Tank near a window...

Aidan123 · 06/26/2015, 10:00 AM

Hiya,
I have had my tank set up for about 8 months now. About a month ago i had to move the tank into another room because my sister is moving back home. It is now positioned near a window(not opposite) and i feel the extra light is causing more algae growth. I have blacked out the ends of the tank, and this seems to be helping a bit. the tank lights are only on for about 5 hours per day to try and get rid of the algae(green hair). Would running a phosphate reactor perhaps help? Is there any inverts that enjoy eating it?

I am using phosphate remover in the back chambers of my tank (fluval sea m90) but im unsure if this is having an affect or not.

I am using instant ocean salt, and the water from my RODI unit is reading 0PPM prior to salt mixing.

Thanks for reading, any advice is greatly appreciated!

cloak · 06/26/2015, 10:24 AM

Turbo snails have been known to eat GHA, but the phosphate reactor is probably your best bet. Don't overstock, don't overfeed, remove as much detritus as you can on a regular basis etc. GL.

Aidan123 · 06/26/2015, 11:44 AM

i have two sand sifting snails at the moment...would they be okay with turbos?

what reactor would be best? its a 35G(US) tank

many thanks

JammyBirch · 06/26/2015, 11:58 AM

i have a 25g cube with 10g sump and run a "two little fishies" GFO reactor. They are relatively cheap and GFO works well.

My tank is near a window and i do not have significant algae issues. Good luck.

Why don't you kick your sister out of the house?

Aidan123 · 06/26/2015, 12:20 PM

Can you have a reactor without a sump? Im not sure where it would go considering the design of the fluval seas :|

Ideally I would have kicked her out, but shes just came back from 2years in Australia so she can stay...for now

cmanning317 · 06/26/2015, 12:31 PM

They make hob gfo reactors...this would help a lot...but there may be many reasons ....and even more options for removal...fish..nudis...snails...crabs..
Export less feeding ect...

Aidan123 · 06/26/2015, 01:00 PM

Do hob's look okay or a little unsightly?

I have been thinking about stripping the tank and installing a sump in the cabinet as i would quite like a refugium...perhaps this is the kick in the butt i need :P

Dkuhlmann · 06/26/2015, 04:02 PM

Yep, now would be the time to do the upgrade, that's for sure

Mcgeezer · 06/26/2015, 04:30 PM

You should use a high quality GFO like Rowaphos or BRS high capacity. A reactor is ideal, but not 100% necessary. Putting it in a mesh bag, rinsing it, and then placing it in an area of high flow in the sump (inside your baffles or inside the filter sock at the drain) will work.

The most important way to eliminate algae is understanding the source of its growth. Other things are just band aids.

And yes, being next to a window will fuel growth.

Aidan123 · 06/27/2015, 07:03 PM

Where's the best place to buy sump equipment? I'm finding IT difficult to find bulkheads, overflows etc on UK websites.

serbusfish · 06/27/2015, 07:27 PM

I have a hang on reactor as I dont have a sump. The actually reactor isnt an eye sore IMO, it is the pump + piping in the tank that annoys me more. Top right corner:

I wanted a pump which allowed you to alter the piping angle, so went with an Eheim Aquaball. It allows the piping to come off to the right hand side instead of in front, the trade off is its more bulky compared to a smaller pump. The reactor is worth it though, it sorted out all of my hair/slime algae, and my tank has window light hitting it all day.

Xxero · 06/27/2015, 07:42 PM

Red Legged Hermit Crabs and Astraea Snails love green hair algae.

MegIsAwesome06 · 06/27/2015, 10:46 PM

I have a lot of GHA too. I'm going to have to set up a qt tank for all the inverts and whatnot that I want to add. I was thinking a lot of snails and (not algae related, a couple black tuxedo urchins). Guess I have some more research to do!

ETA: until I get the GHA Dinner squad in there, do I just leave it?

tdtreefer · 06/27/2015, 11:59 PM

when you do a water change put the waste water in a bucket, pull your rocks and scrub them, if you dont remove the hair algea it will repolute the tank with phosphates again and again, find out why you have the hair algea is next, over feeding? tap water? to many fish the window, many reasons, but it does consume all phosphate in the water before you will get it to register on a test kit. so scrub those rocks, and yes turbo snails will work with what you have. i had a folwr tank and i used tap water to start it, first tank ever, and i had hair algea that was 4 inches long and covered every single thing in the tank including glass.

a refugium is bennifical for nutrient export, grow algea there not in the main tank, cheato is best. you can get by without a reactor as long as you keep up the maintence, water changes and scrubbing that crap off, and brffore long you wont have to scrub. it will go away.

rt67ghy · 06/28/2015, 01:49 AM

I would go ahead with GFO but be careful not to reduce PO4 too fast; it can cause serious problems for corals and may lead to their deaths. If you don't have one already get a PO4 test kit, better yet a Hanna phosphorus URL checker to measure PO4 and use GFO accordingly. If you decide to get turbos it'll help but remember that when you no longer have HA the turbos will starve to death so you may want to trade them or give them away later.

