questions questions question

skyhawk8519 · 08/13/2006, 11:19 PM

hey guys,
the 12g aquapod is up and running. 2 new inhabatants, a pair of black and white clowns.

I have currently about 16# of various live rock purchased in store already cured, as well as 2 lb of rubble in the back chambers. Im using chemipure in one chamber, and doing weekly 1-2 gallon water chages. Im using ro/di water for the makeup/topoff water.

My question is...
my rock, and the substrate gets the diatom algae everywhere on it. I have my lights on for about 10 - 12 hours a day, and my temp is running around 80.
How can i slow this down, i feel like all the color on all my rock is just GONE!!

I need to do a water test to see whats going on, but ill post results here when i do.

other thing is, has anyone had sucess in closing off the bottom intake for the aquapod? I was thinking of doing this, but i dont know exactly how to do it!

thanks guys!!

Sk8r · 08/13/2006, 11:28 PM

The color is still there, but is being covered up by the diatoms. Increase flow---the diatoms don't thrive in turbulence. Also be sure you're not accumulating phosphate from fishfood.

Henry22 · 08/14/2006, 12:10 AM

And, I dont know if this will help, but 10-12 hour light cycle is way too long. Mine is around 6-7 and I killed my hair algae that way along with scrubbing the rocks, nothing else.

july865 · 08/16/2006, 10:22 PM

i didnt see how old the tank is... 10-12 is not long at all for an established tank......key word... established...... but for a new tank diatoms are expected and light reduction is a good start. Sk8r has a good begining. . you didnt list water perameters. that would help. be patiant. read some articles on here regarding the cycle process

kass03 · 08/17/2006, 01:45 PM

If you mean closing off the vents on the left to make it surface skim I posted this in the DIY thread on top of this forum.

Scroll down for my name towards the bottom

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=3

Diatoms/brown algae are normal for a new tank. I waited about 3 weeks to be sure my tank did'nt cycle and then added a clean up crew. I had brown algae all over and still ran my lights for 14 hours (14 actinic 12 daylight). In about a week all the algae was gone. Astrea snails cleaned it off the rocks and hermits and nassarius cleaned the sand.

kass

NUBIANTANGLOVER · 09/07/2006, 09:05 PM

To eliminate the same algae/diatom problems I just cut back on my lighting. I only ran the actinics in my Aquapod 24 and di so for about 6 hours instead of 10-12. It worked too. I also refused to add any coral or fish until the problem was fixed. I went to the store and purchased about 5-6 crabs/snails for them to go to work too.

08/13/2006, 11:19 PM	#1
skyhawk8519 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 115	questions questions question hey guys, the 12g aquapod is up and running. 2 new inhabatants, a pair of black and white clowns. I have currently about 16# of various live rock purchased in store already cured, as well as 2 lb of rubble in the back chambers. Im using chemipure in one chamber, and doing weekly 1-2 gallon water chages. Im using ro/di water for the makeup/topoff water. My question is... my rock, and the substrate gets the diatom algae everywhere on it. I have my lights on for about 10 - 12 hours a day, and my temp is running around 80. How can i slow this down, i feel like all the color on all my rock is just GONE!! I need to do a water test to see whats going on, but ill post results here when i do. other thing is, has anyone had sucess in closing off the bottom intake for the aquapod? I was thinking of doing this, but i dont know exactly how to do it! thanks guys!!

08/13/2006, 11:28 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The color is still there, but is being covered up by the diatoms. Increase flow---the diatoms don't thrive in turbulence. Also be sure you're not accumulating phosphate from fishfood. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/14/2006, 12:10 AM	#3
Henry22 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 712	And, I dont know if this will help, but 10-12 hour light cycle is way too long. Mine is around 6-7 and I killed my hair algae that way along with scrubbing the rocks, nothing else. __________________ 15 Gallon Tall Reef w/ a lonely orange spotted watchman goby Current Tank Info: 15 gallon Tall Reef

08/16/2006, 10:22 PM	#4
july865 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: So. Cal. Temecula Posts: 796	i didnt see how old the tank is... 10-12 is not long at all for an established tank......key word... established...... but for a new tank diatoms are expected and light reduction is a good start. Sk8r has a good begining. . you didnt list water perameters. that would help. be patiant. read some articles on here regarding the cycle process

08/17/2006, 01:45 PM	#5
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	If you mean closing off the vents on the left to make it surface skim I posted this in the DIY thread on top of this forum. Scroll down for my name towards the bottom http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=3 Diatoms/brown algae are normal for a new tank. I waited about 3 weeks to be sure my tank did'nt cycle and then added a clean up crew. I had brown algae all over and still ran my lights for 14 hours (14 actinic 12 daylight). In about a week all the algae was gone. Astrea snails cleaned it off the rocks and hermits and nassarius cleaned the sand. kass

09/07/2006, 09:05 PM	#6
NUBIANTANGLOVER Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NORTH CAROLINA Posts: 517	To eliminate the same algae/diatom problems I just cut back on my lighting. I only ran the actinics in my Aquapod 24 and di so for about 6 hours instead of 10-12. It worked too. I also refused to add any coral or fish until the problem was fixed. I went to the store and purchased about 5-6 crabs/snails for them to go to work too.