My algae tank - New thread

[Ben1]

I think the problem is Rob has already tried scrubbing all the rocks off. I am not argueing that Nitrospira can live in both salt and fresh water but if the rock is compounded with detritus and P04, scrubbing would be a short term solution. While if he did a long dark re-cure using pure saltwater the bacteria would shed out all the detritus, leaving the rock clean and ready for his BB system. An ozonator is a nice piece of equiptment, and could only help.

Rob, do you have a lot of detritus build up behind your rocks?

 

[Anonymous]

I do see allot of detritus at times.
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[Ben1]

That is the biggest problem with BB. You have to be sure to clean any detritus pile right away. I atempt to get a lot of the flow under the rocks so the detritus settles in one of the front corners were it is easy to siphon out. I always have saltwater mixed and ready and when ever I see a small bit of build up I siphon it out. If you don't get it out before it starts breaking down it will load down your tank.

BB works well but until the flow either keeps all the detritus suspened, very hard to actually do, or the detritus stops building up you need to keep on top of it. I do it every other day or so and usually only take out a gallon of water out in the process so it isn't a water change but just regular maintance.

The other thing is ceriths snails will eat detritus. I just added 100 to my 40 breeder and 50 astreas. The astrea do eat the algea and the ceriths eat the astrea poo.

I used http://rockyshores.saltyzoo.com/price/ and was able to get enough other local reefers to go in it was cheap. I paid like $0.27 per critter on average and only 8$ for my part of the shipping. If you can get in with a bunch of other reefers do it and buy a ton of ceriths.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Well I have ordedred some bulk DI resin. I am going to add a third DI cartridge to my RO/DI/DI to hopefully eliminate the Silicates.

With the detritus, Every time I blast the LR with a power head, it looks like its snowing in the tank.

I purchased a Tunze Stream to make more flow. If thats not enough flow then I dont know what will be enough in a 3 ft tank.

I would love to go back to a sand bottom and remove the Starboard but I dont think it will be possible with the stream.

I will probably remove the LR to get thte algae to die off to where it can hopefully be managed bu critters.

Once the LR is ready I will add it back to the tank with all new water as well.
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[Ben1]

That sounds like a solid plan to me. When you do remove the live rock shake it hard to clear out as much detritus as you can. This way it won't carry over and continue leaching nutrients to feed the algae.

Where did you order your bulk resin from?

 

[Anonymous]

Well, last night I did some scrubbing. I siphoned the water out of the tank and back to the sump to minimized the water taken out. I ran the siphon into a filter sock. I dumped about a softball size of algae down the toilet.

I can actually see some rock now.
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[Anonymous]

Good deal Rob. I am planning a massive scrubbing when I take my tank down to move. I am also planning on reductin the amount of LR in my tank for two reasons. First I want to open things up a bit more and get my 60X turnover working for me. Second I think my rock is leaching junk into my tank. Less rock less leaching.

 

[Anonymous]

Well my RO membrane has now expired. Getting TDS readings of 60-70 now after RO.

I have ordered the Spectrapure 60GPD Spectraselect RO membrane to hopefully help with the silicates and also cut down on the DI that I use.

Once new membrane arrives I am planning on making about 40 gals of new ASW and do another massive scrub/water change. I am avoiding pulling the rock right now due to the fact the SPS thats growing has attached to the LR nicely. I dont want to stress to corals anymore. in another month or 2 if the algae doesn't show signs of residing I will just get new LR then.

I am not going to cook the LR because I have no where to cook it. I read some posts where the smell is horrible and I dont want that in my house with an infant.

We'll see how it goes. I may start a new thread or does anyone know of how/where I can log my tank online? Webhosting? Something easy since I have no time as it is.
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[Anonymous]

Finally got my new RO membrane. I hooked it up.

TDS readings now
Tap - 348
RO - 10
After double DI - 0 and NO silicates.

Making water now.

Big question now is, is it worth doing a 90% WC? Or am I wastimg water and Salt because the LR is loaded.

I wish I could get cured LR cheap that didn't need cycling. I can't cure the LR in my condo.
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[Anonymous]

Big question now is, is it worth doing a 90% WC? Or am I wastimg water and Salt because the LR is loaded.

