algae Problem

menzies2901 · 07/17/2006, 03:02 AM

Hey everyone, i have had my tank for nearly one month and it is doing great, i have added live rock 50kg, 4 tangs and mandarine and 2 coral banded shrimp. The tank is 355lt with a wet dry system using a turbo skimmer and all water test are ok.

My question is:

I have an algae problem, i cleaned my tank out thoughly, vacuum the argonite and cleand all the walls. The next afternoon it was as if i did nothing argonite is dirty and the glass is back to the same way.....How do i stop this from happening??

your help would be appreciated

brownsugar · 07/17/2006, 04:30 AM

First of all G'Day & Go the Socceroos how badly were you heartbroken after the match with Italy.

Im from Sydney welcome to Reef Central

Your tank is still maturing and algea blooms are normal and expected. Just keep on cleaning and the regular water changes.

I invested in a bi colour blenny which did very well and earned its keep by keeping the algea down.

What kind of water did you use to fill your tank. If you used Sydney tapwater dechlorinate and with a saltmix you algea growth may be due to excess phosphates aswell.

I dunno about a mandarin so soon it may starve especially with the amount of rock you have. Usally its better to wait a couple of months for the pod population to recover and thrive. But if its eating food that your giving it should be fine.

The coral banded's are they a pair ? If there not usually they end up fighting each other to the death and you cant really put many other varietys of shrimp with them either.

The cleaner shrimps are very expensive in Australia and Sydney especially can get up to 200 bucks a shrimp depends where you go.

The algea is annoying and yeh unless your using RO/DI water for your water changes it will probably keep on coming back. Ive switched to filtered sea water and avoided the problem.

You could also try using carbon and phosphate pads in you sump for your water to pass through they work pretty good above your bio balls instead of plain filter wool.

Uv steralizor is also another good option but yeh it also kills good pods which your mandarin loves to eat and can starve it. The Uv will kill alot of the problem algea.

But algea growth can also be attributed to extra food be mindful of how much your feeding. Even if it means feeding every second day which makes the fish hungrier especially with tangs ive got a yellow and Naso myself.

menzies2901 · 07/17/2006, 04:47 AM

Thanks for the info, i am also in Sydney. My mandarine is scavaging food from the live rock and also via the sun coral i feeb with baby srimp.
I have seen alot of comments that you should have hermit crabs and turbo snails to eat the algae is this true also, have you found a good Aquarium wholesaler in Sydney, Magestic says that strickly is bad and visa versa.

brownsugar · 07/17/2006, 05:23 AM

Ahh yes Paul from Majestic In Taren Point, Ive been there a couple times hes got some good advice but hes very pushy and especially wants you to purchase his DVDs.

I dunno get turned off by those kinda people that tell you his way is the only way. Had a disagreement with the guy and a couple debates.
But yeh his display tank is pretty impressive and speaks for itself. Just dont belive in buying his DVDs. Good stock i got my yellow tang from there.

Strictly is good in terms of price and quality although it can vary sum times. The staff are a mix and match some dont have a clue and others are awersome. I got my setup from Strictly.

Auburn Aquariums & St George Aquariums in Rockdale are top on quality. St George Aquariums is pretty good much reccomended. Auburn is great but setups are way too expensive.

I like Slippery Little Suckers in Kingsford they are pretty good quality aswell and good prices.

If you want different stuff go to Slippery Little Suckers & St George.

Strictly Aquariums apparently got a delivery of Achilles Tangs but ive rang around and they have all sold out. I get my water from Strictly 25litres 5 dollar refill if you have a container.

menzies2901 · 07/17/2006, 07:28 PM

Yeah i had the same problem with paul very pushy when it comes to his DVD. I have bought a few fish from all stores you mentioned and found that St George are alot better quality however Strictly have better range i baught a chevron tang there and i will pick it up on the weekend. Bad news i had a black out last night and the water temp went down to 24.3 deg C - in the morning i went and hired a gen set to power the tank, i think i lost only 1 fish a clown tang. I have seen it for a while and i am at work now an cannot look for it

