bubbles and algae on sand?

petzerman · 12/02/2008, 08:08 PM

When I came home alot of Green algae was on the glass and on the sand i used a mag float to clean the glass and you could see the algae come off. also all these bubbles where on the sand along with brown stuff and i think algae. what can i do to clean this up. it looks so uglyyyy.

I have a 30 gal. With Tek Light System, 30 lbs live rock, 2 clowns, 3 damsals, 14 Astera snails, 8 hermit crabs, fire shrimp, and a Haitian anemone. Ive had the tank for 3 months. is it a filter problem? i have a bio wheel on my filter and i havent changed the filter. would that be it?

here is a pic:

Packersfan21 · 12/02/2008, 08:16 PM

Do you have a protein skimmer? I would increase flow in that area and you can also use a turkey baster as well. Normally with new tanks it's part of the cycling process.

petzerman · 12/02/2008, 08:18 PM

i dont have a protein skimmer. is that the problem?

Packersfan21 · 12/02/2008, 08:20 PM

Getting one would help a ton. With a skimmer you usually don't have to run another filter. The clean up crew, live rock, and sandbed will do the rest of the work.

petzerman · 12/02/2008, 08:23 PM

ive seen protein skimmers where you need another tank and all that stuff. are there ones that hang on the tank or something? and are not too expensive?

Packersfan21 · 12/02/2008, 08:29 PM

Yup there are. Here's one of them. It is somewhat expensive but it is highly rated.

http://www.fishlore.com/aquacremoraprotein-skimmer.htm

petzerman · 12/02/2008, 08:58 PM

if i get a protien skimmer does that mean i dont need the other filter that i have on right now?

petzerman · 12/02/2008, 09:12 PM

also i was looking at some and what are like the ones with drain fitting and maxi jet pumps? like on this website

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...emora_pro.html

ccampo · 12/02/2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by petzerman
if i get a protien skimmer does that mean i dont need the other filter that i have on right now?

You can keep it if you want, and run carbon on it, that will help making the water crystal clear, but the skimmer is a must.

tewkes · 12/02/2008, 10:44 PM

The biggest thing I didn't see you say was, what type of water are you running? If you're not running RO water chances are that's where your problem is coming from. Too many phosphates in tap water.

Also having a skimmer is a huge help. I didn't run one on my last tank and I had many of the same algae/cyano problems.

You don't have to but definetly research sumps/fuges. A properly set up sump with a fuge with some chaeto or other macro algae will do wonders. It can also house the protein skimmer which makes things a lot easier. Hang on back skimmers always scared me cause if they aren't adjusted properly they will flood all over the place.

mutateddogbone · 12/03/2008, 12:36 AM

whatever you do, dont stir up your sand bed or poke around in the sand bed that will release a whole new mess and your tank will cycle again

petzerman · 12/03/2008, 03:01 AM

i buy saltwater from the LFS. so i think the water should be fine. as for getting sumps and stuff...i dont know.. seems so much more expensive and im planning on later getting a bigger tank when i settle down somewhere. cause im going to school and just renting a place so yeaa...

12/02/2008, 08:08 PM	#1
petzerman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 522	bubbles and algae on sand? When I came home alot of Green algae was on the glass and on the sand i used a mag float to clean the glass and you could see the algae come off. also all these bubbles where on the sand along with brown stuff and i think algae. what can i do to clean this up. it looks so uglyyyy. I have a 30 gal. With Tek Light System, 30 lbs live rock, 2 clowns, 3 damsals, 14 Astera snails, 8 hermit crabs, fire shrimp, and a Haitian anemone. Ive had the tank for 3 months. is it a filter problem? i have a bio wheel on my filter and i havent changed the filter. would that be it? here is a pic:

12/02/2008, 08:16 PM	#2
Packersfan21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wabash, IN Posts: 920	Do you have a protein skimmer? I would increase flow in that area and you can also use a turkey baster as well. Normally with new tanks it's part of the cycling process. __________________ 90 gallon reef: 1 black ocellaris clown, 1 kole tang, 1 hippo tang, 1 mimic tang,1 leopard wrasse, 1 chromis, 75 gallon FOWLR: 1 blue-spotted puffer, 1 flame angel, 1 snowflake eel Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef and 75 gallon FOWLR

12/02/2008, 08:20 PM	#4
Packersfan21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wabash, IN Posts: 920	Getting one would help a ton. With a skimmer you usually don't have to run another filter. The clean up crew, live rock, and sandbed will do the rest of the work. __________________ 90 gallon reef: 1 black ocellaris clown, 1 kole tang, 1 hippo tang, 1 mimic tang,1 leopard wrasse, 1 chromis, 75 gallon FOWLR: 1 blue-spotted puffer, 1 flame angel, 1 snowflake eel Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef and 75 gallon FOWLR

12/02/2008, 08:29 PM	#6
Packersfan21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wabash, IN Posts: 920	Yup there are. Here's one of them. It is somewhat expensive but it is highly rated. http://www.fishlore.com/aquacremoraprotein-skimmer.htm __________________ 90 gallon reef: 1 black ocellaris clown, 1 kole tang, 1 hippo tang, 1 mimic tang,1 leopard wrasse, 1 chromis, 75 gallon FOWLR: 1 blue-spotted puffer, 1 flame angel, 1 snowflake eel Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef and 75 gallon FOWLR

12/03/2008, 12:36 AM	#11
mutateddogbone Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 1,016	whatever you do, dont stir up your sand bed or poke around in the sand bed that will release a whole new mess and your tank will cycle again __________________ 2013 Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society - President An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Current Tank Info: 75g braceless SPS dominated w/ 50g Frag Tank

12/02/2008, 08:18 PM	#3
petzerman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 522	i dont have a protein skimmer. is that the problem?

12/02/2008, 08:23 PM	#5
petzerman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 522	ive seen protein skimmers where you need another tank and all that stuff. are there ones that hang on the tank or something? and are not too expensive?

12/02/2008, 08:58 PM	#7
petzerman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 522	if i get a protien skimmer does that mean i dont need the other filter that i have on right now?

12/02/2008, 09:12 PM	#8
petzerman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 522	also i was looking at some and what are like the ones with drain fitting and maxi jet pumps? like on this website http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...emora_pro.html

12/02/2008, 10:44 PM	#10
tewkes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 334	The biggest thing I didn't see you say was, what type of water are you running? If you're not running RO water chances are that's where your problem is coming from. Too many phosphates in tap water. Also having a skimmer is a huge help. I didn't run one on my last tank and I had many of the same algae/cyano problems. You don't have to but definetly research sumps/fuges. A properly set up sump with a fuge with some chaeto or other macro algae will do wonders. It can also house the protein skimmer which makes things a lot easier. Hang on back skimmers always scared me cause if they aren't adjusted properly they will flood all over the place.

12/03/2008, 03:01 AM	#12
petzerman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 522	i buy saltwater from the LFS. so i think the water should be fine. as for getting sumps and stuff...i dont know.. seems so much more expensive and im planning on later getting a bigger tank when i settle down somewhere. cause im going to school and just renting a place so yeaa...