Getting away from me...

salty in Gray · 12/22/2006, 08:08 PM

Hello all!

I have a 65 g setup w/ 20g sump, 65 lb LR, LS, 375w Orbit MH and compacts.

The tank has been established for about 2 months, and has had 2 b/g Chromis for 1 month, 2 clowns for a week, all are well.

Also a bunch of crabs (red leg), 2 Mexican turbos, 30 cerith, 15 nassarus, 20 snails.

Anyway, for the last week or two, I have been getting progressively more brown slimy hair algae all over the place, I can barely keep the glass clean. What is going on?

I just hooked up my Berlin skimmer tonight.

Tanks

Dan in Maine

BurntOutReefer · 12/22/2006, 08:26 PM

the skimmer will help, but your diatoms are feed ing on nutrients in your tank (which IMO is pretty new anyway). Cut back on feedings, do water change, and wait it out.

cilyjr · 12/22/2006, 08:27 PM

diatoms do that at first. they die back after a while just keep water quality good.
also are you sure its not cyano (its a bacteria that resembles diatoma, often called red slime algae)

bertoni · 12/22/2006, 11:34 PM

This type of bloom is fairly common. Overfeeding might be the problem, though. If you list the particulars, we might be able to comment.

salty in Gray · 12/23/2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
This type of bloom is fairly common. Overfeeding might be the problem, though. If you list the particulars, we might be able to comment.

You mean water test specifics?

Long story, but I don't have a test kit yet (ordered from foster and smith, but chose a reef specific kit thinking that is what I need, but no PH, Nitrates, Nitrites, ammonia...) I am planning to pick one up this weekend.

Another silly question, how can I tell if I am underfeeding or overfeeding?

IPowderBlueTang · 12/23/2006, 11:47 AM

Feed small amouts at a time and don't overfeed by having food all over the sandbed and not eaten.
Just be patient the diatom and cyano and green algea is part of the tank aging process.
After a year one of my tanks, I still had cyano pop up once in awhile, I just left it there and slowly it went away on its own!

12/22/2006, 08:08 PM	#1
salty in Gray Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 22	Getting away from me... Hello all! I have a 65 g setup w/ 20g sump, 65 lb LR, LS, 375w Orbit MH and compacts. The tank has been established for about 2 months, and has had 2 b/g Chromis for 1 month, 2 clowns for a week, all are well. Also a bunch of crabs (red leg), 2 Mexican turbos, 30 cerith, 15 nassarus, 20 snails. Anyway, for the last week or two, I have been getting progressively more brown slimy hair algae all over the place, I can barely keep the glass clean. What is going on? I just hooked up my Berlin skimmer tonight. Tanks Dan in Maine

12/22/2006, 08:27 PM	#3
cilyjr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,683	diatoms do that at first. they die back after a while just keep water quality good. also are you sure its not cyano (its a bacteria that resembles diatoma, often called red slime algae) __________________ Cls Current Tank Info: 180 inwall, 75 sump, 20lfrag, 3x lumen max elite w/250w radium 20k, recirc modded asm g-3, aqua controller apex,2x rw-20, 350lbs LR

12/22/2006, 11:34 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	This type of bloom is fairly common. Overfeeding might be the problem, though. If you list the particulars, we might be able to comment. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/22/2006, 08:26 PM	#2
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	the skimmer will help, but your diatoms are feed ing on nutrients in your tank (which IMO is pretty new anyway). Cut back on feedings, do water change, and wait it out.

12/23/2006, 11:47 AM	#6
IPowderBlueTang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Canada Posts: 769	Feed small amouts at a time and don't overfeed by having food all over the sandbed and not eaten. Just be patient the diatom and cyano and green algea is part of the tank aging process. After a year one of my tanks, I still had cyano pop up once in awhile, I just left it there and slowly it went away on its own!