Introduction

[nolfoc]

Hello everybody I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but I am a new member here at Manhattan Reefs, I want to thank a co-worker and member on this site to introducing me to it. I have a 20 gallon Deep reef tank with Hagan 24 inch T5 Glo fixture, I also have a hang on filter (which I'm not thrilled about but it does the trick)... I see a lot of people are very knowledgeable and helpful on this site, I was wondering if anybody has an solution to my problem

Most of my live rock has algae on it ( its not hair algae, its more like little plant/trees; they are really hard to pull out of the rock and are starting to bother me a lot.) How would I get ride of this? I put some live rock in my hang on filter as well as Chetamorpha and a Polypad that removes phosphates.. I also noticed I'm getting some red slime algae on my Sand.. My corals and fish look great, I have nice purple cloriane algae growing off my back glass and my test levels are excellent.. I was thinking about taking the rocks out and letting them dry out for a few days and hoping the plants will to, but I have a lot of coral growing out of the rocks and my tank is established for over a year, so i wouldn't want to ruin my eco system.. If anybody can help me that would be amazing!

Im so happy I was introduced to this site!

Take Care

 

[winsbxnyc]

This is a good topic to speak about idk what you could do to fix the problem tho welcome to mr


Wins

 

[Awibrandy]

Hi Nolfoc! Welcome to our great family! MR has wonderful knowledgeable people you just have to do a little work to figure out who are those with the knowledge. A very good friend told me a long time ago, "Only take advice from those who's tank you have seen".
I add to that; have seen, and liked what you saw.

Please post your parameters, and some pic if you can please. Also, how old is your system?

 

[nolfoc]

K here are some pics

 

[Awibrandy]

Pix are not very clear, but it looks like you also have some Velonia aka Green Bubble Algea as well.
I'm going to burrow a link some one else posted in another thread. Hope he doesn't mind.
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/33-reefkeeping-101-

As well as a link to one of our vendors here who posted a good one having to do with algae.
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reef-cleaners/56464-nuisance-algae-guide-work-progress.html

 

[bizzarro]

Try to increase flow and siphon your crushed coral or remove it.

I have crushed coral and thinking about removing it. I have algae growth but at least the water is now cleaner from running carbon, water changes and manual removal of the algae.

I don't have a sump so I put more than the recommended amount of Kent Reef carbon into a small AC HOB and that helps keep the water cleaner and cut back to feeding once a day.

I have a SRO LX1000s running.

 

[rambler67]

First off welcome to MR. second hair algae cyano algae and some bubble algae. why dont you tell us a little about your tank. like what kind of equipment your running, parameters, how often do you do water changes, are you useing rodi water or tap are you running carbon or gfo, how old are your bulbs?

 

[nolfoc]

bulbs are about 2 months old.. Filter is a penguin 280, I took everything out of it, put some live rock in teh bottom and Chetamorpha on top with a Phostate polypad.. I haven't checked my levels, I will have to get bcak to you on that.. I also have a AquaticLife Internal Mini Protein Skimmer 115, that i personally think sucks!

 

[Awibrandy]

Go through the market place, and see if there is anything there that you may feel that you can afford starting with an RO/DI if you don't already have one.

Did you follow either of the links I posted for you?

BTW, it is not unheard of to run a small reef with a hob filter, or protein skimmer for that matter. But you DO HAVE TO stay on top of water changes. You obviously have a great deal of nutrients that HAVE TO BE exported out of your tank some how. It can be done. Start with weekly water changes of 20%, and DO NOT USE tap water. If you don't already have a ro/di ( REVERSE OSMOSIS & DEIONIZATION Filtration System), then use bottled water like Poland Springs until you get your own RO/DI!!!!! Next in line for you to purchase would be a Two Little Fishies reactor used or what ever reactor you can find used that is affordable to your wallet. BRS makes a nice duo one for around $50, and some GFO (granulated ferric oxide iron base phosphate remover).
Lets start by getting your tank cleaned up. Please restrain from adding any other animal to your tank until we get it cleaned up.

Where in LI are you?

 

[nolfoc]

Go through the market place, and see if there is anything there that you may feel that you can afford starting with an RO/DI if you don't already have one.

Did you follow either of the links I posted for you?

BTW, it is not unheard of to run a small reef with a hob filter, or protein skimmer for that matter. But you DO HAVE TO stay on top of water changes. You obviously have a great deal of nutrients that HAVE TO BE exported out of your tank some how. It can be done. Start with weekly water changes of 20%, and DO NOT USE tap water. If you don't already have a ro/di ( REVERSE OSMOSIS & DEIONIZATION Filtration System), then use bottled water like Poland Springs until you get your own RO/DI!!!!! Next in line for you to purchase would be a Two Little Fishies reactor used or what ever reactor you can find used that is affordable to your wallet. BRS makes a nice duo one for around $50, and some GFO (granulated ferric oxide iron base phosphate remover).
Lets start by getting your tank cleaned up. Please restrain from adding any other animal to your tank until we get it cleaned up.

