Hair and Valonia Algae In New Setup??? (Pictures)

[Marcosreef]

Hello,

Is is considered part of tank cycling to have some hair algae? I see a couple of patches growing on the new rock that has me worried. (No fish stocked yet.)

Tank Parameters are as follows: (Reef is 3 weeks old).

Tank Size: 75 Oceanic with custom sump and refugium.
Temp: 82*F
Alk: 11 dKH
Ca: 400 ppm
Ammonia: 0 mg/l
Nitrite: Unknown
Nitrate: Unknown

Lighting: 2x250w 10.000K DE (10 Hrs.)
Heaters: 2x150w
Skimmer: Lifereef VS-224
Main Pump: Mag 12
Skimmer Pump: LG 3MDQX-SC
Substrate: 150 lbs. Southdown
LR: 60 lbs
Refugium: Running but not currently stocked or lit.
Water filter: RO/DI Maxxima

I haven't added any food to the tank yet so where is the food/nutrient for the algae coming from? I want to get off to a good start but am worried already.

Thanks, Marco

 

[King Jason]

Yes this is normal.

 

[Anonymous]

Normal yes, but you still have to get rid of it. Take the rocks out and scrub them right away. You don't even want to give that stuff a chance to spread at all. Green Hair algea is evil and must be eradicated as quickly as possible to save yourself much grief in the future.

From the description you gave, your set-up sounds like it's gonna be a good one. I remember the stand from your previous post. It looked very good.

Can't wait to see more pictures! :wink:

Louey

 

[Marcosreef]

Can't wait to see more pictures! :wink:

Louey

Thanks Louey and Jason. Here are some pics. I still have to figure out the lighting for the refugium. The stand and both under cabinet tanks were built by me.

Marco

 

[old ron]

Do not remove your live rock and scrub it!!! pull and discard as much as you can. watch nitrate & phosphate--------------Be patient. This is a common occurence once your cleanup crew & bacterias get settled in 99 0/0 of the time the problem will go away (there is algae in the ocean also)
go slow enjoy your setup. relax there are worse things :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Nice work Macro, almost looks like you paid an electricain to come over and wire it up for ya! :wink: Very profesional looking!

Old Ron said:

Do not remove your live rock and scrub it!!!

Why not, the tank is empty and it wouldn't be any trouble at all. Please tell me the downside to scrubbing the rock with, say, a toothbrush, to completely remove the hair algea?

Louey

 

[old ron]

Well if the rock is live, handeling and scrubbing will do more harm than good. it is bound to be exposed to the air. some desired life forms will most likely be lost also. plus the algae will most likely return. why go to all the trouble with a newly cycling tank? Patience is the key not haphazard
attacks on the tanks innards. the pod population will increase as they love to eat and live in hair algae. the evil algae will help cycle the tank and will
subside when the nutrient level subsides. EVIL? :lol: :roll:

 

[jurbo]

i too am in the process of setting up a reef tank. started the process of cycling about 5 weeks ago and all is fine except hair algea . a single rock started with the hair algea and it is getting a bit thick. but the rock has a few plants (i hope they r plants) growing on it. purple plants , kind of cool looking, so i don't want to remove the rock. i have 5 damsels right now and will look at removing them for less aggressive fish in a few weeks. any resonpse on the algea would be helpful??

 

[Marcosreef]

Thanks everyone. I better get that refugium stocked and lit ASAP! I will post the results and progress here. I ordered Julian's new book on algae. I am thinking more research and education is what I need. (Patience too!)

Thanks again, Marco

 

[eddiem1]

Hello,

Is is considered part of tank cycling to have some hair algae? I see a couple of patches growing on the new rock that has me worried. (No fish stocked yet.)

I haven't added any food to the tank yet so where is the food/nutrient for the algae coming from? I want to get off to a good start but am worried already.

Thanks, Marco

The hair algae is normal but I would try to pull as much out as possible. I would also try to remove to Valonia Algae (be careful to to break it).

It sounds like your off to a great start. If your looking for a few freebies (Marco or anothe local reefer) to help add some life to your tank let me know. I have some Xenia, mushrooms, button polyps, and a BTA sitting in my sump. I'm right up the street and am in Lowell all the time. Send me an email if your interested..I have some pics on my webpagehttp://64.63.205.210/index.htm.

~Eddie

 

[old ron]

The nutrients are coming from the rock and substrate and will continue until a biofilm grows over all exposed areas let the tank cycle this can take up to 12 weeks depending what is in the tank. bio-films need time. keeping an even temp, not too forceful a current and medium lighting willmove things along nicely, after the cycling complets you will be able to start adding some janitors ( snails benthos etc) do not use fish to cycle your tank it is cruel and not necessary ( a few drops of pure ammonia will serve the same purpose... Patience! enjoy! nothing fast ever happens in the ocean

 

[Anonymous]

Marcosreef,

very nice under-cabinet work there, mister!!!

 

[SPC]

Looking good Marco!

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Marco, is that a custom sump? Is it a Lifereef? Did you make it yourself?

Louey

 

[Marcosreef]

Marco, is that a custom sump? Is it a Lifereef? Did you make it yourself?

Louey

It was a hair puller, but I did make it myself. I guess it's a Marcosreef sump and fuge :wink: . 1/4" Acrylite GP (Cast acrylic), Lifequard bulkheads, Spears gate valves. It was fun building it. It two pieces, with a bulkhead connecting them both.

Marco

 

[Anonymous]

Did you have any previous experience working with acrylic? It looks very well made! Any pics of the construction of the sump?

Louey

 

[Marcosreef]

Louey,

No experience whatsoever, but asking lots of ?'s and reading helped me. Here is a link to my site (please pardon it, it needs some work).

http://www.hoodprop.com/reef/sump.html

The DIY forum on RC has ton's of info on working with acrylic.

Marco

 

[Anonymous]

Wow! You da man! Wanna build a 300G tank for a fellow reefer (and a sparky.) :lol:

Your sump look first rate! Very nicely done!

Louey