Too Much Algae?

[woody88]

http/i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc511/woody2468/Marine048.jpg

Hi, So I've had the tank for 4 days now, even though it has been running for nearly 3 years [See my other posts in this section for details], but I've looked at loads of other FOWLR setups and their algae coverage are nowhere near as much as mine. [Please see above link] Is this too much? Is it safe? Will it upset my water parameters?

I have recently added a CUC and reduced the lighting level by 50% as well as shortening the time it's on. Thanks all!

PS- Sorry for the crap quality! Thats camera phones for you!

 

[Ashers]

Yay. Try and get rid of the green hairy algae, keep the coralline purple algae though.

 

[woody88]

Yay. Try and get rid of the green hairy algae, keep the coralline purple algae though.

Cheers mate. Any idea what the best way to remove it is. The sand was covered with it but i vac'd it up when I done my water change. Will the same method remove it from the LR. Cheers

 

[Ashers]

Ent got a clue. Just like looking at the marine section because I will be getting a marine soon!!! Probs vacing it up would work or pull it off wearing some gloves.

 

[Donya]

Cheers mate. Any idea what the best way to remove it is. The sand was covered with it but i vac'd it up when I done my water change. Will the same method remove it from the LR. Cheers

You can always sick some big Turbos on that! Assuming the params are all stable of course. Mine have never left a single scrap of green fluff un-munched. What all CUC did you add (I might have missed where you posted it)?

 

[Eversurf]

I had a similar problem when I moved my tank to my new house.

I have not read your previous post and i am clueless about your hardware but you should start by making 30% water change each week. Change your media in your filter ie activated carbon and start pulling the algea by hand if there is a lot. Pinch it, hold it and dispose of it on a cup with fresh water in it.

As far as the snails I found smaller snail have a better chance of survival.

As far as the algea on the sand get yourself a sand sifter. I have had a diamond back goby that worked well and I now have another type of goby with a yellow head. Stay away from the sand sifting snails has they don't do much, same thing for the horseshoe crab.

Have fun!!!!

-Surf

 

[woody88]

Thanks for the advice all. Will consider it.

 

[seffieuk]

Woody............slow down

We need to wait and see if you have a cycle, what are your first test results?

Seffie x

you used the wrong code - use the one starting with IMG

 

[woody88]

Woody............slow down

We need to wait and see if you have a cycle, what are your first test results?

Seffie x

Hi seffie. these are my current stats.............not too good!

SG.............1.030 [Just done 20% water change with plain RO water]
Ammonia..........0
Nitrite..........0
Nitrate..........25
PH...............7.9 [Added 10ml of Aragamilk]
Phosphate........0
KH...............4 [Hoping above will remedy this]
Calcium..........500

 

[woody88]

Have been told to expect an ammonia spike in the next few days due to tank being disturbed. This blasted green hairy algae is doin my head in. How do i shift it quickly. My cuc are useless but my stats may suggest that they may not be too happy at the mo.

 

[seffieuk]

STOP dont add anything!

I am surprised we are not seeing an ammonia and nitrate spike - was the rock ou tof water for long?

You also have something else to worry about, looks to me like you have three different types of juvie damsels in that tank, which will spell problems in the future, big problems!!

Have been told to expect an ammonia spike in the next few days due to tank being disturbed. This blasted green hairy algae is doin my head in. How do i shift it quickly. My cuc are useless but my stats may suggest that they may not be too happy at the mo.

Do you have another tank the cuc and fish could go in, say a small box with heat and powerhead - just whilst the tank cycles? I use one of those plastic box containers

Stop worrying about the hair algae at the moment - one thing at a time, cycle first then sort out hair algae

 

[woody88]

STOP dont add anything!

I am surprised we are not seeing an ammonia and nitrate spike - was the rock ou tof water for long?

You also have something else to worry about, looks to me like you have three different types of juvie damsels in that tank, which will spell problems in the future, big problems!!

Have been told to expect an ammonia spike in the next few days due to tank being disturbed. This blasted green hairy algae is doin my head in. How do i shift it quickly. My cuc are useless but my stats may suggest that they may not be too happy at the mo.

Do you have another tank the cuc and fish could go in, say a small box with heat and powerhead - just whilst the tank cycles? I use one of those plastic box containers

Stop worrying about the hair algae at the moment - one thing at a time, cycle first then sort out hair algae

Thanks for your advice seff. I dont have anything to put the fish in at the mo, so they gonna have to wait it out. A guy I know who works for my lfs done the tests for me from a water sample i took in. He told me to do 20% change with ro water to try and bring the salt level down and told me to put 10ml of aragamilk in with the change to stabilise the PH. I going back in a few days for a another test and will go from there.


What do you mean by probs in the future. I thought 1 clown and 2 damsels would be ok? Thanks

 

[woody88]

50% of the rock was removed and the bottom pieces were left in along with a small amount of water to cover them. The rest of the rock was housed in seperate containers in tank water. The tank and containers were in transit for about 10 min and as far as I am aware nothing shifted in the tank [water was still clear when I arrived back at mine.

 

[seffieuk]

Ah ah, that explains it, I dont think you are going to get a cycle

So revised plan:

Take any rock you can out, a piece at a time - and pull off the hair algae that you can, it comes off easily.

Try to get some more live rock (cured) - if you look in my journel you will see how much I had.

Three damsels will in the end fight and if you want a pair of clowns (and who doesnt) then you will need to buy a small juvie to go with the one you already have, so then four damsels - damsels of different species will fight as adults.

Do NOT add anything else to the tank yet, please, please.......no matter what your lfs says!

 

[woody88]

Ah ah, that explains it, I dont think you are going to get a cycle

So revised plan:

Take any rock you can out, a piece at a time - and pull off the hair algae that you can, it comes off easily.

Try to get some more live rock (cured) - if you look in my journel you will see how much I had.

Three damsels will in the end fight and if you want a pair of clowns (and who doesnt) then you will need to buy a small juvie to go with the one you already have, so then four damsels - damsels of different species will fight as adults.

Do NOT add anything else to the tank yet, please, please.......no matter what your lfs says!

Don't worry nothing more is goin in the tank in the immediate future. Not at least until my stats are what they should be. The guy at the store was on about adding coral when the stats are good. No no no....no chance of that. They defo on commission.