How much is overfeeding?

zero26 · 08/18/2009, 03:07 PM

Ok guys trying to nail down why this Hair algae is spreading like wildfire. I use a Bulk reef 5 stage ro/di, bulbs are 6 t5's that are 3 months old the tank is also 3 months old. Cheato in the fuge, octo nwb 150 skimmer.

My question is do I overfeed? I have 2 percs, yellow tang, blue devil damsel, baggani cardinal, tomato clown, firefish goby, solar fairy wrasse, sixline wrasse, and a lawnmower blenney. I have started feeding every other day, I also started feeding only frozen mysis, a half cube. Is this too much?

Sisterlimonpot · 08/18/2009, 03:09 PM

It doesn't sound like over feeding. Do they eat all of it or does it settle to the bottom of the tank, what is your lighting period like? And what are your nitrate and phosphate readings?

zero26 · 08/18/2009, 03:12 PM

They eat it pretty much all. I have cut back my lighting to only 4 hours, all my readings are zero.

MrRyanT · 08/18/2009, 03:13 PM

I feed 2 cubes/day and have fewer fish than you, so I would say no that's not too much. Have you checked the TDS of the water coming out of the RO/DI unit? Are you feeding anything else? You've gotta have nitrates/phosphates coming from somewhere. Are you using GFO? or anything to remove phosphate?

Sisterlimonpot · 08/18/2009, 03:13 PM

how old is your tank?

cloak · 08/18/2009, 03:31 PM

Seems like alot of fish for a three month old 90 gallon reef tank. I think you might have gone to fast. Keep up on the water changes, clean any filter socks or foam pads frequently, cut back on the feedings, make sure your skimmer is working properly, and check your RO/DI water. Might just have to wait it out.

sue711 · 08/19/2009, 06:30 AM

IMHO 1/2 cube is no way near enough food for that many fish, even on a daily basis (for that many fish I would feed about 2 cubes of various thawed foods a day at least). I too, think your algae is due to adding too much stuff too soon. Like other posters have said, keep up with weekly, and maybe even twice weekly water changes, pull off as much of the algae by hand making sure to not spread any loose filaments while you do this (do this a bit at a time as it is very tedious), make sure you have good water movement, use GFO and AC. Do you rinse off your thawed food with RO water before feeding? Get a coupe of turbo snails in there too. Patience is the key in this hobby.

Don't start adding chemicals to get rid of the GHA, your tank is young and it needs time to mature and balance.

willwork4frags · 08/19/2009, 07:28 AM

What do you have in the way of a CUC? Also, as mentioned above, what are your water parameters. I would not worry to much about the PO4 reading as it is probably low. It is being used up by the algae in the tank fueling it to grow.

Water changes and patience.

jlemoine2 · 08/19/2009, 10:16 AM

I agree with cloak. You have quite a few fish for a 3 month old tank. You probably don't have beneficial bacteria built up enough to support the livestock. All of his suggestions for waiting it out are great. Keep up on the maintenance (especially water changes), and it'll be fine in a few months. Continue feeding every-other day until the problem clears up.

08/18/2009, 03:07 PM	#1
zero26 MoneyPit Maestro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Washington MO Posts: 1,866	How much is overfeeding? Ok guys trying to nail down why this Hair algae is spreading like wildfire. I use a Bulk reef 5 stage ro/di, bulbs are 6 t5's that are 3 months old the tank is also 3 months old. Cheato in the fuge, octo nwb 150 skimmer. My question is do I overfeed? I have 2 percs, yellow tang, blue devil damsel, baggani cardinal, tomato clown, firefish goby, solar fairy wrasse, sixline wrasse, and a lawnmower blenney. I have started feeding every other day, I also started feeding only frozen mysis, a half cube. Is this too much?

08/18/2009, 03:09 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	It doesn't sound like over feeding. Do they eat all of it or does it settle to the bottom of the tank, what is your lighting period like? And what are your nitrate and phosphate readings? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

08/18/2009, 03:13 PM	#4
MrRyanT MrRyanT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,731	I feed 2 cubes/day and have fewer fish than you, so I would say no that's not too much. Have you checked the TDS of the water coming out of the RO/DI unit? Are you feeding anything else? You've gotta have nitrates/phosphates coming from somewhere. Are you using GFO? or anything to remove phosphate? __________________ We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle Current Tank Info: 30 gal display

08/18/2009, 03:13 PM	#5
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	how old is your tank? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

08/19/2009, 06:30 AM	#7
sue711 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MA, USA Posts: 270	IMHO 1/2 cube is no way near enough food for that many fish, even on a daily basis (for that many fish I would feed about 2 cubes of various thawed foods a day at least). I too, think your algae is due to adding too much stuff too soon. Like other posters have said, keep up with weekly, and maybe even twice weekly water changes, pull off as much of the algae by hand making sure to not spread any loose filaments while you do this (do this a bit at a time as it is very tedious), make sure you have good water movement, use GFO and AC. Do you rinse off your thawed food with RO water before feeding? Get a coupe of turbo snails in there too. Patience is the key in this hobby. Don't start adding chemicals to get rid of the GHA, your tank is young and it needs time to mature and balance. Last edited by sue711; 08/19/2009 at 06:35 AM.

08/18/2009, 03:12 PM	#3
zero26 MoneyPit Maestro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Washington MO Posts: 1,866	They eat it pretty much all. I have cut back my lighting to only 4 hours, all my readings are zero.

08/18/2009, 03:31 PM	#6
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Seems like alot of fish for a three month old 90 gallon reef tank. I think you might have gone to fast. Keep up on the water changes, clean any filter socks or foam pads frequently, cut back on the feedings, make sure your skimmer is working properly, and check your RO/DI water. Might just have to wait it out.

08/19/2009, 07:28 AM	#8
willwork4frags Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 52	What do you have in the way of a CUC? Also, as mentioned above, what are your water parameters. I would not worry to much about the PO4 reading as it is probably low. It is being used up by the algae in the tank fueling it to grow. Water changes and patience.

08/19/2009, 10:16 AM	#9
jlemoine2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 200	I agree with cloak. You have quite a few fish for a 3 month old tank. You probably don't have beneficial bacteria built up enough to support the livestock. All of his suggestions for waiting it out are great. Keep up on the maintenance (especially water changes), and it'll be fine in a few months. Continue feeding every-other day until the problem clears up. __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef w/ 40 gallon frag tank.