Last attempt at saving my tank

[Len]

Micro will outcompete macro. If you really want to try Bob's suggestion, throw in some Chaeto in the main tank (they aren't invasive nor will they attach, but they are hard to keep in one place with lots of current).

I really think the lack of pods may be hurting you. I know they seem tiny, but microfauna is really outstanding at controlling microflora. I have had no snails or hermits in my tank for years, but tons of pods. I have had no algae problems save one Bryposis outbreak that went away on its own.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with the entire rock cooking idea. You really need coralline algae growth, since you don't want macro algae. One thing you do not seem to be understanding is that nutrients MUST be removed from your water column. There are many ways of doing this.

Can you list the actual livestock that is left in this tank? What livestock did you start off with?
Also, what are your calcium level, alk, and pH? Do you test these regularly?
I don't want to ask you obvious questions, but in all seriousness, I've never seen a tank with no coralline. Something is happening in there, I am quite curious as to what it is.

 

[Anonymous]

I really think the lack of pods may be hurting you.

That's an interesting theory...and it makes sense.

 

[Anonymous]

CA - 450
Alk 7.7 DKH (Low for 450CA)
PH 8.1-8.3

Fish : 6 line wrasse, 2 false pecula clowns, flame hawk, black cap basslet

Corals : brown forgspawn, blue mushrooms, hammer, wesophelia,
SPS Coloniy: light blue tipped acro.
SPS FRAGS: branching hydro, montipora cap, yellow acro, lite grren porites, purple monti cap, purple monti digita, pink birds nest, orange encrusting Montipora, Yellow encrusting montipora

Blue maxima clam
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[Anonymous]

I have 5 fish and 8 SPS frags, and a hammer,frogspawn adn a wesophelia. I don't think thats alot of bioload for a 58 or is it?

It's enough to grow hair algae.

What plants will grow in the tank and NOT take over or attach them selves to the rock?

Actually just about anything except some of the caulerpas like grape and feather. Even caulerpa profilera stayed on the sand in my tank and didn't attach to the rocks.

With those calcium levels even the calcius macros like halimeda, shaving brush, and mermaid fans should do well.

You might even have good luck with the slower growing turtle grass.

 

[Ben1]

shaving brush, and mermaid fans should do well.

How would those help?

 

[Anonymous]

shaving brush, and mermaid fans should do well.

How would those help?

By consuming the nutrients currently going to the hair algae.

 

[Anonymous]

I only have 3 fish in my 75. An Atlantic Blue Tang, a False Perc, and a Manderin.

I have a fuge, good lighting with new bulbs, a fuge, a good skimmer (lifereef) and I still have to do monthly or Bi-monthy WC's using RO/DI water in order to maintain my tank without having algea problems. I still get some algea, but immediatly do something about it when it is first spoted.

You have to find the balance of critters you want to keep, versus the amount of work your willing to do to keep it clean.

Rob, I know this has been a real problem for you and I wish you the best in figuring out what the problem is.

I suspect the fish load and feeding is the source of your algea. You need to work harder by doing more and more WC's, or reduce the bioload coupled with some more maintanance.

It's a balancing act.

Again, good luck!

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

shaving brush, and mermaid fans should do well.

How would those help?

Those would not help at all, they grow WAY to slow to do any appreciable nutrient uptake. Plus, they suck up calcium, which is a negative in my book for an algae that you want to use to help your water.

They are however, pretty! I really enjoyed my shaving brush collection, unfortunately so did my sailfin tang. They are unusual and a fun addition, but I would never count on them to improve water conditions.

 

[Anonymous]

I think Ben is right - crud is in the rock. It collects, sits and makes a perfect place for algae to root.
You can also 'cook' the rock in the tank. Use a powerhead or baster to blast crud off the rock while running a vortex or magnum canister with DE to filter the crud out. I would do one rock at a time over a couple of days.

I don't think adding macros would do much because it sounds to me like the algae is not getting nutrients from the WC, but from the rock itself.

 

[Anonymous]

here is a link which shows a display refugium:

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthr ... did=116535

The crud now in the rocks was not there three months ago. Water changes and all the rest have still resulted in hair algae.

Had other plant life been established then, and is sufficient quantity, the current hair algae would be vastly reduced to non existant. Even with the crud now in the rocks.

Sure you may still get a very thin almost impreceivable algae and hopefully corraline, but what you should not get is a thick hair algae.

My tank has "crud" in the rocks and between my thin top layer of crushed coral and shells. But the combination of cleaner crews and a thriving refugium prevent the "green shag carpet" over the rocks for almost two years now.

I hope Rob can have a tank he is happy with that does not require daily and weekly cleaning and other actions to keep it that way. And certainly it should not require a tear down or curing rocks every three months.

 

[Anonymous]

How does one keep a Fish Only tank clean and running? I see tanks with NO LR and there is no algae.
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[coralfarmin]

Hi
I did not read all the other replys ..but here is mine
first take a deep breath lol..now lets talk.
Do you love the hobby?
Can you work on being patient?If you love to keep coral and fish you will look back at this post one day and laugh because you will become diehard and figure it out.
This hobby is not for some but if you hang in there you WILL be rewarded greatly.
I could tell you tons of fish inverts and stuff to help medigate your alge bloom in conjuntion to your other treatment methods, but if you really love this stuff then you'll figure it out anyway, ther aint any mirical cures and the best treatment is patience & the internet resource's that are free imo

 

[Anonymous]

I understand patience to an extent. Tank running for over 2 years with only 4 months of algae free enjoyment is pushing the limit.

Those 5 fish are too much for this tank? What do I need to do to maintain this level of "balance"?

New skimmer? Bigger?

More LR?

More additives?
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[Anonymous]

I am also goign to try an experiment for a week.

I put the old MH bulb back in to see if the new bulb cause this outbreak.
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[coralfarmin]

imo..first build a cheap surface skimmin 4" counter current skimmer and add it.Next cut the additve and phyto back to 1/4 whatever ya been dosing also reduce your fish feeding to alot less though i have'nt noted your feeding frequency, that I read since I just looked at your tank specs.Most people feed their fish and phyo dose way more than really needed imo
Get several(50) Mexican Turbos they love the stuff.(and would probably eat it faster than you can grow it)and mabey some blue leg hermits
also just run the Vho 03's 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour at night to simulate sun set/rise.
Just were I would start

 

[coralfarmin]

and add a yellow tang but dont keep him full on nori all the time let him eat the alge

 

[Anonymous]

i agree that oceanic salt can really suck. my tank had a bad outbreaks when i used the stuff.
are you still using it?

RO top off, right?

i also agree that pods have a more beneficial property than simply feeding the fish and inverts.
do you think you have too little?

Louey touched on lights.... when was the last time you changed them?


you said you didn't ever run carbon because you didn't have a place to put it... in my smaller tanks i have just stuck a bag right in the main tank. works well.

you remarked on flow and i see in your specifications the pumps you have but tell me.. does detritus settle on anything?

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, phyto! Don't dose it at all.

 

[coralfarmin]

why cant you put carbon in the bak pack??