SEVERE algae problem. Brown/green slime over all rocks! Please Help!

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Cyruskayos, Jul 9, 2008.

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  1. Cyruskayos

    Cyruskayos Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    okay, so i should suck out ALL of my sand and ALL of that crap at the bottom of my sump? correct? that wont hurt the tank at all right (sucking out all sand)?

    thanks for the tips...i'll give the depot a call later, only reason i didnt get anything from dr. fos. is because i spent over $175 on depot so i got free shipping, i figured shipping from dr. fos would make me end up spending more so....but thanks i'll call them anyways :)
     
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  3. Cyruskayos

    Cyruskayos Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    i just noticed that the tip of my only hard coral is turning white...no time for a picture i have work from 2-6, i can take one when i get home.

    i adjusted metal halide from 12pm-4pm and changed the direction of the water flow...could that have caused this?

    i changed flow back to where it was...hopefully that will help

    i hope my tank can last until all of that **** gets here from marine depot
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 15, 2008
  4. gazog

    gazog Kole Tang

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    Foster and smith's shipping is lower than most, I ordered $165 dollars worth of stuff including 2 buckets of salt from them yesterday an it only cost 11 bucks for shipping.

    Sorry you having so much trouble man, I know it sucks. You might also want to consider buying a few Rock urchins, I did and they have cleaned up on the hair algae I had in my seahorse tank and seem to be keeping up with it just fine now.
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2008
  5. ReefSparky

    ReefSparky Super Moderator

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    Dude; most viewers are adults, but have some respect for those adults who have kids.

    Not everyone who frequents these forums need to read this kind of language.

    C'mon. :angry:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 15, 2008
  6. SmittyCoco

    SmittyCoco Fire Shrimp

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    Was there pictures on here of the algae I missed?:-/
     
  7. Cyruskayos

    Cyruskayos Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    Sorry, I was just freaking out because I had to leave for work, but then I saw my coral was turning white. I apologize. :-[

    It appears to be spreading to the base as well (whiteness). I've never seen this before but it almost looks like it was "bleached" or something. Here is a picture:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    Again, sorry for the language.

    Please tell me what I should do to help my hard coral!

    Thank you.
     
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  9. SmittyCoco

    SmittyCoco Fire Shrimp

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    When is the last time you changed those bulbs? From the look of those pictures there is not enough light and or you need bulb replacement with all that algae.
     
  10. Cyruskayos

    Cyruskayos Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    they are the actinics...

    i have cut the metal halide hours back from 10-6 to 12-4
     
  11. kimmy

    kimmy Feather Duster

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    it looks as though you have algae on that coral which can kill it. You obviously need more flow. 2 out of 3 tanks I have owned and maintained came w/ bioballs that I replaced w/ LR that each piece varied in size, rumble to softballs size all combined. The LR tanks flourished much more than the bio balls tank. My nitrates were a 10 in my 24G (a constant battle for me that's why I upgraded) and now at 5 and I keep it that way on purpose ( I have a clam and my xenia's seem to grow better, go figure). When I do water changes I would vaccum my sand for any extra crap that might have settled. Otherwise w/ the MJ1200 mod, my filter media in the back picks up most stuff. This works for me, not for everyone. I am also quite anal w/ my husbandry.
     
  12. Cyruskayos

    Cyruskayos Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    here are the test results from my LFS, they may surprise you...


    TANK WATER:

    salt: 1.026
    ammonia: 0
    n-trite: 0
    n-trate: 0
    alk: 7dKH
    phosphate: 0
    magnesium: 1375 ppm


    RO WATER (NO SALT):

    phosphate: 0.8

    pH and calcium wern't tested oh the tank water, i didnt bring enough. i do have a test kit for calcium myself, so i'll test for that tomorrow sometime and then add the calcium buffer if needed.

    i believe i have found the source folks!

    MY RO WATER!


    I have new filters on the way and a DI unit, so that should help tremendously.

    The phosban reactor should also help bunches.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    i picked up a magnesium (elos brand) test kit while i was there, along with magnesium buffer, because i started second guessing the epsom salt because of what a few people said about it (adds other bad stuff to water)....

    i'm still using baking soda for the alk though...


    i'm going to raise the magnesium to 1500 ppm and the alk to 9-10 dKH, and also keep an eye on calcium

    so...does it seem like i'm on the right track? i hope so....my LFS can always put me in a better mood and reassure me [​IMG] i love my LFS haha


    thanks for all the help guys!