2 problems... HELP

WVgals · 04/23/2013, 06:26 PM

So in this pic u see my blue damsel, 2 days ago i noticed a white flake on its tail and with all the talk of ich Im worried cause I dont know what it is!
2. Also in the pic you can see we have been battling a run of hair algae no doubt self afflicted (im sure)

due to topping off with tap water (1st lesson learned)... Last week we got our clean up crew of:

2- brittle stars
2- scarlet legs
100- blue legs
50- snails (asst)
2- shaving brushes
6- pep shrimp

They have done a great job of clean up but looks like they are slowing down. I still do not have a auto top off system (yet) but have been topping off with RO water for the past 2 weeks now. The fish (3 chromis, 1 domino damsel, 1 blue damsel, 1 clown (biggest fish), 1 watchman goby) seem to be happy happy happy, as do the corals (zoas, greenstar, dunken). My tank just doesnt look as happy as I would like... so suggestions please...

Mandy

MARINECRITTERS · 04/23/2013, 06:28 PM

I doubt it is ich as it is too big. Looks like a war wound from that other damsel, a very aggressive species. I would recommend getting rid of one of them, if not both, they tend to pick on other fish.
It is going to be impossible to remove all that algae without physically going in their and "cooking" the rock, since you have been using tap water the rock has absorbed phosphates and will release them causing more algae, there is not much you can do to fix the usage of tap water other then too do some very aggressive water changes or drain the tank and start over.

That being said the war of algae can be beaten but it will take some expensive equipment such as a, large protein skimmer, GFO reactor, RODI unit, refugium, algae scrubber, bio pellet reactor, and so on. Vital equipment right now would be your own RODI unit ( trust me they pay for them selves ), a large skimmer ( if you don't already have one ), and finally a phosphate/GFO reactor.

BTW a clean up crew is just a bandaid for the problem, it will cover it up but if you do not get to the root of the problem, then it will come back. The root meaning what is the algae feeding on.

WVgals · 04/23/2013, 06:28 PM

I dont know how to get all the info about my tank in my name line... sorry... U will want to know that its a 120g. reef, 100# LR, skimmer

04/23/2013, 06:28 PM	#2
MARINECRITTERS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 1,525	I doubt it is ich as it is too big. Looks like a war wound from that other damsel, a very aggressive species. I would recommend getting rid of one of them, if not both, they tend to pick on other fish. It is going to be impossible to remove all that algae without physically going in their and "cooking" the rock, since you have been using tap water the rock has absorbed phosphates and will release them causing more algae, there is not much you can do to fix the usage of tap water other then too do some very aggressive water changes or drain the tank and start over. That being said the war of algae can be beaten but it will take some expensive equipment such as a, large protein skimmer, GFO reactor, RODI unit, refugium, algae scrubber, bio pellet reactor, and so on. Vital equipment right now would be your own RODI unit ( trust me they pay for them selves ), a large skimmer ( if you don't already have one ), and finally a phosphate/GFO reactor. BTW a clean up crew is just a bandaid for the problem, it will cover it up but if you do not get to the root of the problem, then it will come back. The root meaning what is the algae feeding on. __________________ MarineCritters, life in the sea is superb Current Tank Info: 91 Gallon Reef Last edited by MARINECRITTERS; 04/23/2013 at 06:36 PM.

04/23/2013, 06:28 PM	#3
WVgals Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Morgantown, WV Posts: 14	I dont know how to get all the info about my tank in my name line... sorry... U will want to know that its a 120g. reef, 100# LR, skimmer