Nothing good happens fast.

Try 50% in my opinion. Once every other week for a while. If improvement begin to show then it's only a matter of time before it will be all cleared up.

Try some snails to see it they make it. If so try a herbivorous fish.

 

[Anonymous]

what kinda snails...i have a few different species in my tank and none will touch that sh, stuff! Too spoiled getting a variety of meaty foods, the hell with the vegen stuff :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

what kinda snails...i have a few different species in my tank and none will touch that sh, stuff! Too spoiled getting a variety of meaty foods, the hell with the vegen stuff :lol:

Astrea and Turbin should be a good start.

 

[ChrisRD]

what kinda snails...i have a few different species in my tank and none will touch that sh, stuff!

If you skim back over the thread a bunch of suggestions were made. Here's mine from page 6:
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=787425#787425

 

[Anonymous]

Rob,
I have the same problems as you and thought I would share what I am doing. I am still getting a lot of junk out of the rocks but it is taking longer for the HA to come back. The spots where it does come back is where I get most of the junk from. First off I think my problem came from over feeding and not doing water changes. And from not having a filter because every body said the live rock would filter the water.

I now have a canister filter that I rinse the pads 2 times a week. and I have nothing in the chambers. I use a turkey baister to blast the rock. Now I use the baister to push and pull water softly and it gets a lot more out then just blasting with a power head. I got rid of the hermets and got a few more snails and Its looking better but its still there.

I also rinse the pads in the old salt water that I change.
Hope this helps
Teddy

 

[jethro]

I have been checking out these alge problem threads and following everying that everyone suggests as much as possible.

I recently made a change to my system and I am convinced that water movement is the single most important factor.

I changed the inside housing of my DIY Overflow from 1" PVC to 2" PVC. Now I can run my MAG 1200 wide open. Within 2 days, the brown coating on my sand bed turned a faded shade of tan which was almost transparent. All algea that was migrating to my live rock is pretty much gone. I will soon have to move some of my snails to the sump/refuge because they will run out of food.

 

[m-fine]

My alge problems disapeared after I did 2 things....1) get a calc reactor and toss the kalkwasser buffer crap, and 2) stop doing water changes.

Seriously, I noticed a patern of things getting worse when I did a water change and cleaning up if I let it go so I stopped them all together. After 4+ years I did a water change and surprise surprise, I got an algae bloom within a day or two. I use RO/DI for top off water and same for the changes, so I don't know what the issue is, but I do know what works for me.

I also highly recommend 3+ inches of something on the bottom. I don't get the bare bottom thing, and I think the critters and bacteria in the sand or gravel are extremely helpful in eliminating detritus and other problems. Also, what kind of fish? If you have to many good carnivores, they will deplete your supply of worms and pods and so forth that would normally clean your rock for you. Check the tank with a flashlight at night. If you do not see lots of things scurrying for cover you have a problem.

mfine

 

[Anonymous]

Update.

Since I changed my water filters and installed a HI-S Spectrapure High Silicate removal membrane, New DI, new Pre filters.

Added a Tunze Stream.

Tank appears to be getting better. Algae has slowed dramatically and turning dark red. I am scrubbing it off as I can.

My next thing is tryign to get my CA/Alk levels a little higher to promote more coraline growth. Maybe time for a CA reactor if I can understand how to get one working or have someone show me.
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[ChrisRD]

That's great news Rob. Sounds like you're headed in the right direction.

On the Ca reactor - I'd hold off until there's a real need for it. Considering you're still battling an algae problem and you already have a kalk reactor, I'd keep things the way they are for a while. Ca reactor media can be a source of phosphates which is the last thing you need right now...

 

[Anonymous]

My Alk/CA levels have dropped. I am running the Kalk reactor 24/7 but I dont think its enough.

Alk - 2.4 DKH
CA - 330
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[ChrisRD]

Hmmm, well, if you want to go with a Ca reactor you might try running the effluent through some Phosban or something similar just to ensure that you're not feeding the problem algaes.

Another option would be a two-part. Maybe something like Randy's DIY two-part to keep costs down...

Either way, I'd keep doing the kalk top-off thing in combination with whatever method you choose.