algae bloom

[new2saltyfish]

for some reason in the past couple of days i have gotten a lot of green algae in my tank. it's always been on the glass but more so now and to add ontop of that it is now on the sand bed... i do have to admit, my clean up crew isn't so hot. could that be the reason?

 

[LuckyReefer]

"my clean up crew isn't so hot" ... It could be that. When was the last time you changed your water? Did you use RO/DI water when you did it? Also have you lengthened your light cycle? Have you been adding more supplements or recently started adding them? All of these could be reasons and or possible contributors to your algae bloom.

 

[new2saltyfish]

i change the water every 1 1/2 - 2 weeks, i don't use ro-di but i add amquel to the tap. Light cycle has pretty much been the same..(all bulbs on from
12pm-5pm, white light on from 5-7, and actinic 7-10). i feed the tank 1-2 times per week

 

[randoma]

Have you tested the tap water for phosphates? How about the tank for nitrates?

 

[LuckyReefer]

hmm.. go with the RO/DI man... it is very tough to have a "thriving" tank without it. I am willing to bet that the water is what is causing your issues.

 

[new2saltyfish]

all my tank params are perfect, so i guess ill have to try the ro-di and see if it's any better,

 

[LuckyReefer]

Where are you located? I have a phosphate test kit you could use.... phosphates are most likely the cause of your bloom.

 

[new2saltyfish]

im in stoneham MA. ill just take a sample by the fish store and see if they can test my phosphates. thanks though.

 

[stingythingy45]

I think you might be surprised at how high it's going to be.
Save yourself a lot of headaches and go with RO/DI.
I get mine for 50 cents a gallon right now.
But definitely getting a home unit soon.

 

[new2saltyfish]

would this water also help the survival of fish and corals?? im now wondering if this is why i lost my anem recently. i have very hardy fish though so maybe that's why ive had the ones i do for a while.

 

[stingythingy45]

Not sure about that one.
Phosphates feed HA(hair algae)as well as a lot of other nuisance algae.
It will also inhibit corals from using calcium.
I had a 10 gallon that I started topping off with tap water and it was completely green in a matter of weeks.The HA was so thick it was shocking.
I just had my water checked at the last meeting and it was PO4 was .07.
Consider this,even phosphates from food will feed the green crap that you are trying to get rid of.
And I still have green in certain areas of my tank.

 

[JayM]

all my tank params are perfect, so i guess ill have to try the ro-di and see if it's any better,

Which parameters are perfect?

The following could cause an algae bloom:

Low alk
Measurable nitrites or ammonia
Nitrates >5PPM
Phosphates

The other thing you need to consider is the algae bloom is consuming the excess of any/all of the above.....so none will show up.

 

[new2saltyfish]

ive never measured calc, or alk. amonia, nitrate, nitrite, and ph are ok. although my ph has been constant at 7.8 since ive started the tank. come to think of it, i do have a bunch of hair algae on the exit of my filter. None in the tank itself but maybe thats because i cut it off weekly.

 

[stingythingy45]

A saltwater tank should have over 8.0 for PH.
Most here try to keep it 8.2 or higher.
Your going to need Alk and Calcium test.
I would recommend that you get a 2 part additive to get calcium and Alk where it needs to be.
A HOB filter becomes nitrate factory if the filter pad isn't cleaned weekly.
I have an HOB but run phosphate removal pad and carbon.

Ph will drop at night after the lights are off.

 

[new2saltyfish]

well i dont know if it's my testor that makes the ph 7.8 or what. it's the drop ones. i was told alk and calc didn't matter unless i had sps which i don't. filter is replaced every week when i do run carbon...most of the time i just let it cycle the water. is that bad?

 

[Andy O]

Do you have a fuge? That can also help with your nutrient export.

What kind of filter are you running?

 

[new2saltyfish]

no fuge...i have a biowheel 280, red sea protein skimmer, and a coralia 400gph powerhead.

 

[randoma]

You need more flow... I'd add at least 2 high flow powerheads (Koralia 3 or 4, Modded MaxiJets..etc.)

 

[LuckyReefer]

New, Seachem has a great PH supplement that also would help with your ALK... it also prevents overshooting your desired PH of 8.3. I use it occasionally its called Seachem Reef Buffer. Grab some when you buy your first buckets of RO/DI water.

Here is the Link:

http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/ReefBuffer.html

 

[new2saltyfish]

so will that get both my alk and ph to exactly where they shoudl be all in one without the possibilty of going in the opposite direction? and just ordered another powerhead about 10 minutes ago....and does the seachem reed buffer get added straight to the tank or to each water change?