Phytoplankton

ccoons43 · 10/13/2006, 07:47 PM

I recieved a bottle of phytoplanton with some sand I purchased and the instructions stated to dose the tank daily and I was doing this and after a couple of days I noticed a brown algae bloom. how many people use this and is this normal? I stoped for a few days and the algae started to diminish. Should I try again or let it go?

andyrew · 10/13/2006, 07:58 PM

I think you need to provide a little more info. Firstly why are you adding plankton to your tank?? How old is your tank? What is in your tank?? Is this the only thing that has changed in your tank since the algea started. etc etc.

Adding any kind organic matter is adding bioload to your tank. Depending on what you have in your tank its unlikely there is a good reason to dose your tank with plankton and in general there is little reason to "dose" your tank with the various supplements and additives that aquarium companies tell us to-(not always, pre se, but often). Overall though I would look up the causes of algea growth, there are some good articels on RC and probably stop dosing the plankton.

ccoons43 · 10/13/2006, 08:04 PM

currently My tank is 55 gal fowlr that I am in the process of changing to areef(no corals yet) it has been set up for 4 months with approx 45 lbs of live rock. I just added the sand for a 3" dsb and the phytoplankton came with it. It contained instructions on how to use the phytoplanton and that is what i followed

andyrew · 10/13/2006, 08:08 PM

hmmmm..... i dont know anything about phytonplankon for a dbs, but since the sand bed is new its probably going through a normal cycle so the algea will pass. If you reduce your feeding and light schedule for a a couple weeks the tank will probably fix itself.

ccoons43 · 10/13/2006, 08:11 PM

Thank you for your help. I will stop using it.

Paintbug · 10/13/2006, 08:15 PM

sounds like a diatom bloom from adding the new sand. thats normal like andyrew said, and will pass. what the phytoplankton will do is feed the pods, and other small creatures in the sand and liverock. i wouldnt stop using it, its going to do more good than bad.

aquarius77 · 10/13/2006, 11:48 PM

Maybe use half of what it says and see how things go for a few days.

ccoons43 · 10/14/2006, 02:29 AM

I was only using half because I figured a 55 gal is not that large so instead of 2 times a day I was only adding it 1 time a day.

andyrew · 10/14/2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ccoons43
I was only using half because I figured a 55 gal is not that large so instead of 2 times a day I was only adding it 1 time a day.

There should be instruction on the bottle outlining how much and how often.

10/13/2006, 07:47 PM	#1
ccoons43 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 141	Phytoplankton I recieved a bottle of phytoplanton with some sand I purchased and the instructions stated to dose the tank daily and I was doing this and after a couple of days I noticed a brown algae bloom. how many people use this and is this normal? I stoped for a few days and the algae started to diminish. Should I try again or let it go?

10/13/2006, 08:04 PM	#3
ccoons43 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 141	currently My tank is 55 gal fowlr that I am in the process of changing to areef(no corals yet) it has been set up for 4 months with approx 45 lbs of live rock. I just added the sand for a 3" dsb and the phytoplankton came with it. It contained instructions on how to use the phytoplanton and that is what i followed __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Display, 20 gal sump, 30 lbs LR, 1X seio 820, 1X seio 620, 1x Koralia #3, 1x Koralia #4, 2x 175W Halides W/ Ushio 20 K, 4x 55W PC's, Mated Pair of Ocelleris Clowns, 1 Cromis, LPS, SPS Frags

10/13/2006, 08:11 PM	#5
ccoons43 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 141	Thank you for your help. I will stop using it. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Display, 20 gal sump, 30 lbs LR, 1X seio 820, 1X seio 620, 1x Koralia #3, 1x Koralia #4, 2x 175W Halides W/ Ushio 20 K, 4x 55W PC's, Mated Pair of Ocelleris Clowns, 1 Cromis, LPS, SPS Frags

10/13/2006, 08:15 PM	#6
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	sounds like a diatom bloom from adding the new sand. thats normal like andyrew said, and will pass. what the phytoplankton will do is feed the pods, and other small creatures in the sand and liverock. i wouldnt stop using it, its going to do more good than bad. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

10/14/2006, 02:29 AM	#8
ccoons43 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 141	I was only using half because I figured a 55 gal is not that large so instead of 2 times a day I was only adding it 1 time a day. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Display, 20 gal sump, 30 lbs LR, 1X seio 820, 1X seio 620, 1x Koralia #3, 1x Koralia #4, 2x 175W Halides W/ Ushio 20 K, 4x 55W PC's, Mated Pair of Ocelleris Clowns, 1 Cromis, LPS, SPS Frags

10/13/2006, 07:58 PM	#2
andyrew Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: vancouver, canada Posts: 143	I think you need to provide a little more info. Firstly why are you adding plankton to your tank?? How old is your tank? What is in your tank?? Is this the only thing that has changed in your tank since the algea started. etc etc. Adding any kind organic matter is adding bioload to your tank. Depending on what you have in your tank its unlikely there is a good reason to dose your tank with plankton and in general there is little reason to "dose" your tank with the various supplements and additives that aquarium companies tell us to-(not always, pre se, but often). Overall though I would look up the causes of algea growth, there are some good articels on RC and probably stop dosing the plankton.

10/13/2006, 08:08 PM	#4
andyrew Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: vancouver, canada Posts: 143	hmmmm..... i dont know anything about phytonplankon for a dbs, but since the sand bed is new its probably going through a normal cycle so the algea will pass. If you reduce your feeding and light schedule for a a couple weeks the tank will probably fix itself.

10/13/2006, 11:48 PM	#7
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	Maybe use half of what it says and see how things go for a few days.