Hi guys I need some help identifying this growth on my rocks. I had my 40gallon tank set up in July 2011. So it's almost 5 months old. I'm currently using only one power head (hydor koralia evolution 750mpg) to create movement in the water. Infact I test my water today and it's within normal limit except Nitrate is in the 40ppm, which is HIGH in my opinion. I'm gonna go another water change on Friday to remove some of the nitrate as much as possible (5gallon water change).
I feed twice a day for my (Maroon clown, chromis, Scooter Blenny, and 6 Line wrasse), mostly Pellets and mysis shrimp for my blenny. Occasional live blood worms for blenny.
Anyways can anyone help determine which this stuff is on my rocks.
It's the black icky stuff that I'm taking about. Doesn't look like coraline algae.......???
Not sure if that is Cyanobacteria, red algae, diatom?
Sponge was my first thought, dead algae was my second. That's why I ask about texture. Encrusting sponges are common and come in various colors, white, orange, red, black and yellow are all commonly seen.
If it is dead algae, it can cause nutrient problems in your tank which can harm your livestock depending on how bad it is.
From my inspection it looks like dead algae to me. I remember I didn't have it at all, but once I put using the power head to blow at the live rocks the thing started to grow. I try to use my siphon tube to take out as much as possible but there is still some on it. I'm consider taking the rock out and give it a scrub.
It was initially all over the rock but I was able to get the most of it off the top of the rock without touching the aquascaping.
BTW, it does NOT have any texture to it. Kinda freak me out because I thought it was coraline algae at first but then as it got worse i knew it was not coraline algae.
Do you guys still recommend I siphon all of it out or leave it?
It definitely comes off pretty easily. I was able to use my turkey baster and blow it off. I'll upload a picture of it on friday when I do my water change.
At this point i'm not sure if i should start growing coral or wait it out a bit.
I have no clue because I usually dont test for Phosphate. I should start to now... I use RO water not tap water for water change and top off.
I'm gonnna go back to weekly water change of 5gallon a week. Hopefully that will help out. The light i'm currently using is T12 which is very weak. Not sure if decrease the amount of each day would help decrease this algae.
Also I"m have elevated nitrates, not sure what is causing it. I usually clean my filter media (in sump) once or twice a month.... too little?
The low lighting is going to help with the algae. You might try some phos remover.
I have had dealings with this before and it was due to some die off in my tank. (lost some corals). But the phos remover I do not remember the name but it was a pad like a dense floss. Took out heavy metals, phos, nitrate and so on. That 20% water changes and cutting the light time, took about 2 weeks to clear up. But it did clear up eventually.
I would say though your initial problem could have been the low light. May have not been enough to support algaes/sponges and additional growth on your LR. Triggering die off and elevating your nitrate and phosphate levels.
The low lighting is going to help with the algae. You might try some phos remover.
I have had dealings with this before and it was due to some die off in my tank. (lost some corals). But the phos remover I do not remember the name but it was a pad like a dense floss. Took out heavy metals, phos, nitrate and so on. That 20% water changes and cutting the light time, took about 2 weeks to clear up. But it did clear up eventually.
I would say though your initial problem could have been the low light. May have not been enough to support algaes/sponges and additional growth on your LR. Triggering die off and elevating your nitrate and phosphate levels.
Hopefully with water change every week, clean filter pad, and less lighting can help lower the nitrate.
Hm... I didn't think low light would cause harm since I thought the algae feed on light and with low light they would grow/develop less. You did bring up a good point where the light i have now can't sustain them and cause them to die off, which definitely make sense.:beer:
Anyways I 'm upgrading to a Coralife T5 Lunar very soon, just waiting for it to ship to my house.
I'm afraid with the new light more bad algae will grow in my tank. I'll definitely start of with 4 hours a day and slowly increasing it to 6-8 a day, with 2-3 hours of LED lunar to finish the night.
Darn, I hope it was not the cyano but I only feed my fish twice a day. Anyways there this new LFS that sell RODI water for .25cent a gallon so I'll give that a try since I'm already paying .20cent for just RO water.
I'll definitely keep up with the water change. Again thanks for all those who helped I really appreciate it. It's people like you guys that make this hobby such a joy by sharing and help others.
I'm really considering that, although I dont have a separate tank for a refugium I guess my sump would still work. Just gotta remove all the filter pad and add some big chuck of live rocks.
BTW, what type of lighting is require to keep the chaetomorpha algae alive? How many hours should the light be on?
Not much lighting at all. I use a small power compact light but I know people who just use shop lights from Home Depot with a plant grow bulb in it. Something like a $15 light.
It's very pretty and clean. That's one of the things I really like about the hobby is how many aquascapes we can come up with using the same materials as each other.
Went to the LFS to buy some RODI water for WC, they only charge .25cent per gallon for RODI. You guys think that is a good price? I'm already paying .20cent for RO and with extra .05cent per gallon I can get RODI.
Anyways that same store had some beautiful coral, they had the Red Hornet with 3 polyps for $75....
Are they worth $25 per polyp?
For the chaetomorpha is the lighting MANDATORY for them since I'm kinda lazy to go buy one?
Definitely loving this hobby besides fishing...:funny:
-Gonna go and pick up some Radioactive dragon eye and others for 5bux a frag.
Personally I don't think it's worth $25 a polyp but that's me. Value is up to each person. In terms of what they usually run for, that's a fair price. I normally see them for $30ish so, that's about right.
Personally I don't think it's worth $25 a polyp but that's me. Value is up to each person. In terms of what they usually run for, that's a fair price. I normally see them for $30ish so, that's about right.
Also your flow is low for a 40. I would get a 1050 for the other side of the tank. 2 powerheads will help eliminate dead zones. Flow also helps with skimming which will remove all your uneaten fooed etc. by keeping it suspended before it decays leading to a nutrient problem like you may have.
I run my tank lights for 12 hours a day and the when they go off the light on my cheato comes on and it runs until the tank lights come on. By running them opposite of each other it helps to keep the pH balanced in the tank 24 hours a day by making sure there is always some photosynthesis going on.
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