S.O.S.-Algae!

[fishfanatic2]

@#!%$^! Stupid algae.

In addition to my kajillions of pods and 5 types of macros that came from nowhere, there's a new visiter in town-he's called cyano, sailor's eye, and hair. I thought that I was clear, but o well.

Back to business- I have noticed small infestations of sailors eye, hair, and cyano. Before it gets completely out of hand, what should I do? The hair is the biggest problem, the cyano next, and the valonia is popping up. The hair I can rip out, but that won't get rid of it completely. S.O.S.!!!!!!! 8O :roll:

 

[liquid]

Are you using RO/DI water for your water changes?

Shane

 

[fishfanatic2]

No

And I can't afford to,either.

 

[liquid]

Well, that's the first line of defense against what you're seeing... You can't buy RO/DI water from the supermarket or the LFS?

Other than that, start skimming your tank harder and maybe start up a refugium to grow macroalgaes or maybe feed less. You might be able to run some sort of phosphate sponge on your tank. However, be warned that leather corals do not like this product.

Shane

 

[fishfanatic2]

Will the macro algaes growing in my main tank haelp? I have some very nice Caulastrea and some reds and whatnot.

 

[liquid]

If it's in the main tank it can get out of control and you'll have to harvest it out. Really the better option is to setup a refugium w/ macros in it, but it's up to you.

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

Ok shane...i have the same problem as fishfanatic2 only with brown diatoms/cyano...i use distilled water since i cant afford an RO/DI unit...I use a fuge with two types of macros...and i also skim the tank of course...i clean it the best i can and boom its back the very next day...I noticed it really started to hit harder when i added new lights/lighting system...120W PC...two daylight two 12000k...Unfortunately i dont have a TDS meter(yet) to check the dissolved solids...Any ideas..????

P.S. this has been an on going problem for a few months now...Im pretty sure its beyond the "new tank cycle"....But in the last month and a half it has gotten to be redicoulous

 

[Lurshy]

Without ro/di, you may want to add some rowa-phos or phosban to your filter. Don't rinse it, and encapsulate it in floss so the micro particles don't turn your water red. This would absorb phosphates which are likely coming in, within your tap water (and food). Phosphates fuel the algea, and unlike other phosphate sponges, this stuff doesn't leach the phosphates back into the water when exhausted. Your are still better off with the RO/DI or at both...

HTH

 

[liquid]

I'm gonna say that probably some sort of phosphate sponge is going to have to be your next option.

Shane