Another Live Rock ????

[Anonymous]

A few days ago i posted a thread in the General Reef keeping forum...It was about brown algae and how do i cure it...I think it has killed most of my live rock off...I have tried cleaning it via scrubbing it but it still looks pretty pathetic...I was thinking of re-doing my live rock...slowly of course...I dont wanna stess out the living things in my tank...I was thinking of slowly introducing it pound by pound for couple of weeks (if i decide to do this, and if this is a good approach..??)...Of couse first is first...i need to control the algal/diatom problem first...but im trying to look to the future and see if this approach is good advise...

Thanx 8)

 

[Len]

I think that once you've controlled your nutrient problems and the algae has gone away, the rock will regrow back to its former splendor without having to introduce new live rock. The beautiful coralline and other organisms on live rock can quickly rebound once conditions are favorable. I would attack the nutrient problem aggressively and perhaps you won't have to get more rock. RO/DO, water changes, heavier skimming, carbon, polyfilters, etc ... all go a very long way in removing nutrients.

Nikon doesn't have anything to do with the camera company, does it? I'm a Nikon shooter

 

[Anonymous]

The algae described sounds like a VERY normal diatomaceous bloom, too. Wouldn't you agree, Len?

 

[Anonymous]

This is a normal stage of the maturation process. Get your self some large Turbo Snails. Mine keep my tank pretty clean. The "brown stuff" will clear up within a few days to a few weeks.......................cured liverock slowly a few pounds every couple weeks or so will be just fine. I have done it. This allows you tp pick premium pieces you can eyeball yourself and "seed" your tanks "deadrock". I just foend some mushrooms growing in my tank yesterday. Have Fun!

 

[ChrisRD]

A few days ago i posted a thread in the General Reef keeping forum...It was about brown algae and how do i cure it...I think it has killed most of my live rock off...

Nuisance algae is not going to kill critters or bacteria that are on your live rock IME - IMO it's not something to worry about. If you have corals in the tank, however, that's another story...

I have tried cleaning it via scrubbing it but it still looks pretty pathetic...I was thinking of re-doing my live rock...slowly of course...I dont wanna stess out the living things in my tank...

Until you cure the cause of the problem, the scrubbing won't be a solution. Manual removal will only be helpful once you've cut-off the source of nutrition for the nuisance algae IME.

I was thinking of slowly introducing it pound by pound for couple of weeks (if i decide to do this, and if this is a good approach..??)

I wouldn't do this - I don't see how it will help.

...Of couse first is first...i need to control the algal/diatom problem first...but im trying to look to the future and see if this approach is good advise...

As mentioned above, more aggressive export would help. Check your water source, increase skimming, water changes (with a pure water source like RO, RO/DI, DI, etc.), lighter feedings, increased circulation - all will help. It takes time though, you're not going to get rid of the algae in a week.

 

[Anonymous]

i have used turbo snails...ineffective...i read, as of today, to try astea...they like brown/diatom algae...i have had several ideas from where the algea has/is coming from..some i have disregarded, some i have taken into consideration ie bio overload...i have a good skimmer, that is working, lots of good green gunk..powerhead of course aquaclear 201..live sand...my sea urchin is helping but he cant do it alone..im gonna try maybe using distilled water, I know DI/RO is better but i wont be able to purchase a RO/DI unit anytime soon....i also have cut down on the light period to 12 hours a day...i work ten so i cant have the lights off sooner...right now....actually where the power head discharges is where the diatom/algal bloom is the worse spot..And yes i do have corals...im gonna even try more frequent water changes...just for now...about a gallon every couple days...does that sound reasonable???

Nikon has nothing to do with the camera see HACKERS 1995 :wink:

Thanx 8)

P.S. im unsure what the IME/IMO

 

[Len]

A RO/DI can make the difference (no exaggeration). I would put that very high on your "to buy" list. If you're doing water changes with nutrient rich water, no point in doing them right?

Lots of small water changes is not as mathematically good as one big water change in regards to dilution. I'd aim for one 50% water change every 2-4 weeks, granted you're using good replacement water (natural seawater or salt mixed with RO/DI).

IME = In my experience. IMO = In my opinion. More common acroynms can be found in Reefs.org's guide to Information. http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=33928
Link to a list of abbreviations is #3 on the list.

If this is a new tank, then what you're seeing is pretty normal. Gasp! I agree with bangbang and seamaiden

 

[Anonymous]

Thanx Len
I totally agree with you on water...its funny, cuz with freshwater fish, "IMO" i would never use purified water, there are nutrients and metals taken out in purification...Saltwater seems to be the total opposite...and i know, just from talking to people that reef keeping isnt quite an exact art...that i mean is no one has a the perfect solution...its like doctors "practicing medicine"....The guy who got me in the reef keeping deal told me what he did with his tank..all he did was put in live rock, heater, filter, light, coral polyps and bota boom bota bang...his has worked flawless for 3 years, flawless for what he wants it to be of course...i tried to repeat what he did and i have this algae crap that he says he never had...i invested recently in a protein skimmer, and i started off with a power head...ive upgraded lighting in the last few months and so forth....ive bought books and so forth....so maybe you can send me in the direction of a decent RO/DI or one or the other via internet..for a good price, i live in an apt btw... and oh yeah, in the mean time, for replacement water, would distilled be ok to use??? at the least for replacement water???

Thanx 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Distilled should be fine

I think I read that your lights are on for 12 hours a day

I cut mine back to 4 hours for a couple of weeks, then gradually set the timer for more and more. I am at 9 hours now

Course, if you have critters that need the light, that won't work for you, but the algae really doesn't like the darkness

Bryan

 

[Anonymous]

yes i have some critters that need the light...i think an 8-10 hour light day would be fine for a couple weeks..i usually run a 14hr photo period...

and good cuz i bought distilled today....i used it as make up water...well see if this has some improvement also...

thanx 8)