What kind of algae is this?

CoRPS · 12/03/2008, 05:10 PM

High Resolution Image

Any idea? What can I do about it? I'm going to lower my photoperiod to 8 hours and on sunday I'm going to do a waterchange, suck as much as I can out and then have a 1 to 3 day dark period. Hopefully my corals do alright.

sir_dudeguy · 12/03/2008, 05:45 PM

Looks like a bit of plain old diatoms (rusty color) mixed w/a bit of bryopsis/hair algae..hard to tell when the hair algae is that small.

I wouldnt bother with the 3 day no-light crap...wont do nothin. I got a vat of rock thats been sitting with no light for months and months and its covered in hair algae. You would need weeks of absolute darkness to kill it that way, at which point, anything else would die as well.

But is the tank just starting? If so, i wouldnt worry, all tanks go through several algae phases, diatoms being the most common. Usually happens after/during the cycle.

I would advise makng sure all your water is the right params (amonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate), make sure you're using RO water, cut your lights to 8 or 6 hours, and make sure you've got a good cleanup crew, and then let them do the work.

CoRPS · 12/03/2008, 05:48 PM

Yeah I think my CUC is lacking. I've got 2-3 hermits, 6-8 astrea (I think) snails and 3 banded trochus snails. I think I should get a bunch more hermits.

Last I checked everything was at zero (amm, nitrite, nitrate, phosphates)

sir_dudeguy · 12/03/2008, 05:52 PM

noo!! no hermits! They suck at cleaning, they just go for whatever is easiest for them to clean. Is this for your 55? if so, i would suggest starting with 5 more astreas, about 10 or so ceriths, a few good sized turbos, and for the heck of it a few nassarius.

i wouldnt bother with the hermits...they dont really clean algae and just go for other snails and kill them for their shells...waste of money IMO if you want a clean tank. Stick with lots of snails. IMO the more the better... IMO, if they're not dieing off due to starvation/lack of algae, then you're not overdoing it with snails.

CoRPS · 12/03/2008, 05:53 PM

lol alright I'll see about getting a couple more tomorrow.

12/03/2008, 05:10 PM	#1
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	What kind of algae is this? High Resolution Image Any idea? What can I do about it? I'm going to lower my photoperiod to 8 hours and on sunday I'm going to do a waterchange, suck as much as I can out and then have a 1 to 3 day dark period. Hopefully my corals do alright.

12/03/2008, 05:45 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Looks like a bit of plain old diatoms (rusty color) mixed w/a bit of bryopsis/hair algae..hard to tell when the hair algae is that small. I wouldnt bother with the 3 day no-light crap...wont do nothin. I got a vat of rock thats been sitting with no light for months and months and its covered in hair algae. You would need weeks of absolute darkness to kill it that way, at which point, anything else would die as well. But is the tank just starting? If so, i wouldnt worry, all tanks go through several algae phases, diatoms being the most common. Usually happens after/during the cycle. I would advise makng sure all your water is the right params (amonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate), make sure you're using RO water, cut your lights to 8 or 6 hours, and make sure you've got a good cleanup crew, and then let them do the work. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

12/03/2008, 05:52 PM	#4
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	noo!! no hermits! They suck at cleaning, they just go for whatever is easiest for them to clean. Is this for your 55? if so, i would suggest starting with 5 more astreas, about 10 or so ceriths, a few good sized turbos, and for the heck of it a few nassarius. i wouldnt bother with the hermits...they dont really clean algae and just go for other snails and kill them for their shells...waste of money IMO if you want a clean tank. Stick with lots of snails. IMO the more the better... IMO, if they're not dieing off due to starvation/lack of algae, then you're not overdoing it with snails. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

12/03/2008, 05:48 PM	#3
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	Yeah I think my CUC is lacking. I've got 2-3 hermits, 6-8 astrea (I think) snails and 3 banded trochus snails. I think I should get a bunch more hermits. Last I checked everything was at zero (amm, nitrite, nitrate, phosphates)

12/03/2008, 05:53 PM	#5
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	lol alright I'll see about getting a couple more tomorrow.