Algae Epidemic

JohnMcNic · 09/30/2007, 12:44 PM

Greetings,

I have had my tank (75w/lr) up for about 5 months now. All the chemistry is pretty much right on. I have a had a handful of snails and crabs in it for about 3 months, and I recently put in a LS black urchin, all in an attempt to control my algae. So far all my livestock (I admit its not much) is barely making a dent in the algae. I would like to start putting some fish in, but I would like to clean up some of the algae before I do so. The algae is mainly hair algae (green/brown) , and there is a lot of it! I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Such as livestock to purchase which would help further, fish I can purchase which will help (I was going to purchase a tang to help).

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

John

Jocephus · 09/30/2007, 12:45 PM

30 snails.

JohnMcNic · 09/30/2007, 12:47 PM

30 snails..... any specific types? Or just a bunch of turbo/nass

IndigoSea · 09/30/2007, 01:31 PM

Is it algae or macro algae?
Regular algae covering sand and the tank sides is actually normal for a just-established tank. A few months into my 75 gallon the entire sand bed was covered in the stuff. I asked the local reef store owner about it and was assured it happens with many establishing tanks.
I don't know if I'd want 30 snails in my tank! but regular turbos are great. Also little red hermit crabs. I have a little fleet and they keep the sane tip-top.

If your problem is a macro algae, snails and hermits wont be able to control it, you'll need to get creatures or tweezers for it.

JohnMcNic · 09/30/2007, 01:35 PM

It's kind of a combination of the two. Portions of the sand is covered in a sort of algae film. The LR is sparsely covered in long macro algae. I think I'm gonna get a few more snails, and probably a tang or something to help with the beefier algae.

John

ricks · 09/30/2007, 01:47 PM

Before you go and try to figure out what will eat the algae.. Why don't you try and figure out why the algae's there in the first place... Buying snails, crabs, fish, sea hares, etc. Will not stop your algae problem!

You have something wrong with your water, lights, flow, nutrients, phosphates, or detritus build up..

Are you using RO/DI water for all changes??

What are you water change, maintenance schedules??

Alot can be wrong and livestock can't fix it themselfs..

What are your water parameters??

Please do not put a Tang in a 75 Gallon, it won't help with the algae, and is unfair the the fish

Happy Reefing...

JohnMcNic · 09/30/2007, 01:58 PM

I do indeed use RO/DI water, I do 10% H2O changes weekly, I have a AquaC Remora Pro skimmer (produces lots of foam, empty it about every other day). I dont have my water chemistry #'s on hand, but they are undetectable. The livestock I have is quite lively. I only have about 6 snails, and about 6 crabs, plus the urchin.
Whats wrong with putting a yellow or blue tang in a 75g, I have read nothing that says its unwise. I do admit though, that a 75g is a bit on the small end for a Blue Tang.

Thanks

ricks · 09/30/2007, 02:09 PM

Algae has to get it's food source from somewhere...

What are the phosphate levels??

How old are your lights?? Light with lots of red spectrum, can cause problems..

You don't list fish if any, how often are they feed..

How old is the RO/DI, and what are the TDS readings.

My feeling on Tangs is at least 6' tank length. I have 5 in my 500 and my blue has been with me for 5 years. He was 1" long, now he's almost 10" long. They really do need room...

Happy Reefing

JohnMcNic · 09/30/2007, 02:24 PM

My lights are about4mo old, I dont have my phosphates on hand, but i dont remember them being a concern. I dont have any fish at the moment, and the livestock I do have is doing just fine on the algae within the aquarium... so I haven't been doing any feeding. My RO/DI setup is about 3mo old, and TDS readings are 1-2 before the DI, and 0 after.

Thanks for you time/thoughts!!

ricks · 09/30/2007, 02:29 PM

Sounds like you have it all figured out and covered..

Happy Farming...

Roger928 · 09/30/2007, 02:56 PM

Light + excess nutrients = algae.

09/30/2007, 12:44 PM	#1
JohnMcNic Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: De Pere WI Posts: 135	Algae Epidemic Greetings, I have had my tank (75w/lr) up for about 5 months now. All the chemistry is pretty much right on. I have a had a handful of snails and crabs in it for about 3 months, and I recently put in a LS black urchin, all in an attempt to control my algae. So far all my livestock (I admit its not much) is barely making a dent in the algae. I would like to start putting some fish in, but I would like to clean up some of the algae before I do so. The algae is mainly hair algae (green/brown) , and there is a lot of it! I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Such as livestock to purchase which would help further, fish I can purchase which will help (I was going to purchase a tang to help). Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!! John __________________ John Current Tank Info: 75g FOWLR: 260 Coralife PC (Acintic/10,000K), CPR 600gph overflow, 15g sump w/OR6500 pump, Aqua C Remora, 2 Maxi 1200's, Jager 200w heater, 45lbs of LR, 20 lbs of base rock, 30lbs of sand

