I have been searching for the direct answer to this question, yet i have not found much. Was wondering if i could start a general discussion on the causes and effects of algae to help learn about it. I am aware that, being a plant, the main source of its growth is sunlight, however, was wondering if anything else contributes.
what promotes algae growth?
- Thread starter saggese820
- Start date
I have two different tanks in the same room, they have some major differences in set up, but one grows algae everywhere and one doesnt at all, can anyone help me figure out why?? they both get the same amount of sunlight, and they both get the water from the same source. here are there specs:
tank with algae:
55 gal
wet/dry
uv sterilizer
store bought sand and rocks (both live and dry rock)
canister filter
small powerhead
tank without algae:
125 gal
wet/dry
protein skimmer
uv sterilizer
beach sand
non-porous rocks and feather rock (the ones that float, but very porous)
tank with algae:
55 gal
wet/dry
uv sterilizer
store bought sand and rocks (both live and dry rock)
canister filter
small powerhead
tank without algae:
125 gal
wet/dry
protein skimmer
uv sterilizer
beach sand
non-porous rocks and feather rock (the ones that float, but very porous)
Sunlight ??? Are you referring to algae growth in an aquariums or algae growth in general .Algae is a simple form of a plant which require Food ,Light and Water to set up shop.There are many different forms of algae as far as i know they all require the three basic things mentioned .
They were here long before us and they might be here long after us as well.
here is a pic of the algae: http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l140/saggese820/fish tank algae/100_0423.jpg
- Location
- Far Rockaway
I see your problem you dont have a skimmer in that tank so all that organic waste is not being removed and tuning into po4 and po3.
thanks! is there anyway to fix this problem besides getting a protein skimmer? i dont really have room for one in my sump. should enough live rock be able to turn the organic waste into anything that wouldnt promote algae growth? and are the hardness and ph parameters acceptable in both tanks? i'm not sure what causes them to fluctuate so much being as i use the same water when doing water changes. and i know the nitrates in the 125 gal should be fixed, i'm working on it lol
- Location
- Far Rockaway
When do you do water changes. do you use carbon ?
Is that the actual pic of your tank? If that's the case ,why did you let it get so bad ? Remove it with some Elbo Greece ,Razor Blades and an Old Tooth Brush.Btw your pH seem very low.Oh, one more thing are you using Tap water ?
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i actually completely took everything out and cleaned the entire tank with a razor blade, it was the only thing that would get it off. and it got that way because this algae just keeps coming back and i dont have the time to do such a big clean up as often as it grows back. i have kept a towel over the tank to block sunlight ever since i cleaned it a few days ago until i can find a fix to this problem. and about the water, i know i'm about to get yelled at for this, but i take the water directly from the bay, but this is because most of the fish i have are from the bay, i try to get rare finds at the end of the summer when Caribbean fish get stuck in the bays of LI after traveling up here in the gulf stream. and no, i dont use carbon.
- Location
- Far Rockaway
One stop using the water from the bay get and RO/DI and get a bucket of salt and PH buffer the salt should keep you ph at 8.30 and do a 10g water change every week . That will help you in your problem.There is no other way around it. And us a good grade carbon in a reactor
Using the water from the Bay is not a bad thing at all ,as long as it's clean and pollution free .In fact if i lived close to the Bay i would use it too.If you what to stick with your methods i would suggest using a pH buffer to raise the pH and shorten the light cycle.Oh ,if you're not reefing what do you call it then ?
- Location
- Far Rockaway
The reactor is cheap like $40 the carbon will get all the toxins in the water out and also do what a skimmer will do also.
i dont have any corals or anything fancy, just fish. and yea i figured it would be better to keep the fish in their native water than to create an artificial (and expensive) environment that is different to what they are used to. and i only do water changes at high tide which reduces the possibility of getting any pollutants as much as possible. it really makes water changes extremely easy. and any info on what would cause the ph to dip in the first place? when the water goes into the tank all the parameters are perfect
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