Where in LI are you?

Yes I did check out that link, it gave me anxiety lol, this seems like a impossible feat to win, I never got a ro unit because I have no where to hook it up, I live in the upstairs of someones house.. What is this two little fishies reactor? And where do I hook it up to? Do ui recommend me getting rid of my ho filter? I don't mind buying new equipment to fix this problem.. I live in levittown ny

 

[rambler67]

two little fishes reactor is a reactor to use with a phosban media to remove phosphates with is the main reason for an algae to start with. http://www.marinedepot.com/Two_Litt...rs-Two_Little_Fishies-TL4311-FIFRISPR-vi.html
i would really looking into getting a rodi unit if not you can bye water from the store like Poland springs or you can get it from the local fish store. but if you just keep useing tap water you are just adding fuel to the fire.

 

[Awibrandy]

Trust me it is not an impossible feat to win. You can do this!!!!!!
Do you have a sink in your upstairs place? If you do you can get an ro/di with a faucet hook up, and a Brute can to hold your filtered water, with a float valve so you don't flood the place.lol I did that a few times cause I didn't have a float valve.LOL I do know. If you don't have access to your own personal faucet, you can buy filtered water from your supermarket.
Two Little Fishies reactor can be hung on the back of your tank. You put media in it like GFO or carbon that is powered by a small pump to help clean your fish tank water.
Only way I would recommend you get rid of your ho filter is if you could some how add a sump to your system, but then you would have to also get an overflow box. A 10 gallon tank would be enough.
Lets just take it 1 step at a time though. Lets start with filtered water, and some large water changes. As well as getting the reactor.

Remember it is NOT impossible. You should've seen my first tank.ROFLMBFAO...

 

[Awibrandy]

This is the BRS one
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...rbon-reactors/brs-gfo-and-carbon-reactor.html
This is the double one.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...reactors/dual-brs-gfo-and-carbon-reactor.html
And this is the gfo:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...k-gfo-granular-ferric-oxide-phosphate-remover
If you were to get the double, then you could run the gfo in one, and the carbon in the other. Leaving your ho filter for a little lr rubble with chaeto.

 

[nolfoc]

should i pick up distilled water or just regular poland spring.... I only have one bathroom in my apt and not sure if i fel like staring at a RO unit :shocked:!! so filtered water it is.. is their any video on how to hook up with fishies reactor?

 

[nolfoc]

Im going to pick up the Phosban reactor 150 today at a local fish store.. I also came across this protein skimmer, just wondering what you guys think

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PROTEIN-SKI...193?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a8afef59

 

[Awibrandy]

Look to youtube for a possible video on installing a the TLF phosreactor. Or you can come out to my place, I'm in Far Rockaway, NY off of the "Nassau Exp"
Go with distilled water.

That skimmer looks real cheap. Keep looking for a better one. I don't know much about nanos. When it comes to skimmers cheap is never good.

I did run my 20 gallon without a protein skimmer, but I had to stay on top of it with w/c, circulation, and such. I did have a 10 gallon sump on it, and the tank was drilled.

 

[nolfoc]

Look to youtube for a possible video on installing a the TLF phosreactor. Or you can come out to my place, I'm in Far Rockaway, NY off of the "Nassau Exp"
Go with distilled water.

That skimmer looks real cheap. Keep looking for a better one. I don't know much about nanos. When it comes to skimmers cheap is never good.

I did run my 20 gallon without a protein skimmer, but I had to stay on top of it with w/c, circulation, and such. I did have a 10 gallon sump on it, and the tank was drilled.

I'll check out youtube and if i still can't figure it out ill take you up on that offer coming out to Far Rock.. It looked cheap, I just wanted to hear what others thought of it.. Thanks again

 

[LongIslandAndy]

Welcome nolfoc, it was nice talking to you yesterday. Don't let the anxiety get to you and take one step at a time. Water changes would be a good start. Have fun!!!!

 

[nolfoc]

Welcome nolfoc, it was nice talking to you yesterday. Don't let the anxiety get to you and take one step at a time. Water changes would be a good start. Have fun!!!!

it was nice talking to you too Andy, did you check out my pics of my tank on the first page? I think im gunna stop by Aquarium Village this weekend and pick up a Phosban 150 Reactor.. keeping my fingers crossed it does the trick

 

[nolfoc]

UGh, just got horrible news..

So i just decided to get my S**T together and took out a lot of rock that had the Bryosis on it and chipped away with a hammer, cleaned up about 80%.. looks much better, so I then decided to do a water and calcium test.. here are my results

Ammonia- .20
Nitrate- 20
Nitrite 2.0
PH 7.5
Calcium 30 drops and it was still pink

These numbers are horrible I know.. and what's throwing me off is my fish, snails and Corals are all living and looking good for hte most part.. Ugh I need to get on this asap..

I dont even know where to start! I change my filter pad.. I'm now thinking of scratching the mini refrugium I made in my Hangover and going back to ChemiPure and phospate pad... advice would be great.. what a crummie night