Too much algae

Teen Aquarist · 02/07/2008, 08:22 PM

I have tons of algae can anyone help me out with this? I have used Chemi-pure elite for about a week and it has not seemed to help. The algae is dark red and covers everything. I used a clean toothbrush on my glass cleaning rod to clean the rocks but it is comeing back already. Thanks TA

afernandez · 02/07/2008, 08:26 PM

whats your po4 level aka phosephate? how many hours a day do you run your lights?

Teen Aquarist · 02/07/2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by afernandez
whats your po4 level aka phosephate? how many hours a day do you run your lights?

I have now idea what my po4 is i dont test for that. I run my main lights for 12 hours and my actnic 15

beaglelax · 02/07/2008, 08:34 PM

Thats a little bit much i run half that, and i think you have cyno

TheReefKeeper · 02/07/2008, 08:35 PM

Cut lights back!

Teen Aquarist · 02/07/2008, 08:39 PM

I have an anemone and i am getting coral is that still ok to cut back the lights?

TheReefKeeper · 02/07/2008, 09:12 PM

Yes, I have 30+ acros. when I get Algae I cut back to 6 Hours per Day. Maybe less, some people shut there lights off for 3 day at a time with cyno,dynos what ever it is depending on how bad it is. For now I would cut back to at least 6 hrs. for a couple of days and see how it looks. Have you done water changes lately. they always help Just a little you don't have many gallons to start with. If you have done one lately then I wouldn't bother. Do you use tap water or RO. If tap that may be your problem. good luck

Teen Aquarist · 02/07/2008, 10:37 PM

Is that all the lights or just the main? I always leave my LEDs on is that a prob? I use distilled water i get it at the super market. I did use tap water for a while but stoped doing that a few months ago. I do a 3 gallon water change once a week. Thanks for your help. Also i want to get 5 dwarf zebra hermits and 6 turbo snails thinking they will help will they?

Saiyan · 02/07/2008, 11:04 PM

The snails will help but with that much light you will have problems. I run my lights for 11 hours and am going to cut back to around 9 when I remember. Every now and then I will leave the lights off for a day or two and that seems to make a difference as well. And I have heard it said that your tank needs some period of no light so I would not leave the LEDs on all the time.

Teen Aquarist · 02/07/2008, 11:12 PM

Should i just shortan the main lights or the actnic too? Really the LEDS are made to be on all the time. If I turn the LEDs off there will be no light in the room at all, will they run into rocks?

theredben · 02/07/2008, 11:25 PM

just to reassure you, i think the red algae you are having is just some turf algae that is a normal part of a new tank cycle, if you want you can clean it with a toothbrush and vacuum it out, but I would not worry about it until your tank is at least 6 months old.

Your lights may be a bit excessive but I think the issue is just a new tank.

Saiyan · 02/07/2008, 11:27 PM

The fish will be fine in complete darkness. And you will need to shorten all of the lights. The algae feed off of the light. The person who I saw say that tanks need some period of complete darkness was Melev one of the main experts on this forum and a frequent contributer to the reefkeeping magazine so I would take it as gospel but am just passing on what he wrote to another poster who left his moon lights on all the time.

Teen Aquarist · 02/07/2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by theredben
just to reassure you, i think the red algae you are having is just some turf algae that is a normal part of a new tank cycle, if you want you can clean it with a toothbrush and vacuum it out, but I would not worry about it until your tank is at least 6 months old.

Your lights may be a bit excessive but I think the issue is just a new tank.

LOL my tank has been set up for two years.

Teen Aquarist · 02/07/2008, 11:37 PM

I will set it up so they go off after I fall asleep so i can still watch them at night. How many hours do u think they need of darkness?

basssnake · 02/08/2008, 08:51 AM

You need to cut your lights back as everyone else said. If you want a more economical method in regards to a additive, you can use freshwater or saltwater maracyn. The ingredient in it is erthomyicin which will kill cynobacteria since it is a gram postitive(or negative, can't remember which but cyno is the one maracyn will kill) bacteria(not actually a algae). You used to get a 100 tab bottle(1 tablet per 20gallons of saltwater), but now you can't get them. You might try fishmycin which you can get in a larger bottle.

