Help w/ Green algae

thi7b · 03/02/2010, 02:56 PM

Ok I been battling green algae film on rock for 2 month now. The cleaner the glass maybe ever 2-3 days. It mainly on the rock. My son have a 185gal BB since the end of Nov.09. The rocks was from existing tank. I been doing 15gal water change ever week for the last month. I'm running GFO and GC. I feed once a day. I feed once a day. Bulbs change out since Dec. 09. Here's the outcome. SPS is not growing much and slightly brown.

Ca 420
Alk 9
Sal. 1.025 refractometer
Ph. 8.2 ACIII
Nit. 0 sailfert(denitrator)
Phos. 0 sailfert
Mg 1300

Equipment
2 vortech mp40w
2 maxijet mod
mag 9.5 return
atb skimmer
midwest denitrator

Alex T. · 03/02/2010, 03:44 PM

Just an observation...your tank is barely 3 months old and you're talking about sps not growing? IMO you're moving way too fast. The hair algae is simply part of the process in the tank cycling. You may have to feed a lot less to try and help it along. Even with all the equipment you're running (GFO, yada, yada) you simply don't have the established and stable bacterial beds in order just yet. Most wait a minimum six months, while the rest would even wait a year before adding any SPS.

I would start lowering the bioload to allow the cycle to play it's course safely. Maybe you have a friend that can keep some stuff for you till you get it under control.

03/02/2010, 02:56 PM	#1
thi7b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 274	Help w/ Green algae Ok I been battling green algae film on rock for 2 month now. The cleaner the glass maybe ever 2-3 days. It mainly on the rock. My son have a 185gal BB since the end of Nov.09. The rocks was from existing tank. I been doing 15gal water change ever week for the last month. I'm running GFO and GC. I feed once a day. I feed once a day. Bulbs change out since Dec. 09. Here's the outcome. SPS is not growing much and slightly brown. Ca 420 Alk 9 Sal. 1.025 refractometer Ph. 8.2 ACIII Nit. 0 sailfert(denitrator) Phos. 0 sailfert Mg 1300 Equipment 2 vortech mp40w 2 maxijet mod mag 9.5 return atb skimmer midwest denitrator

03/02/2010, 03:44 PM	#2
Alex T. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,803	Just an observation...your tank is barely 3 months old and you're talking about sps not growing? IMO you're moving way too fast. The hair algae is simply part of the process in the tank cycling. You may have to feed a lot less to try and help it along. Even with all the equipment you're running (GFO, yada, yada) you simply don't have the established and stable bacterial beds in order just yet. Most wait a minimum six months, while the rest would even wait a year before adding any SPS. I would start lowering the bioload to allow the cycle to play it's course safely. Maybe you have a friend that can keep some stuff for you till you get it under control.