Algae Bloom

hockyfn30 · 03/19/2008, 09:01 PM

I was wondering how long everybody thinks it takes for a tank to become "established"? I set up my 40 gallon mixed reef in May 2007 and within the last two or three weeks there has been a huge amount of hair algae and cyanobacteria showing up. Could this still just be part of the normal start up process of a tank or should I start looking into something else that could be causing the problem.

I do 10-15% water changes weekly using RO/DI water. I have tried to cut back feeding to once a day or once every other day. I don't know how long these changes should take effect indeed they were the cause of the problem. Any advice or suggestions is much appreciated

demonsp · 03/19/2008, 09:08 PM

You need to know your water readings and phosphate and nitrate are top two.Then flow. Whats used for water flow in there?

hockyfn30 · 03/19/2008, 09:11 PM

Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate all 0. I don't have a kit for testing phosphate so can't give you that one but hypothetically, if the algae is growing by taking in the phosphate would the reading be 0 or at least inaccurate? As for water flow I have two Koralia 2's in opposite corners creating a sort of whirlpool effect with the live rock creating some turbulance.

demonsp · 03/19/2008, 09:17 PM

Flow sounds alright.This may help.

http://netclub.athiel.com/cyano/cyanos2.htm

Aquarist007 · 03/19/2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hockyfn30
I was wondering how long everybody thinks it takes for a tank to become "established"? I set up my 40 gallon mixed reef in May 2007 and within the last two or three weeks there has been a huge amount of hair algae and cyanobacteria showing up. Could this still just be part of the normal start up process of a tank or should I start looking into something else that could be causing the problem.

I do 10-15% water changes weekly using RO/DI water. I have tried to cut back feeding to once a day or once every other day. I don't know how long these changes should take effect indeed they were the cause of the problem. Any advice or suggestions is much appreciated

check on this thread for more ideas for fighting algae:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1329802

Avi · 03/19/2008, 09:24 PM

I'd say that you're outside the period during which you'd want to tolerate a growth like that of hair algae. How much live rock do you have in the reef and is your skimmer working effectively? Also, what kind of fish/invert population do you have?

With what you've said so far, hocky, I'd have to say that the growth of the hair algae is substantially supported by phosphates. I'm not sure I understant completely what you mean when you say ask if it's the phosphate "would the reading be 0 or at least inaccurate?" But even if you test and the phosphate reading is 0, it still may well be an excess of phosphate that's the cause. So, in any event, I'd recommend that you get a phosphate reactor and use a good quality phosphate-removing medium in it with an appropriate small water-pump.

hockyfn30 · 03/19/2008, 09:35 PM

If I can remember correctly I think there about 75 or 80 lbs of live rock in the tank. Currently have 3 chromis, two ocellaris clownfish, six-line wrasse and yellow watchman goby. As for inverts, 4 turbo snails, 1 emerald crab, 10-15 hermit crabs and a few other snails (astrea/necerrius sp?, two brittle stars)

If I am outside of that start-up "window" then yes I agree that there is an excess of DOC in the tank and since the nitrate is reading 0 then we can assume that it is the phosphate. The new question then is that since the tank is not drilled and I do not have any sort of sump or refugium, is it even possible to hook up a phosphate reactor or is there some other means of phosphate removal? If I continue suction up whatever algae I can and continue to limit the sources of phosphate (feeding sparingly, efficient skimming) would the biological filtration of the live rock out compete the hair/cyano algae into equilibrium or do I have to be more proactive about the phosphate removal.

Aquarist007 · 03/19/2008, 09:44 PM

the two little fishes phosban reactor can hook onto the side of your tank and is quite effective for reducing the phosphate level

seapug · 03/19/2008, 10:14 PM

capn' said it, not me....

Aquarist007 · 03/19/2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by seapug
capn' said it, not me....

what did I say this time

shakanoi · 03/19/2008, 11:49 PM

you will also need something to eat all the algae you currently have, like a bunch of hermits or sea hare...

