Need assistance. Marco Algae seems to be dieing

gcfiend · 09/24/2007, 10:11 AM

My tank has been up for about a month now and I seem to be having issues with growing macro algae in my fuge.

I have Chaeto ball that started out as a 8 inch ball but is now turning tranlucent and getting smaller. I see some red algae growing (cyano?) on some of its parts.

I currently have it in a fuge that gets it's water from the return of a protein skimmer. It sits in a fuge with a light cycle (65K CF twist bulb) opposite of my main display with live rock rubble and a 6inch sand bed. Return from skimmer has lots of bubbles.

Water-
80-83 degrees
0 ammonia
0 nitrites
20-25 nitrates
8.0 PH
1.026 Salinity

I'm planning to do a 10% water change to bring my nitrates down.

I currently have:
90 gal Main display containing 2 clowns, 6 snails, 5 hermits, zoos, xenia, mushrooms and a frogspawn (all frags).

110 lbs of live rock and a 2-4 inch sand bed.

Let me know if I'm missing any info.

Aquarist007 · 09/24/2007, 10:30 AM

where is your fuge--is it separate or sectioned off in the sump.

You need to rotate the ball cheato every week and I also spread it out.
I had only average results until I left the light on 24/7

If the nitrates are limited to the refugium--that is good--the cheato is there to consume them

look at the difference since july with the light on 24/7

gcfiend · 09/24/2007, 11:06 AM

Thank for the reply capn.

Fuge is connected to Display.

Fuge (Fuge \ Sump - 28 Gal) is seperate into two parts. First sections is fuge and second is where my skimmer, heater, and return pump is. Drain goes down into the second section where it goes through a sump sock. (In Hindsight I should have tried harder for three sections Drain, Refuge, then return)

Main tank drains into second section and then skimmer return pumps the water to the first section (Fuge) where it overflows via baffles back into the second section.

I've been manually turning the Chaeto (I read that the best way to grow it is to make it roll, but I can't seem to get it to do that so I do it). I spend more time in my fuge that my main display! I'll switch the lights to 24HR. The CF light is 19Watts so that shouldn't be a problem (Any idea how often I should replace the bulb?)

Whole purpose of this is to lower my nitrates which is constantly at 20+ PPM. I test the water from my fuge. I'm doing 10% water changes weekly because of this. I speak with other reefers and they all tell me their nitrates are 0. Trying to get to this mythical (for me) number. Hence my current obsession with Macro Algae.

Any idea why I cant get it to grow? Should I buy any additives?

My work blocks the pixs so I'll check your pix out when I get home. I did some research on this topic and guess who was right in the middle of that discussion

So I highly respect any advise from the captn' Arrrrgh (pirate voice)

Shagsbeard · 09/24/2007, 11:20 AM

Thats a nice set up Capt... the only advice I'd give you is to get those plugs moved. Salt creep and plugs are asking for trouble.

Aquarist007 · 09/24/2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shagsbeard
Thats a nice set up Capt... the only advice I'd give you is to get those plugs moved. Salt creep and plugs are asking for trouble.

I think you mentioned it last time--I raised the receptable up on a plastic tote----- is that not safe enough?

Aquarist007 · 09/24/2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gcfiend
Thank for the reply capn.

Fuge is connected to Display.

Fuge (Fuge \ Sump - 28 Gal) is seperate into two parts. First sections is fuge and second is where my skimmer, heater, and return pump is. Drain goes down into the second section where it goes through a sump sock. (In Hindsight I should have tried harder for three sections Drain, Refuge, then return)

Main tank drains into second section and then skimmer return pumps the water to the first section (Fuge) where it overflows via baffles back into the second section.

I've been manually turning the Chaeto (I read that the best way to grow it is to make it roll, but I can't seem to get it to do that so I do it). I spend more time in my fuge that my main display! I'll switch the lights to 24HR. The CF light is 19Watts so that shouldn't be a problem (Any idea how often I should replace the bulb?)