06/26/2015, 10:00 AM	#1
Aidan123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 57	Tank near a window... Hiya, I have had my tank set up for about 8 months now. About a month ago i had to move the tank into another room because my sister is moving back home. It is now positioned near a window(not opposite) and i feel the extra light is causing more algae growth. I have blacked out the ends of the tank, and this seems to be helping a bit. the tank lights are only on for about 5 hours per day to try and get rid of the algae(green hair). Would running a phosphate reactor perhaps help? Is there any inverts that enjoy eating it? I am using phosphate remover in the back chambers of my tank (fluval sea m90) but im unsure if this is having an affect or not. I am using instant ocean salt, and the water from my RODI unit is reading 0PPM prior to salt mixing. Thanks for reading, any advice is greatly appreciated!

06/26/2015, 11:58 AM	#4
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	i have a 25g cube with 10g sump and run a "two little fishies" GFO reactor. They are relatively cheap and GFO works well. My tank is near a window and i do not have significant algae issues. Good luck. Why don't you kick your sister out of the house? __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

06/26/2015, 04:02 PM	#8
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Yep, now would be the time to do the upgrade, that's for sure __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

06/27/2015, 07:27 PM	#11
serbusfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 710	I have a hang on reactor as I dont have a sump. The actually reactor isnt an eye sore IMO, it is the pump + piping in the tank that annoys me more. Top right corner: I wanted a pump which allowed you to alter the piping angle, so went with an Eheim Aquaball. It allows the piping to come off to the right hand side instead of in front, the trade off is its more bulky compared to a smaller pump. The reactor is worth it though, it sorted out all of my hair/slime algae, and my tank has window light hitting it all day. __________________ 75 Gallon mixed Reef / Ocellaris Clownfish, Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bangaii Cardinal, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, Allen's Damselfish. Progress thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p

06/27/2015, 07:42 PM	#12
Xxero Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,054	Red Legged Hermit Crabs and Astraea Snails love green hair algae. __________________ "You Can Lead A Gift Horse To Water... But You Can't Make Him Look In Your Mouth." Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef Display - 15g Macro Algae/Refugium - 40b Sump

06/26/2015, 10:24 AM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Turbo snails have been known to eat GHA, but the phosphate reactor is probably your best bet. Don't overstock, don't overfeed, remove as much detritus as you can on a regular basis etc. GL.

06/26/2015, 11:44 AM	#3
Aidan123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 57	i have two sand sifting snails at the moment...would they be okay with turbos? what reactor would be best? its a 35G(US) tank many thanks

06/26/2015, 12:20 PM	#5
Aidan123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 57	Can you have a reactor without a sump? Im not sure where it would go considering the design of the fluval seas :\| Ideally I would have kicked her out, but shes just came back from 2years in Australia so she can stay...for now

06/26/2015, 12:31 PM	#6
cmanning317 Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 27	They make hob gfo reactors...this would help a lot...but there may be many reasons ....and even more options for removal...fish..nudis...snails...crabs.. Export less feeding ect...

06/26/2015, 01:00 PM	#7
Aidan123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 57	Do hob's look okay or a little unsightly? I have been thinking about stripping the tank and installing a sump in the cabinet as i would quite like a refugium...perhaps this is the kick in the butt i need :P

06/26/2015, 04:30 PM	#9
Mcgeezer Reef gardener Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: DeLand, Florida Posts: 1,205	You should use a high quality GFO like Rowaphos or BRS high capacity. A reactor is ideal, but not 100% necessary. Putting it in a mesh bag, rinsing it, and then placing it in an area of high flow in the sump (inside your baffles or inside the filter sock at the drain) will work. The most important way to eliminate algae is understanding the source of its growth. Other things are just band aids. And yes, being next to a window will fuel growth.

06/27/2015, 07:03 PM	#10
Aidan123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 57	Where's the best place to buy sump equipment? I'm finding IT difficult to find bulkheads, overflows etc on UK websites.

06/27/2015, 10:46 PM	#13
MegIsAwesome06 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 41	I have a lot of GHA too. I'm going to have to set up a qt tank for all the inverts and whatnot that I want to add. I was thinking a lot of snails and (not algae related, a couple black tuxedo urchins). Guess I have some more research to do! ETA: until I get the GHA Dinner squad in there, do I just leave it?

06/27/2015, 11:59 PM	#14
tdtreefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 98	when you do a water change put the waste water in a bucket, pull your rocks and scrub them, if you dont remove the hair algea it will repolute the tank with phosphates again and again, find out why you have the hair algea is next, over feeding? tap water? to many fish the window, many reasons, but it does consume all phosphate in the water before you will get it to register on a test kit. so scrub those rocks, and yes turbo snails will work with what you have. i had a folwr tank and i used tap water to start it, first tank ever, and i had hair algea that was 4 inches long and covered every single thing in the tank including glass. a refugium is bennifical for nutrient export, grow algea there not in the main tank, cheato is best. you can get by without a reactor as long as you keep up the maintence, water changes and scrubbing that crap off, and brffore long you wont have to scrub. it will go away.

06/28/2015, 01:49 AM	#15
rt67ghy Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh Posts: 984	I would go ahead with GFO but be careful not to reduce PO4 too fast; it can cause serious problems for corals and may lead to their deaths. If you don't have one already get a PO4 test kit, better yet a Hanna phosphorus URL checker to measure PO4 and use GFO accordingly. If you decide to get turbos it'll help but remember that when you no longer have HA the turbos will starve to death so you may want to trade them or give them away later.