03/19/2008, 09:01 PM	#1
hockyfn30 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 81	Algae Bloom I was wondering how long everybody thinks it takes for a tank to become "established"? I set up my 40 gallon mixed reef in May 2007 and within the last two or three weeks there has been a huge amount of hair algae and cyanobacteria showing up. Could this still just be part of the normal start up process of a tank or should I start looking into something else that could be causing the problem. I do 10-15% water changes weekly using RO/DI water. I have tried to cut back feeding to once a day or once every other day. I don't know how long these changes should take effect indeed they were the cause of the problem. Any advice or suggestions is much appreciated

03/19/2008, 09:11 PM	#3
hockyfn30 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 81	Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate all 0. I don't have a kit for testing phosphate so can't give you that one but hypothetically, if the algae is growing by taking in the phosphate would the reading be 0 or at least inaccurate? As for water flow I have two Koralia 2's in opposite corners creating a sort of whirlpool effect with the live rock creating some turbulance. __________________ Current Tank Info - 60g sps/zoa reef, 2x175 MH w/ 2x54W T5, 40g sump, 2x Koralia 3, SW150 skimmer, Eheim 1060 return pump Current Tank Info: 60g sps/zoa reef, 2x175 MH w/ 2x54W T5, 40g sump, 2x Koralia 3, SC65 skimmer, Eheim 1060 return pump

03/19/2008, 09:24 PM	#6
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I'd say that you're outside the period during which you'd want to tolerate a growth like that of hair algae. How much live rock do you have in the reef and is your skimmer working effectively? Also, what kind of fish/invert population do you have? With what you've said so far, hocky, I'd have to say that the growth of the hair algae is substantially supported by phosphates. I'm not sure I understant completely what you mean when you say ask if it's the phosphate "would the reading be 0 or at least inaccurate?" But even if you test and the phosphate reading is 0, it still may well be an excess of phosphate that's the cause. So, in any event, I'd recommend that you get a phosphate reactor and use a good quality phosphate-removing medium in it with an appropriate small water-pump. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

03/19/2008, 09:35 PM	#7
hockyfn30 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 81	If I can remember correctly I think there about 75 or 80 lbs of live rock in the tank. Currently have 3 chromis, two ocellaris clownfish, six-line wrasse and yellow watchman goby. As for inverts, 4 turbo snails, 1 emerald crab, 10-15 hermit crabs and a few other snails (astrea/necerrius sp?, two brittle stars) If I am outside of that start-up "window" then yes I agree that there is an excess of DOC in the tank and since the nitrate is reading 0 then we can assume that it is the phosphate. The new question then is that since the tank is not drilled and I do not have any sort of sump or refugium, is it even possible to hook up a phosphate reactor or is there some other means of phosphate removal? If I continue suction up whatever algae I can and continue to limit the sources of phosphate (feeding sparingly, efficient skimming) would the biological filtration of the live rock out compete the hair/cyano algae into equilibrium or do I have to be more proactive about the phosphate removal. __________________ Current Tank Info - 60g sps/zoa reef, 2x175 MH w/ 2x54W T5, 40g sump, 2x Koralia 3, SW150 skimmer, Eheim 1060 return pump Current Tank Info: 60g sps/zoa reef, 2x175 MH w/ 2x54W T5, 40g sump, 2x Koralia 3, SC65 skimmer, Eheim 1060 return pump

03/19/2008, 09:44 PM	#8
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	the two little fishes phosban reactor can hook onto the side of your tank and is quite effective for reducing the phosphate level __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

03/19/2008, 09:08 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	You need to know your water readings and phosphate and nitrate are top two.Then flow. Whats used for water flow in there?

03/19/2008, 09:17 PM	#4
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Flow sounds alright.This may help. http://netclub.athiel.com/cyano/cyanos2.htm

03/19/2008, 10:14 PM	#9
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	capn' said it, not me.... __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/19/2008, 11:49 PM	#11
shakanoi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 52	you will also need something to eat all the algae you currently have, like a bunch of hermits or sea hare...