I Need some algae help.

[jonmacknight]

First, I'd like to say i'm new to this message board. Their seams to be a whole lot of intelegent members.
I have 2 saltwater aquariums. A 29 gal w/ skimmer, hang on filter, and about 60 watts of 50/50 compact floursance,and a heater.been set up for a month and a half. My other tank is 40 gal w/skimmer,canaster filter,heater. set up about 3 weeks.(both tanks have liv rock,4-5 pounds each, and a small assortment of hermit crabs. My 29 gal. has a lawnmower blenny, and a sweaying zeana)

First, my 40 gal. is having some algae problems. I have this odd, brown like algae, that grows on the subtrate only.(sand) its a dark brown, and sometimes their will be a little bubble, just on the surface of the algae. Also, my water is a little "cloudy" milky white. i can read the small print on my heater in the back of the tank, but just barly. And, my skimmer (sea clone 100) is not producing foam, as much.although it may not seam like a big factor, but i purchased some live rock off the internet, and it is "pre cured" so when it was delevered to my house, i put it right in my tank. Also, their is a lot of white on my rock. Is that algae?

Thanks for your help!
Jon

[monkey]

sound like red algea, and as for the white it sounds like the die-off from the rock. are you "feeding" the tank? also what are your parameters? i would do a small water change (VERY SMALL) but let the "white" settle and let the cycle take its course. are you running carbon?

but the water change with caution, because the tank may have already started the cycle.

[Tangster]

1.st Well the 1st sounds like a diatom bloom maybe are you using R/O water for make up. Its normale for all new tanks to go through these blooms when the food source is used up the diatoms turn brown when dead and that could be what you are seeing there ?

2nd.The skimmer may need a cleaning ? pump maybe be restricted or air inlet a little restricted

3 rd. Sounds like the rock is dieing off you say white spots are the spots showing up on what used to be a pink or red purple coralline algae ? if so it could be low Ca or alk or anything really what are the water parameters setting at ?

[jonmacknight]

Yeah, I'm running carbon. What do you mean by let the white settle. I got two kinds of white. Live rock "growth" white and milky/cloudy tank white. If your talking about the water, should i stop the circulation in my tank? My pramaters are..

avg.....79.0 Deg. Far
Amm. a solid 1.0ppm

Shold i have my protien skimmer on? it collects a lot, and needs to be emptyed every hour. I dont mind, But is it normal?

[m_lacom99]

[quote=avg.....79.0 Deg. Far
Amm. a solid 1.0ppm

Shold i have my protien skimmer on? it collects a lot, and needs to be emptyed every hour. I dont mind, But is it normal?[/QUOTE]

Do you have any other tests??? If your cup needs to be emptied every hour its probably because you are over skimming, wet skimming. Turn down you skimmer a bit. What color is the water in the cup, its supposed to be green and thicker than regular water... oh yeah and it stinks a whole bunch

Marc.

[ronmichel1115]

Hey Tangster.... what do you mean when you say quote"Well the 1st sounds like a diatom bloom maybe are you using R/O water for make up". Are you not suppose to use R/O water for evaporation make up ?