07/17/2006, 03:02 AM	#1
menzies2901 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 53	algae Problem Hey everyone, i have had my tank for nearly one month and it is doing great, i have added live rock 50kg, 4 tangs and mandarine and 2 coral banded shrimp. The tank is 355lt with a wet dry system using a turbo skimmer and all water test are ok. My question is: I have an algae problem, i cleaned my tank out thoughly, vacuum the argonite and cleand all the walls. The next afternoon it was as if i did nothing argonite is dirty and the glass is back to the same way.....How do i stop this from happening?? your help would be appreciated

07/17/2006, 04:30 AM	#2
brownsugar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 194	First of all G'Day & Go the Socceroos how badly were you heartbroken after the match with Italy. Im from Sydney welcome to Reef Central Your tank is still maturing and algea blooms are normal and expected. Just keep on cleaning and the regular water changes. I invested in a bi colour blenny which did very well and earned its keep by keeping the algea down. What kind of water did you use to fill your tank. If you used Sydney tapwater dechlorinate and with a saltmix you algea growth may be due to excess phosphates aswell. I dunno about a mandarin so soon it may starve especially with the amount of rock you have. Usally its better to wait a couple of months for the pod population to recover and thrive. But if its eating food that your giving it should be fine. The coral banded's are they a pair ? If there not usually they end up fighting each other to the death and you cant really put many other varietys of shrimp with them either. The cleaner shrimps are very expensive in Australia and Sydney especially can get up to 200 bucks a shrimp depends where you go. The algea is annoying and yeh unless your using RO/DI water for your water changes it will probably keep on coming back. Ive switched to filtered sea water and avoided the problem. You could also try using carbon and phosphate pads in you sump for your water to pass through they work pretty good above your bio balls instead of plain filter wool. Uv steralizor is also another good option but yeh it also kills good pods which your mandarin loves to eat and can starve it. The Uv will kill alot of the problem algea. But algea growth can also be attributed to extra food be mindful of how much your feeding. Even if it means feeding every second day which makes the fish hungrier especially with tangs ive got a yellow and Naso myself.

07/17/2006, 04:47 AM	#3
menzies2901 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 53	Thanks for the info, i am also in Sydney. My mandarine is scavaging food from the live rock and also via the sun coral i feeb with baby srimp. I have seen alot of comments that you should have hermit crabs and turbo snails to eat the algae is this true also, have you found a good Aquarium wholesaler in Sydney, Magestic says that strickly is bad and visa versa.

07/17/2006, 05:23 AM	#4
brownsugar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 194	Ahh yes Paul from Majestic In Taren Point, Ive been there a couple times hes got some good advice but hes very pushy and especially wants you to purchase his DVDs. I dunno get turned off by those kinda people that tell you his way is the only way. Had a disagreement with the guy and a couple debates. But yeh his display tank is pretty impressive and speaks for itself. Just dont belive in buying his DVDs. Good stock i got my yellow tang from there. Strictly is good in terms of price and quality although it can vary sum times. The staff are a mix and match some dont have a clue and others are awersome. I got my setup from Strictly. Auburn Aquariums & St George Aquariums in Rockdale are top on quality. St George Aquariums is pretty good much reccomended. Auburn is great but setups are way too expensive. I like Slippery Little Suckers in Kingsford they are pretty good quality aswell and good prices. If you want different stuff go to Slippery Little Suckers & St George. Strictly Aquariums apparently got a delivery of Achilles Tangs but ive rang around and they have all sold out. I get my water from Strictly 25litres 5 dollar refill if you have a container.

07/17/2006, 07:28 PM	#5
menzies2901 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 53	Yeah i had the same problem with paul very pushy when it comes to his DVD. I have bought a few fish from all stores you mentioned and found that St George are alot better quality however Strictly have better range i baught a chevron tang there and i will pick it up on the weekend. Bad news i had a black out last night and the water temp went down to 24.3 deg C - in the morning i went and hired a gen set to power the tank, i think i lost only 1 fish a clown tang. I have seen it for a while and i am at work now an cannot look for it