New reef tank with an Algae Boom..

billbrasky · 12/10/2008, 12:14 AM

I have been a fish only guy for about 5 years and now decided to get a new reef tank going. I understand the chemistry relatively well and have had a sudden boom in Cladophora algae. I have only 4 assorted small quarter size soft corals and mushrooms in the tank that are slowly getting overtaken by this new algae. Any ideas on how to rid this type of algae. It is not easy to pull out and it grows back very fast. I wouldn't mind making my next fish an eater of this algae if anyone knows of any. Any ideas would be great. Tank specs are below:

Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate: all at or near 0
calcium: 420ppm
phosphate: 0
temp: 81
salinity:1.022
PH: 8
Carb hardness: 6.5

1 yellow tangs - for the algae
1 - mandarin goby
1 scooter blenny
1 arrowhead crab
3 snails - 4 hermit crabs

there are assorted corals that came with the live rock so I am not sure the exact corals I have. 1 cleaner clam and a dozen feather dusters.

Thanks for any input. I am new to the forum and have heard nothing but good things about the forum so I look forward to your responses. Thanks

billbrasky · 12/10/2008, 12:16 AM

Should have mentioned. It is a 80 gallon tank. Thanks everyone.

Michael · 12/10/2008, 12:38 AM

when your talking about a potential reef, you will need to up the sg to 1.026 and the dkh to 8-12, also you will need to test fro calcium and magnesium, what lighting have you got in there, and flow rates, these are vital as well, welcome to REEF CENTRAL bill, nice to see you here

billbrasky · 12/10/2008, 10:25 AM

Thanks Mike... I currently have a 200 Watt halide light bulb siting roughly 5 inches off the top glass. I can bring up the salinity. How should I go about bringing up the DKH. I test for calcium, what do you recomend for a magnesium test? I currently have a 660GPH pump pushing through three half inch tubes placed throughout the tank. I also have 2 koralia #3's that really move the water. There is a lot of water movement. What do you suggest for the algae? Anything would help. Thanks.

crvz · 12/10/2008, 10:31 AM

You'll need to look at alkalinity as often as you do calcium, as the alkalinity measure (dkh) is even more important for calcification in my opinion. Get a good test kit, I like salifert products.

Not sure about the algae, do you have a measure of nitrate for the tank? And welcome aboard!

billbrasky · 12/10/2008, 10:53 PM

I have close to no nitrates if any. Any ideas on any algae eaters

Michael · 12/11/2008, 01:25 AM

to maintain dkh there are a few ways, dkh buffer or baking soda is 1 way, although be careful how you add it, ph can be effected if not used sensibly, a salt mix with a higher natural dkh level and regular water changes is another, there are others, i will post some info later, as for the algae, reduce light on times for now, run rowaphos or phosban, keep detritus from sttling in stangnunt areas of the tank, regular maintenance will help there, keep the skimmer clean and functuning, anything that can remove organic waste, nitrate phosphate etc, this will all help, as for test kits i use salifert or tropic marin myself, the salifert kits are quite popular among our little community here, i personally think they are the best hobby kits available, im sure there are others

mg426 · 12/11/2008, 01:43 AM

Whatever you place into your system to eat algae has to poop. Therefore the Nutrient cycle will continue. Cleanup crews do help some but the primary culprit here is excess nutrients most likely in the form of phosphate and or Nitrate. Your measurments for these nutrients are coming up zero because the algae feeds off the Nitrate and PO4 as fast as it enters the water. A VERY handy item these days is a Phosphate reactor. A pretty cheap device that allows you to run GFO. GFO is very good at binding Phosphate and removing it from your system. Another very usefull item is a refugium with macro algaes growing. Chaeto is very good at consuming excess nutrients. Also a Deep sand Bed will help reduce nitrates to manangable levels.

BNS77 · 12/11/2008, 01:16 PM

Bill, How long are you running your lights? May try cutting back 15-30 min at a time. I had a initial algae bloom when I set mine up also, and very soon after adding a 250W MH. I initially ran them for 10hrs a day but was told to cut them back in increments to about 8-9 and within a week the bloom was almost completely gone.

