algae info

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by DC5, Feb 14, 2004.

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  1. DC5

    DC5 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2004
    Messages:
    34
    Location:
    Drexel Hill, PA,Pennsylvania
    Hi all! Does anyone know of a good site that gives some detail info of algae with photos of what it looks like?

    Tank starting to have an outburst of algae growth, I think mainly was because I changed my lighting to PC 96 watts for my 30 gallons. I reduced the "on" time to about 7 hrs now, and my nitrate is around 10 ppm. Also I am starting to change water every week, but that doesn't seem to correct the problem.

    The algae that I want to get rid of stays the bottom of the substrate forming a mat, it is dark red/brown in color, and some get kinda big that looks like seaweeds that floating in water while it's anchor in the substrate. Are theses red slime algae?? [smiley=help.gif]
     
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  3. Scuba

    Scuba Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2003
    Messages:
    302
    Location:
    Mid-west, Illinois
  4. Pipe_Organ

    Pipe_Organ Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2003
    Messages:
    86
    Location:
    Hackettstown, NJ,New_Jersey
    Check your water quality. Are you running an r/o? If so, how old are the sediment/carbon and membrane? cyno, hair, and I believe even bubble algae are nutrient fed. Water changes are fine but if your using tainted water your throwing gas on the fire.
     
  5. thumper_s98343

    thumper_s98343 Plankton

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2004
    Messages:
    17
    Location:
    coquille, OR,Oregon
    i read something about that is it like a mat of it in the corners of your tank if it is it is from not good enough water movement all it is is bild up---- do you have a sump????? power heads and how big of a gph do you have???????
    thumper_s98343
     
  6. Pipe_Organ

    Pipe_Organ Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2003
    Messages:
    86
    Location:
    Hackettstown, NJ,New_Jersey
    Yes Cynobacteria can form a reddish or greenish mat either on the substrate or on your L/R. It can even move onto the coral. Water movement is important also. You want to have a water turnover rate of at least 6 times the volume of water/Hr. So if you have a 55 gal. tank your turnover should be 55 X 6=330GPH. Also you want to take into account the vertical pumping action ie: {head}. The general rule is to add about 20%, in this case 20% of 330=66. Adding that to the original 330, you get 396 or approx. 400 GPH. That is the size main pump you would need.