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10/06/2006, 09:52 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Mesa Arizona
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Green is the Winner! ... what is it?
I added live rock to my tank too soon. I think it might have still been curing. This resulted in the ugliest algea ever ... slime.
It started as green or red splotches in multiple areas of the tank. Quickly, the two colors began merging and overlapping and fighting for territory. I attempted to destroy it by adjusting the lights and starving the fish. I admitted defeat after 3 weeks and used Chemi-Clean. The slime is gone! (both red and green) ... but now the green fuzzy stuff is taking over. This is accompanied by the greenish jelly looking stuff beginning to form on the sand. Is this normal? or did the Chemi-Clean malfunction and create a "Green Mutant Jelly Slime Monster"? Any suggestions? |
10/06/2006, 10:08 PM | #2 |
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Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO)
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sounds like a normal progression throught the algael bloom "cycles". First cyano, then hair algae
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BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned |
10/06/2006, 10:25 PM | #3 |
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I would leave well enough alone and leave the tank to mature on its own. These algae blooms are fairly typical of new tanks. Keep all your water parameters in check including nitrates and phosphates and things will be ok. Try not to overfeed.
Are you using RO/DI water?
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-Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system |
10/06/2006, 10:30 PM | #4 |
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Yes ... I am using R/O water.
How many cycles of algea are there? Is it bad to use Chemi-Clean? I didn't want to put chemicals in the tank but I was starting to get worried the algea would harm the corals. I guess I am rushing the tank, huh? I am just so anxious to have an awesome aquarium. |
10/06/2006, 10:36 PM | #5 |
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RO or RO/DI? The DI makes a HUGE difference in water quality.
If the tanks is fairly new, you might go through a couple of algae blooms. It just depends. My tank went through a cyano outbreak like yours is going through and I also battled diatoms for a while. Chemi-Clean isn't bad, it's just a cover-up to the real issue. Most likely nutrients are to blame. Try some carbon and maybe some Phosban/Rowaphos if the phosphates are bad, but otherwise I'd just let the tank mature and it should go away (with the help of your cleanup crew) on its own.
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-Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system |
10/06/2006, 10:52 PM | #6 |
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slime
Increasing the frequency of your water changes might help as well during this time.
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10/06/2006, 11:42 PM | #7 |
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Yeah ... it's just such a tedious process.
I am purchasing R/O water (DI unknown) at the local store. My home RO system is small. However, I have been doing weekly water changes (10g = 33%). When using the Chemi-Clean, I have been changing 5g of water each 48hrs. |
10/06/2006, 11:46 PM | #8 |
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You might want to invest then in a DI stage for your RO water. Randy in the Chemistry Forum recommended to me never adding any water with at tds greater than 1ppm. I notice immediate algae growth when my tds gets over 2-3 tds. The RO water coming off my unit is 30 tds before it gets to the DI stage. Just a thought...
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