Algae advice

HONDACBR600RR · 10/22/2009, 10:37 PM

So I have a 38 gallon tank set up for 6 weeks now, the cycle is not totally complete, however after upgrading my lights to 2x96 pc, and doing a 15 gallon water change this week, I am having alot of algae growing on the glass and in the overflow box. I am working to get the tank temp down to about 75 from 78 degrees by turning the air conditioner up, I dont have a chiller. My question is, before the water change, my nitrate was .5, if I add more snails and inverts, will this help the problem, or am I wise to just cut back the lights. My problem is I dont have a timer, and I work 11 hour days, and if I leave them off all day while im at work, I worry about my corals, kenya frag, donapora, and my anemone. Any advice is much appreciated.

drywallninja · 10/22/2009, 10:48 PM

What color is the algae?78 degrees is fine for a reef tank.You dont need turn your AC up

HONDACBR600RR · 10/22/2009, 10:50 PM

It is a green/brown color.

drywallninja · 10/22/2009, 10:54 PM

Could just be diatoms.it will go away soon enough.its part of a new tank cycle.A good clean up crew will help.Do you use RO water?

HONDACBR600RR · 10/22/2009, 10:57 PM

Yeh all water has been r/o , and salinity is perfect, if I add more snails/hermits, will this affect my bioload? Will I raise my (nitrite/nitrate) I confuse the 2. I dont want to further worsen my current water parameters, I want to let it settle before I add any more fish, but Im wondering if my 6 snails/ and 6 hermits is sufficient.

drywallninja · 10/22/2009, 11:02 PM

Ya it is.I dont think you need to put any more livestock right now.Your tank is still cycling.You tank is small too.So you dont want to ad a lot of fish.Do you have a protein skimmer?

HONDACBR600RR · 10/22/2009, 11:06 PM

Yeh, I have a 75 gallon wet/dry, and also have a protein skimmer, 3 clowns, 1 goby, 2 damsels. I went crazy and added too fast, now im dealing with a endless cycle, so I want to be sure I do what ever it takes to make sure my existing tankmates are gonna make it.

drywallninja · 10/22/2009, 11:12 PM

Your good on fish dude.Ya just be patient.Once your tank fully cycles that brown algae(diatoms) will go away.Not a big deal!Welcome to RC man!There is tons of super smart reefers on here.Check you thread tomorrow.Im sure there will be all kinds of expert advice

Flipper62 · 10/22/2009, 11:27 PM

First....your still going through your cycle....Your going to get green & brown algae, Its part of the cycle, What you need to do is puff off the rocks with a turkey baster, then do a water change & suck that crap out. You will have to do it a few times..

get a good CUC ( clean up crew )....In a 38 gallon, I would say

10 - turbo snails
10 - Asterea snails
10 - nassarius snails....for the sand bed
5 - hermit crabs

PRDubois · 10/22/2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flipper62

First....your still going through your cycle....Your going to get green & brown algae, Its part of the cycle, What you need to do is puff off the rocks with a turkey baster, then do a water change & suck that crap out. You will have to do it a few times..

+2
Also, spend $5 and get a timer for the lights. Main Lights should be on for 8 hr
or less.

In a 38 gallon, I would say

5 - turbo snails
10 - Asterea snails
40 - nassarius snails....for the sand bed
5 - hermit crabs

10/22/2009, 10:37 PM	#1
HONDACBR600RR Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 185	Algae advice So I have a 38 gallon tank set up for 6 weeks now, the cycle is not totally complete, however after upgrading my lights to 2x96 pc, and doing a 15 gallon water change this week, I am having alot of algae growing on the glass and in the overflow box. I am working to get the tank temp down to about 75 from 78 degrees by turning the air conditioner up, I dont have a chiller. My question is, before the water change, my nitrate was .5, if I add more snails and inverts, will this help the problem, or am I wise to just cut back the lights. My problem is I dont have a timer, and I work 11 hour days, and if I leave them off all day while im at work, I worry about my corals, kenya frag, donapora, and my anemone. Any advice is much appreciated.

10/22/2009, 11:27 PM	#9
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	First....your still going through your cycle....Your going to get green & brown algae, Its part of the cycle, What you need to do is puff off the rocks with a turkey baster, then do a water change & suck that crap out. You will have to do it a few times.. get a good CUC ( clean up crew )....In a 38 gallon, I would say 10 - turbo snails 10 - Asterea snails 10 - nassarius snails....for the sand bed 5 - hermit crabs __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

10/22/2009, 10:48 PM	#2
drywallninja Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rocklin CA Posts: 93	What color is the algae?78 degrees is fine for a reef tank.You dont need turn your AC up

10/22/2009, 10:50 PM	#3
HONDACBR600RR Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 185	It is a green/brown color.

10/22/2009, 10:54 PM	#4
drywallninja Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rocklin CA Posts: 93	Could just be diatoms.it will go away soon enough.its part of a new tank cycle.A good clean up crew will help.Do you use RO water?

10/22/2009, 10:57 PM	#5
HONDACBR600RR Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 185	Yeh all water has been r/o , and salinity is perfect, if I add more snails/hermits, will this affect my bioload? Will I raise my (nitrite/nitrate) I confuse the 2. I dont want to further worsen my current water parameters, I want to let it settle before I add any more fish, but Im wondering if my 6 snails/ and 6 hermits is sufficient.

10/22/2009, 11:02 PM	#6
drywallninja Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rocklin CA Posts: 93	Ya it is.I dont think you need to put any more livestock right now.Your tank is still cycling.You tank is small too.So you dont want to ad a lot of fish.Do you have a protein skimmer?

10/22/2009, 11:06 PM	#7
HONDACBR600RR Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 185	Yeh, I have a 75 gallon wet/dry, and also have a protein skimmer, 3 clowns, 1 goby, 2 damsels. I went crazy and added too fast, now im dealing with a endless cycle, so I want to be sure I do what ever it takes to make sure my existing tankmates are gonna make it.

10/22/2009, 11:12 PM	#8
drywallninja Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rocklin CA Posts: 93	Your good on fish dude.Ya just be patient.Once your tank fully cycles that brown algae(diatoms) will go away.Not a big deal!Welcome to RC man!There is tons of super smart reefers on here.Check you thread tomorrow.Im sure there will be all kinds of expert advice