Algae growth during first cycle

[tikki50]

I setup my tank and have 40lbs. live rock. I dont have my lights on too long 10k only 4 hours and blue 12 hours. I was hoping I could reduce alage growth by cutting back the white light. Unfortunately that didnt happen. I now have an algae tank. How nice. what other things should I be doing to stop alage growth? I dont have a skimmer yet, I didnt want to put one on for the first 2 months or so. I have been using tap water and Im sure thats not a good idea, but right now I dont have the cash for a RO, which I thought those were suppose to reduce alage growth by removing imperites, correct?

I have a few snails, and hermit crabs, should I purchase several more to combat the algae. It's growing really fast. It was diatom algae but now it looks like green.

I was curious if "husbandry" of the fish tank included CONSTANT cleaning of alage or is this something that can be corrected so it does grow out of control?

Im thinking of dying my hair green to match my tank, what do you think?

Thanks
todd

 

[Len]

Hey todd,

It's perfectly normal to experience a mass algae bloom in the first few months of a tank's life. The key is patience. After a while, the algae will slowly subside if you keep your nutrients in check. That said, a RO filter and a skimmer will both help greatly to reduce nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate. If you are experiencing uncontrollable algae growth, unfortunately you'll have to invest in these pieces of equipment. For now, however, I recommend you get store-bought, unflavored distilled water versus using tapwater. Tapwater can be REALLY bad in some places.

Once nutrients are in check, it will take some time for the algae to die off on its own. Again, it's really a matter of patience with a new tank. I wouldn't add more clean up critters because all theyd o is prune back algae, then release nutrients back into the tank and encourage more algae growth. The key is to attack the root of the problem, which is the nutrient excess. As mentioned, a RO filter and skimmer are two equipment that will help greatly. You can also try high quality carbon like TwoLittleFishes' Hydrocarbon to soak up some nutrients.

I say dye your hair!!!!! :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Len is right..of course he is...it is very natural for algae to bloom in the few weeks, months of a new tank cycle. the key is to keep phosphates/silicates down and the whole nitrate/nitrite/ammonia cycle needs to be in place which is occurring as we speak..for sure you need both a protein skimmer and ro/di...definitely make the skimmer 1st...i dont have ro/di unit but i know i need one or should i say it would be beneficial for me to have one but the skimmer in my opinion should be first...if you can afford to get both then do it...... and dye go ahead, dye your head green (if youre not gonna get picked on of course)

 

[tikki50]

Well can someone recommend a cheap RO unit. Id hate to buy water all the time. That would get costly after a few months. I went out and bought a phosphate test kit. looks like Im at 1.5 which would be pretty high.

 

[tikki50]

BTW- I'll take your recommendation and you can now call me Alage Boy!

 

[Eryl Flynn]

Do a search on e-bay for reverse osmosis. I just bought an Aqua-Safe one, from what I have heard they are pretty darn good. The 75 gpd unit costs $58,$84 after shipping to colorado. It is a RO/DI unit.

 

[tenshi]

Be Patient! Be Patient! Be Patient! The algae blooms will eventually go away as others have mentioned. As for your need for good quality water, this is what I have done. I bought a 35gpd RO filter I picked up at Sam's Club, but know that I've heard about the deals on eBay I should've bought one online. My 35gpd RO unit provides my daily water top off and my families drinking water. When I do my monthly 20 gallon water change I go down to my LFS and buy 40 gallons of RO/DI water at 20¢ a gallon and bag of salt. I bring the water home in gasoline containers I bought at Home Depot especially for this. They don't get used for anything else. I mix the water and the salt in a plastic garbage can overnite with a powerhead. Then I do a twenty gallon water change and then store the other extra 20 gallons for the following month in my gasoline containers.

Hold on: What the hell was the question again?!? HeHeHeHe!! Oh my GOD! Well, it sorta relates I guess.

My point is that... what is my point... oh yes, as everyone already mentioned is that algae blooms are the norm for the first few months for newly established tanks but if they keep occuring afterwards they more than likely have to do more with the quality of the water you use for water top off and/or extra nutrient import of over feedding your tank. Do yourself a favor buy yourself a RO/DI unit.

Sorry about the rambling,
Tenshi

 

[jle2003]

tikki, how is the Rio 2500? BTW, what is the good test kit should you guys recommend?

 

[tikki50]

The RIO 2500 is down right awsome!!!!!! I cant say enough about the little pump. I have had this pump for a long time maybe 7 or 8 years and I havent had to change out or fix anything! I had it originally on a 60 salt for about 3 years then it sat outside for a year in a shed. I brought it home and dumped it in my pond for a pump used that for a few years. Man it chews up snails if they crawl in there. Then I removed it a few weeks ago to set up another salt.

You tell me, if this is a good pump.


I cant speak much of the test kits right now. I purchased a seachem one and really didnt like it too much.

 

[tenshi]

This is off the main topic of this thread but, Salifert's test kits are great. I've used Seachem's, FasTest and SeaTest, Red Sea and Salifert; and by far Salifert's have been my favorite. FasTest and SeaTest are easy but you get less tests per dollar. Red Sea seemed a little inaccurate, and Seachems although cheap were difficult to interpet because of the slight color change. With Salifert you get an accurate reading, more tests per dollar, and I think that the whole process of actual testing is the in the easy to moderate level of difficulty to use.

tenshi

 

[Anonymous]

I use well water and have had few problems..however I do not recommend it. Distilled is the way to go if ya can afford it. Costs me $1.00 a gallon and I probably use at least 10 gallons a week just to replace what has evaporated. I have used Phosphate Sponge and large Turbo Snails with very good results to control excessive algae.

 

[vair]

For a cheap RO unit check these guys out... http://airwaterice.com/

not real cheap but good value. I bought the one that does RO/DI 75GPD. and you get filtered RO water for drinking, works great.

Dave