Whole purpose of this is to lower my nitrates which is constantly at 20+ PPM. I test the water from my fuge. I'm doing 10% water changes weekly because of this. I speak with other reefers and they all tell me their nitrates are 0. Trying to get to this mythical (for me) number. Hence my current obsession with Macro Algae.

Any idea why I cant get it to grow? Should I buy any additives?

My work blocks the pixs so I'll check your pix out when I get home. I did some research on this topic and guess who was right in the middle of that discussion So I highly respect any advise from the captn' Arrrrgh (pirate voice)

arrgh thanks-------I had trouble rolling mine so right now I am actually stretching and breaking it apart so it spread out and fills the fug
I using a 25watt energy saver rated at 100watts from Home Depot
the guys in my area find this to be the best wattage.

Eventually you have to harvest--remove the cheato to actually remove the nitrates in your system.
but I really believe you will notice a difference if you change your bulb and go 24/7

09/24/2007, 10:11 AM	#1
gcfiend Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 546	Need assistance. Marco Algae seems to be dieing My tank has been up for about a month now and I seem to be having issues with growing macro algae in my fuge. I have Chaeto ball that started out as a 8 inch ball but is now turning tranlucent and getting smaller. I see some red algae growing (cyano?) on some of its parts. I currently have it in a fuge that gets it's water from the return of a protein skimmer. It sits in a fuge with a light cycle (65K CF twist bulb) opposite of my main display with live rock rubble and a 6inch sand bed. Return from skimmer has lots of bubbles. Water- 80-83 degrees 0 ammonia 0 nitrites 20-25 nitrates 8.0 PH 1.026 Salinity I'm planning to do a 10% water change to bring my nitrates down. I currently have: 90 gal Main display containing 2 clowns, 6 snails, 5 hermits, zoos, xenia, mushrooms and a frogspawn (all frags). 110 lbs of live rock and a 2-4 inch sand bed. Let me know if I'm missing any info. __________________ Chris Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds. - B.M.

09/24/2007, 10:30 AM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	where is your fuge--is it separate or sectioned off in the sump. You need to rotate the ball cheato every week and I also spread it out. I had only average results until I left the light on 24/7 If the nitrates are limited to the refugium--that is good--the cheato is there to consume them look at the difference since july with the light on 24/7 __________________ 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

09/24/2007, 11:06 AM	#3
gcfiend Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 546	Thank for the reply capn. Fuge is connected to Display. Fuge (Fuge \ Sump - 28 Gal) is seperate into two parts. First sections is fuge and second is where my skimmer, heater, and return pump is. Drain goes down into the second section where it goes through a sump sock. (In Hindsight I should have tried harder for three sections Drain, Refuge, then return) Main tank drains into second section and then skimmer return pumps the water to the first section (Fuge) where it overflows via baffles back into the second section. I've been manually turning the Chaeto (I read that the best way to grow it is to make it roll, but I can't seem to get it to do that so I do it). I spend more time in my fuge that my main display! I'll switch the lights to 24HR. The CF light is 19Watts so that shouldn't be a problem (Any idea how often I should replace the bulb?) Whole purpose of this is to lower my nitrates which is constantly at 20+ PPM. I test the water from my fuge. I'm doing 10% water changes weekly because of this. I speak with other reefers and they all tell me their nitrates are 0. Trying to get to this mythical (for me) number. Hence my current obsession with Macro Algae. Any idea why I cant get it to grow? Should I buy any additives? My work blocks the pixs so I'll check your pix out when I get home. I did some research on this topic and guess who was right in the middle of that discussion So I highly respect any advise from the captn' Arrrrgh (pirate voice) __________________ Chris Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds. - B.M.

09/24/2007, 11:20 AM	#4
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Thats a nice set up Capt... the only advice I'd give you is to get those plugs moved. Salt creep and plugs are asking for trouble.