpheus1969]

I have been looking at several different ideas for a skimmer...the only reason I have not made a purchase yet is my sump/no sump delimma. I did not want to get a hotb then do a sump and vice versa. The RO water I have been getting has been from the LFS. I live in an apartment and it isn't feasible at this time to purchase my own RO/DI unit. I have looked at the Red Prizm hotb and also a dual CPR Bakpak. My LFS was trying to spin me up on a unit that was an hotb with media and uv filtration. I can't recall the manuf on it though. I am not in a hurry by all means. I mentioned fish because I was considering a tang to help with the algae. I feel the little crabs wont be able to get it all...some of it is up to 4 and 6 inches long.

I really appreciate all of the feedback everyone gives it has been an enormous help ! !

[Jimmer]

I'd stray away from the "uber-skimmer" (all the doo-dads and stuff) That may be waaaay more than necessary. I've been hearing that UV sterilization is really not the best thing for a reef tank.

My biggest concern for your tank is circulation. Can you elaborate on what you are using for circulation?

[Prismaco]

What you can also do is take your LR out and scrub it all down with a tooth brush. I did that to my take its its been ALOT better. Also syphon the junk off the sand. Also I would run the lights less. That will also cut the algea problem a bit. What are you salt readings ??? My tank was high!!! So I have been adding a 1 gallon of regular RO/DI water each day to bring the level down. That for some reason has helped my problem out. Keep us informed, I am in somewhat of the same boat you are in but not as bad. As for a skimmer, I personally like the ECS, ETC or what ever they are called.



-Paul

[morpheus1969]

For circulation i am running a maxi-jet 1200 mounted high on one side pointing cross tank, and a maxi-jet 900 mounted low-middle on the opposite side toward the front pointing cross-tank towards the LR.

I have pondered cutting down on daylight time. My salinity was a bit high and have been adding RO/DI as well.

What are the thoughts on building your own venturi style skimmer?? I have done a bit of studying and wondered if it would be a feasible dyi?? I have gone thru some of the threads and have not seen too much on that.

[Prismaco]

Oh yea, I also have 4 powerheads along with the return ran by a Mag 5...



-Paul

[morpheus1969]

Four powerheads?? Is this in a 55?? I jumped on Ebay last night and found quite a few "deals" on skimmers and refugiums.

What are the thoughts on wet/dry filtration? A buddy of mine is adamently against it. His crashed and spiked his nitrates which killed off a few of his corals and fish. That scares me a bit since I travel quite a bit with my job

[hayday]

listen to your buddy and avoid the wet/dry filter. while they are great at turning the nitrites into nitrates, they are also great at allowing the nitrates to accumulate. this, on a scale from good to bad, would be bad. the combination of water changes, bacteria in the live rock and sandbed, skimmer, and scavengers/detrivores is a much better filter and is much more effective at eliminating wastes and preventing funk-- the accumulation of unwanted and undesirable debris.

hayday

[Prismaco]

37 gallon show tank...Don't skimp out on the skimmer when you buy it. A wet/dry was a total waiste of money for me personaly. If I could do it again I would have just bought a 15 gallon tank for a sump instead of a wet/dry trickle filter....



-Paul