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My algae tank - New thread

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Anonymous

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Well I got home from a weekend at the boat. Most of the rock now is covered with a thick cyano covering. Plus the red hair algae.

I just dont get it.

It has to be the LR and I have no where to cure new LR.

I think the tank is coming down and to end this misery.
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Sugar Magnolia

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Rob, that's such a shame. I pop into your thread occasionally, but to be honest, don't read every post. I know youve been struggling with this for a long time and are at your wit's end.

FWIW, the LFS near me uses tap water in all of their marine tanks, inculding their LR holding tanks. This of course, causes many problems, and every piece of LR I purchased from them in the past was a royal PITA to rid of hair algae. I've since stopped buying LR there. As Chris mentioned astreas do absolutely nothing for HA, or cyano for that matter. Turbos, and lots of them will mow down HA if it's kept trimmed down. I've seen HA infested tanks cleaned up in weeks after the introduction of lots of turbos.

I know many will tell you to not give up, but if I had been through everything youv'e been through, I'd be tossing in the towel too. Maybe a short break from the tank will do you some good. Empty the tank, clean it well, and store it for a while till your heart is back in it. You've learned alot during this, and as ou mentioned, it may be the LR. I know in my case, it was the LR.

Sorry for all the trouble you've been through. I hope your next tank will be more of a joy to you than this one has been.
 
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How about cooking it in the tank its in right now. Get rid of the coral or get someone to keep if for you and let the tank lay fallow for a month or two. Then clean it up and re reef it.
 
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thats the problem. The current corals. The money I have invested in them. Chipping the corals out of the LR is one thing but storing them somewhere for 2 months + while the LR cures is the problem. If I bite the bullet and just give them to the LFS then start from scratch then I guess that would work.
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GSchiemer

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There's nothing wrong with the rock and there isn't that much caulerpa. It's easily removed, if you want to remove it. There are plenty of creatures that eat caulerpa anyway.

Why not take the rocks out and scrub them clean? Change 100% of the water with nutrient-free saltwater. Then just limit the nutrients you put back in.

Greg
 
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Anonymous

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Greg,

I would love to do that if that was the defite answer. The Red Cyano and red hair algae has covers all the LR. The caluerpa is there and I pull it out and 3 days later its back.

The tank is only a 58 (36x18x21) so a tang is out of the question. What else eats caluerpa/ halmedia and fern macros? I cannot find mexican turbos or urshins locally.
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GSchiemer

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Rob_Reef_Keeper":37h65z64 said:
Greg,

I would love to do that if that was the defite answer. The Red Cyano and red hair algae has covers all the LR. The caluerpa is there and I pull it out and 3 days later its back.

The tank is only a 58 (36x18x21) so a tang is out of the question. What else eats caluerpa/ halmedia and fern macros? I cannot find mexican turbos or urshins locally.
Click to expand...

You can mail order urchins. I recommend Tripneustes gratilla or the Halloween Urchin. Diadema setosum is also good but you'll have to trade it in after it grows too large.

I'd still take out all the rock and scrub it clean. Use a scrub brush and rinse each rock in saltwater. At the same time, change the water with fresh salt water made from RO/DI water.

This isn't rocket science. It's a matter of nutrients in and nutrients out. Right now you have too many nutrients going in and not enough going out. Nutrients leave through skimmers, activated carbon and water changes. Nutrients go back in through food, fish, and replacement water. Monitor these closely and you won't have a problem.

BTW, how do you replace evaporated water and replenish calcium/alkalinity? Have you used kalkwasser? Ever try one of the iron-oxide based phosphate removers?

Greg
 
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Kalk reactor for all top off 24/7.

I tried Row-A-phos through a phosban reactor with no change
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GSchiemer

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Rob_Reef_Keeper":1hnnc8hw said:
Kalk reactor for all top off 24/7.

I tried Row-A-phos through a phosban reactor with no change
Click to expand...

That's good, but remember there is no magic bullet. It's a combination of the kalkwasser, PO4 remover, water changes with quality water, a good skimmer, the right herbivores, etc. And all this must be done simultaneously and consistently.

Greg
 
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Anonymous

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I did another major scrubbing/yanking last night. This should help hold me over until I get to the next decision.

I also added 6 mexican turbo's (got lucky at a LFS).

I am not sure on whether or not to use PO4 remover. When I tried ROw-A-Phos there was no change in over a month. I have also tried Kent's Phosphate Sponge that resulted in the LPS shriveling up so I stopped that.

I do not run carbon. I have thoguht about it but it need flow through it and not just sitting in the sump.
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