12/10/2008, 12:14 AM	#1
billbrasky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 7	New reef tank with an Algae Boom.. I have been a fish only guy for about 5 years and now decided to get a new reef tank going. I understand the chemistry relatively well and have had a sudden boom in Cladophora algae. I have only 4 assorted small quarter size soft corals and mushrooms in the tank that are slowly getting overtaken by this new algae. Any ideas on how to rid this type of algae. It is not easy to pull out and it grows back very fast. I wouldn't mind making my next fish an eater of this algae if anyone knows of any. Any ideas would be great. Tank specs are below: Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate: all at or near 0 calcium: 420ppm phosphate: 0 temp: 81 salinity:1.022 PH: 8 Carb hardness: 6.5 1 yellow tangs - for the algae 1 - mandarin goby 1 scooter blenny 1 arrowhead crab 3 snails - 4 hermit crabs there are assorted corals that came with the live rock so I am not sure the exact corals I have. 1 cleaner clam and a dozen feather dusters. Thanks for any input. I am new to the forum and have heard nothing but good things about the forum so I look forward to your responses. Thanks

12/10/2008, 10:31 AM	#5
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	You'll need to look at alkalinity as often as you do calcium, as the alkalinity measure (dkh) is even more important for calcification in my opinion. Get a good test kit, I like salifert products. Not sure about the algae, do you have a measure of nitrate for the tank? And welcome aboard! __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

12/11/2008, 01:25 AM	#7
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	to maintain dkh there are a few ways, dkh buffer or baking soda is 1 way, although be careful how you add it, ph can be effected if not used sensibly, a salt mix with a higher natural dkh level and regular water changes is another, there are others, i will post some info later, as for the algae, reduce light on times for now, run rowaphos or phosban, keep detritus from sttling in stangnunt areas of the tank, regular maintenance will help there, keep the skimmer clean and functuning, anything that can remove organic waste, nitrate phosphate etc, this will all help, as for test kits i use salifert or tropic marin myself, the salifert kits are quite popular among our little community here, i personally think they are the best hobby kits available, im sure there are others __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

12/11/2008, 01:43 AM	#8
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Whatever you place into your system to eat algae has to poop. Therefore the Nutrient cycle will continue. Cleanup crews do help some but the primary culprit here is excess nutrients most likely in the form of phosphate and or Nitrate. Your measurments for these nutrients are coming up zero because the algae feeds off the Nitrate and PO4 as fast as it enters the water. A VERY handy item these days is a Phosphate reactor. A pretty cheap device that allows you to run GFO. GFO is very good at binding Phosphate and removing it from your system. Another very usefull item is a refugium with macro algaes growing. Chaeto is very good at consuming excess nutrients. Also a Deep sand Bed will help reduce nitrates to manangable levels. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

12/10/2008, 12:16 AM	#2
billbrasky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 7	Should have mentioned. It is a 80 gallon tank. Thanks everyone.

12/10/2008, 12:38 AM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	when your talking about a potential reef, you will need to up the sg to 1.026 and the dkh to 8-12, also you will need to test fro calcium and magnesium, what lighting have you got in there, and flow rates, these are vital as well, welcome to REEF CENTRAL bill, nice to see you here __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

12/10/2008, 10:25 AM	#4
billbrasky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 7	Thanks Mike... I currently have a 200 Watt halide light bulb siting roughly 5 inches off the top glass. I can bring up the salinity. How should I go about bringing up the DKH. I test for calcium, what do you recomend for a magnesium test? I currently have a 660GPH pump pushing through three half inch tubes placed throughout the tank. I also have 2 koralia #3's that really move the water. There is a lot of water movement. What do you suggest for the algae? Anything would help. Thanks.

12/10/2008, 10:53 PM	#6
billbrasky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 7	I have close to no nitrates if any. Any ideas on any algae eaters

12/11/2008, 01:16 PM	#9
BNS77 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 124	Bill, How long are you running your lights? May try cutting back 15-30 min at a time. I had a initial algae bloom when I set mine up also, and very soon after adding a 250W MH. I initially ran them for 10hrs a day but was told to cut them back in increments to about 8-9 and within a week the bloom was almost completely gone.