09/30/2007, 12:47 PM	#3
JohnMcNic Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: De Pere WI Posts: 135	30 snails..... any specific types? Or just a bunch of turbo/nass __________________ John Current Tank Info: 75g FOWLR: 260 Coralife PC (Acintic/10,000K), CPR 600gph overflow, 15g sump w/OR6500 pump, Aqua C Remora, 2 Maxi 1200's, Jager 200w heater, 45lbs of LR, 20 lbs of base rock, 30lbs of sand

09/30/2007, 01:31 PM	#4
IndigoSea Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 47	Is it algae or macro algae? Regular algae covering sand and the tank sides is actually normal for a just-established tank. A few months into my 75 gallon the entire sand bed was covered in the stuff. I asked the local reef store owner about it and was assured it happens with many establishing tanks. I don't know if I'd want 30 snails in my tank! but regular turbos are great. Also little red hermit crabs. I have a little fleet and they keep the sane tip-top. If your problem is a macro algae, snails and hermits wont be able to control it, you'll need to get creatures or tweezers for it. __________________ <-- I'm a mushroom :D Current Tank Info: 75 gallon- LR, Flame Angel, Oce Clown, Yellow Goby, Cleaner Shrimp, Anemone Crab, Cleaning crew, Zoanthids, Mushrooms. Outer Orbit MH/DA light system.

09/30/2007, 01:35 PM	#5
JohnMcNic Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: De Pere WI Posts: 135	It's kind of a combination of the two. Portions of the sand is covered in a sort of algae film. The LR is sparsely covered in long macro algae. I think I'm gonna get a few more snails, and probably a tang or something to help with the beefier algae. John __________________ John Current Tank Info: 75g FOWLR: 260 Coralife PC (Acintic/10,000K), CPR 600gph overflow, 15g sump w/OR6500 pump, Aqua C Remora, 2 Maxi 1200's, Jager 200w heater, 45lbs of LR, 20 lbs of base rock, 30lbs of sand

09/30/2007, 01:58 PM	#7
JohnMcNic Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: De Pere WI Posts: 135	I do indeed use RO/DI water, I do 10% H2O changes weekly, I have a AquaC Remora Pro skimmer (produces lots of foam, empty it about every other day). I dont have my water chemistry #'s on hand, but they are undetectable. The livestock I have is quite lively. I only have about 6 snails, and about 6 crabs, plus the urchin. Whats wrong with putting a yellow or blue tang in a 75g, I have read nothing that says its unwise. I do admit though, that a 75g is a bit on the small end for a Blue Tang. Thanks __________________ John Current Tank Info: 75g FOWLR: 260 Coralife PC (Acintic/10,000K), CPR 600gph overflow, 15g sump w/OR6500 pump, Aqua C Remora, 2 Maxi 1200's, Jager 200w heater, 45lbs of LR, 20 lbs of base rock, 30lbs of sand

09/30/2007, 12:45 PM	#2
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	30 snails.

09/30/2007, 01:47 PM	#6
ricks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: portland,or Posts: 906	Before you go and try to figure out what will eat the algae.. Why don't you try and figure out why the algae's there in the first place... Buying snails, crabs, fish, sea hares, etc. Will not stop your algae problem! You have something wrong with your water, lights, flow, nutrients, phosphates, or detritus build up.. Are you using RO/DI water for all changes?? What are you water change, maintenance schedules?? Alot can be wrong and livestock can't fix it themselfs.. What are your water parameters?? Please do not put a Tang in a 75 Gallon, it won't help with the algae, and is unfair the the fish Happy Reefing...

09/30/2007, 02:09 PM	#8
ricks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: portland,or Posts: 906	Algae has to get it's food source from somewhere... What are the phosphate levels?? How old are your lights?? Light with lots of red spectrum, can cause problems.. You don't list fish if any, how often are they feed.. How old is the RO/DI, and what are the TDS readings. My feeling on Tangs is at least 6' tank length. I have 5 in my 500 and my blue has been with me for 5 years. He was 1" long, now he's almost 10" long. They really do need room... Happy Reefing

09/30/2007, 02:24 PM	#9
JohnMcNic Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: De Pere WI Posts: 135	My lights are about4mo old, I dont have my phosphates on hand, but i dont remember them being a concern. I dont have any fish at the moment, and the livestock I do have is doing just fine on the algae within the aquarium... so I haven't been doing any feeding. My RO/DI setup is about 3mo old, and TDS readings are 1-2 before the DI, and 0 after. Thanks for you time/thoughts!! __________________ John Current Tank Info: 75g FOWLR: 260 Coralife PC (Acintic/10,000K), CPR 600gph overflow, 15g sump w/OR6500 pump, Aqua C Remora, 2 Maxi 1200's, Jager 200w heater, 45lbs of LR, 20 lbs of base rock, 30lbs of sand

09/30/2007, 02:29 PM	#10
ricks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: portland,or Posts: 906	Sounds like you have it all figured out and covered.. Happy Farming...

09/30/2007, 02:56 PM	#11
Roger928 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Prescott Valley, AZ Posts: 296	Light + excess nutrients = algae. __________________ Always quarantine. You never know where that fish has been. Current Tank Info: 90 and 120 mixed reef