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10/04/2009, 08:45 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: South FL
Posts: 244
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SOS: The dreaded hair algea
Hey, my tank has been up and running now for close to a year. It is just a 12 gallon nano dx. I am having a huge problem with algae. I had red slime , now I am getting hair algae and the bubble algae( you know the little green balls that if popped are all bad news) Just need a little advice on what to do now. I was thinking possibly about getting a conch I hear they are good for that. If anyone knows anything let me know. Thanks !!
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10/04/2009, 08:47 PM
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#2 | |
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Quote:
how often do you change the water in the nano? Overfeeding is one of the big reasons for algae along with using tap water for water changes---adds nitrates and phosphates--the fuel for algae. Also have you changed the lighting yet---after a year the spectrum will have shifted on those bulbs into a range that algae love
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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 |
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10/04/2009, 08:52 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: South FL
Posts: 244
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I dont know about the lighting it may have only been about 6 months but I am the queen of over feeding. I do regualr water changes but if I increase water changes will that help take care of it?
Last edited by fishstick3; 10/04/2009 at 08:54 PM. Reason: submitted it to |
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10/04/2009, 08:57 PM
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#4 | |
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Quote:
increased water changes will help but will be negated by over feeding. You need to feed way less at a time and try not to rely soley on flake food. Once a week take a turkey baster and baste the reef rock and substrate with it---this helps get the fuel for algae into the water column where it can be filtered off or taken out with the water change.
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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 |
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10/05/2009, 04:51 AM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 109
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Not trying to thread jack - or go off topic too far, but speaking of lights and hair algae, what color spectrum should i get (T5) has 12000k in it now, algae grows like mad.
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10/05/2009, 09:00 AM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: South FL
Posts: 244
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yeah I dont know much about lights . what is acceptable, what is good for what, so much to consider. I was reading about a desktop aquarium with a 9W 50/50 lamp , what is that good enough for it says live rock
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10/05/2009, 12:41 PM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 223
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You need to stop overfeeding. Water changes help, but you are overfeeding every day and probably changing water once a week at Max. That means that food has a long time to fuel "Bad Stuff" all week long even if your water change is pretty massive.
Putting the hair algae on a diet once a week isn't going to be any more effective than trying to lose weight by cutting back on the calories once a week and overeating the rest of the time. And if you are using tap water, you might very well not be improving anything at all as many municipalities intentionally add phosphates to the water to try and cut down pipe corrosion. |
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10/05/2009, 02:55 PM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: South FL
Posts: 244
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I am trying to feed now every other to every third day and I usually feed live food in vitamins. I get my water usually from the LFS. for minor water changes I usually use distilled water and a salt mix. I will try with more water changes but all of my parameters are normal
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