02/07/2008, 08:22 PM	#1
Teen Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 411	Too much algae I have tons of algae can anyone help me out with this? I have used Chemi-pure elite for about a week and it has not seemed to help. The algae is dark red and covers everything. I used a clean toothbrush on my glass cleaning rod to clean the rocks but it is comeing back already. Thanks TA

02/07/2008, 08:26 PM	#2
afernandez Never Quit!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: new york city! Posts: 1,505	whats your po4 level aka phosephate? how many hours a day do you run your lights? __________________ Arlin- Take your time and do it right. Current Tank Info: 120g Apex controller, (2) mp40w Es ,(3) Mp10W Es, Alfa vertex 170, 8 bulb ATI Dimable Sunpower,REEFOCTOPUS-BB-10000, Tunze Ato . 21G MINI-Reef, 250w MH, Mp10Wes

02/07/2008, 08:34 PM	#4
beaglelax Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: monroe, ny Posts: 326	Thats a little bit much i run half that, and i think you have cyno __________________ When life hands you lemons make lemonade Lead follow or get out of the way Current Tank Info: 75 F/O - 220 F/O - 525 F/O for now soon to be reef

02/07/2008, 08:35 PM	#5
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Cut lights back!

02/07/2008, 08:39 PM	#6
Teen Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 411	I have an anemone and i am getting coral is that still ok to cut back the lights?

02/07/2008, 09:12 PM	#7
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Yes, I have 30+ acros. when I get Algae I cut back to 6 Hours per Day. Maybe less, some people shut there lights off for 3 day at a time with cyno,dynos what ever it is depending on how bad it is. For now I would cut back to at least 6 hrs. for a couple of days and see how it looks. Have you done water changes lately. they always help Just a little you don't have many gallons to start with. If you have done one lately then I wouldn't bother. Do you use tap water or RO. If tap that may be your problem. good luck

02/07/2008, 10:37 PM	#8
Teen Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 411	Is that all the lights or just the main? I always leave my LEDs on is that a prob? I use distilled water i get it at the super market. I did use tap water for a while but stoped doing that a few months ago. I do a 3 gallon water change once a week. Thanks for your help. Also i want to get 5 dwarf zebra hermits and 6 turbo snails thinking they will help will they?

02/07/2008, 11:04 PM	#9
Saiyan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 157	The snails will help but with that much light you will have problems. I run my lights for 11 hours and am going to cut back to around 9 when I remember. Every now and then I will leave the lights off for a day or two and that seems to make a difference as well. And I have heard it said that your tank needs some period of no light so I would not leave the LEDs on all the time.

02/07/2008, 11:12 PM	#10
Teen Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 411	Should i just shortan the main lights or the actnic too? Really the LEDS are made to be on all the time. If I turn the LEDs off there will be no light in the room at all, will they run into rocks?

02/07/2008, 11:25 PM	#11
theredben Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 47	just to reassure you, i think the red algae you are having is just some turf algae that is a normal part of a new tank cycle, if you want you can clean it with a toothbrush and vacuum it out, but I would not worry about it until your tank is at least 6 months old. Your lights may be a bit excessive but I think the issue is just a new tank.

02/07/2008, 11:27 PM	#12
Saiyan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 157	The fish will be fine in complete darkness. And you will need to shorten all of the lights. The algae feed off of the light. The person who I saw say that tanks need some period of complete darkness was Melev one of the main experts on this forum and a frequent contributer to the reefkeeping magazine so I would take it as gospel but am just passing on what he wrote to another poster who left his moon lights on all the time.

02/07/2008, 11:37 PM	#14
Teen Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 411	I will set it up so they go off after I fall asleep so i can still watch them at night. How many hours do u think they need of darkness?

02/08/2008, 08:51 AM	#15
basssnake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 838	You need to cut your lights back as everyone else said. If you want a more economical method in regards to a additive, you can use freshwater or saltwater maracyn. The ingredient in it is erthomyicin which will kill cynobacteria since it is a gram postitive(or negative, can't remember which but cyno is the one maracyn will kill) bacteria(not actually a algae). You used to get a 100 tab bottle(1 tablet per 20gallons of saltwater), but now you can't get them. You might try fishmycin which you can get in a larger bottle.