hair and brown algae problem- pics

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 04:52 PM

I have had my 37 gallon tank running for about a month. In the last week it has exploded with algae. I bought some snails and they are cleaning but there is just tonsss of algae. Here are some pictures. Any suggestions? Is it just a cycle?

These pics really dont compare to how bad it looks in person.

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 04:59 PM

anyone? i'm a noob!

king7 · 03/09/2006, 05:04 PM

its normal, normally there will be a spike and cause this algae outbreak. It should go away w/in 3months. A good clean up crew will help as well.

btw, is the tank in direct sunlight?

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 05:05 PM

it gets some sunlight in the morning

Lpsfanatic338 · 03/09/2006, 05:14 PM

New Tank Syndrome. Normal

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 05:26 PM

should i wait for it to go away before getting an anemone or corals?

Lpsfanatic338 · 03/09/2006, 05:29 PM

Yes definently, by the way where do you live?

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 05:37 PM

wingdale.. familiar?

Lpsfanatic338 · 03/09/2006, 05:45 PM

no, is that up state cause i live on long island. HOw far are you from the city

shan820 · 03/09/2006, 05:49 PM

Red slime. Diatoms. Normal part of the cycle. There is a product called red slime remover, it works great, I dont have the patience to wait for it to 'disappear'. It can also be easily siphoned out during a water change. Snails help too.

Craig Lambert · 03/09/2006, 05:49 PM

You might want to cut your photo period with the tank being so new. (What's your lighting?). Once A,N,N have all subsided you could add a cleanup crew. Some turbo snails may help with the brown diatoms.

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 06:04 PM

an hour north of the city.. i have 3 cerith snails, what else would u recommend?

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 06:05 PM

i have like a 40 watt regular flourescent bulbi think its on 15 hours a day.. ammonia=0 nitrate=0 nitrate=0.. also i have a refugium with chaeto

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 06:06 PM

whoops nitrite=0

Lpsfanatic338 · 03/09/2006, 06:07 PM

15 hours a day is a lot, my photoperiod is only 8 hours a day

Lpsfanatic338 · 03/09/2006, 06:08 PM

YOu should also get some nassarius(spelling?) to stir up the sand

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 06:10 PM

yea sorry i meant that kind of snail not cerith.. i will shorten my photoperiod then.. thanks alot everyone

Craig Lambert · 03/09/2006, 06:32 PM

Sounds like a normal outbreak for a young tank. A little time and a small cleanup crew should clear things up. I'm afraid that your lighting won't be enough to keep an anenome though. Most need MH lighting, and a couple of them can get by with VHO, if they attach themselves high up on the rocks.

shan820 · 03/09/2006, 06:41 PM

Also try one or two turbo snails. They eat everything! For now you can do a water change and hold your siphon right over the sandbed, that red stuff will lift right off.

msuzuki126 · 03/09/2006, 08:02 PM

yes i plan on gettin MH

03/09/2006, 04:52 PM	#1
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	hair and brown algae problem- pics I have had my 37 gallon tank running for about a month. In the last week it has exploded with algae. I bought some snails and they are cleaning but there is just tonsss of algae. Here are some pictures. Any suggestions? Is it just a cycle? These pics really dont compare to how bad it looks in person.

03/09/2006, 05:49 PM	#11
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	You might want to cut your photo period with the tank being so new. (What's your lighting?). Once A,N,N have all subsided you could add a cleanup crew. Some turbo snails may help with the brown diatoms. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

03/09/2006, 06:32 PM	#18
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	Sounds like a normal outbreak for a young tank. A little time and a small cleanup crew should clear things up. I'm afraid that your lighting won't be enough to keep an anenome though. Most need MH lighting, and a couple of them can get by with VHO, if they attach themselves high up on the rocks. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

03/09/2006, 04:59 PM	#2
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	anyone? i'm a noob!

03/09/2006, 05:04 PM	#3
king7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 67	its normal, normally there will be a spike and cause this algae outbreak. It should go away w/in 3months. A good clean up crew will help as well. btw, is the tank in direct sunlight?

03/09/2006, 05:05 PM	#4
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	it gets some sunlight in the morning

03/09/2006, 05:14 PM	#5
Lpsfanatic338 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oceanside, New York Posts: 364	New Tank Syndrome. Normal

03/09/2006, 05:26 PM	#6
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	should i wait for it to go away before getting an anemone or corals?

03/09/2006, 05:29 PM	#7
Lpsfanatic338 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oceanside, New York Posts: 364	Yes definently, by the way where do you live?

03/09/2006, 05:37 PM	#8
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	wingdale.. familiar?

03/09/2006, 05:45 PM	#9
Lpsfanatic338 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oceanside, New York Posts: 364	no, is that up state cause i live on long island. HOw far are you from the city

03/09/2006, 05:49 PM	#10
shan820 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 320	Red slime. Diatoms. Normal part of the cycle. There is a product called red slime remover, it works great, I dont have the patience to wait for it to 'disappear'. It can also be easily siphoned out during a water change. Snails help too.

03/09/2006, 06:04 PM	#12
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	an hour north of the city.. i have 3 cerith snails, what else would u recommend?

03/09/2006, 06:05 PM	#13
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	i have like a 40 watt regular flourescent bulbi think its on 15 hours a day.. ammonia=0 nitrate=0 nitrate=0.. also i have a refugium with chaeto

03/09/2006, 06:06 PM	#14
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	whoops nitrite=0

03/09/2006, 06:07 PM	#15
Lpsfanatic338 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oceanside, New York Posts: 364	15 hours a day is a lot, my photoperiod is only 8 hours a day

03/09/2006, 06:08 PM	#16
Lpsfanatic338 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oceanside, New York Posts: 364	YOu should also get some nassarius(spelling?) to stir up the sand

03/09/2006, 06:10 PM	#17
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	yea sorry i meant that kind of snail not cerith.. i will shorten my photoperiod then.. thanks alot everyone

03/09/2006, 06:41 PM	#19
shan820 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 320	Also try one or two turbo snails. They eat everything! For now you can do a water change and hold your siphon right over the sandbed, that red stuff will lift right off.

03/09/2006, 08:02 PM	#20
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	yes i plan on gettin MH