Need some tis guys, and gals????

[artman230]

I was wondering if anyone had any good tips to get rid of red slime algae....I am doing regular water changes of 50 percent but somehow it keeps coming back....I have a 20 gal nano....The algae grows pretty quick after I clean it of but it doesnt seem to affect any coral, or inverts...just looks bad. If anyone has any ideas please let me know how to get rid of it...the main problem is that it covers the sand bed, and when I syphon the tank I can't get the clumps completely out because they are too big and have sand stuck to them. Any ways thats my only real problem and its not that much of a big deal because I can clean it off real quick anyways.....Also for anyone reading this I was also curious if you can overdo a reef tank with too much coral....what do you think? let me know, i'd appreciate it a lot.

 

[Krish]

Bummer :doubt: Well, how's the flow in the tank? Usually an increase in flow will help it subside, but the main thing is are you using ro/di water and what are your nitrate and phosphate levels at? Something is fueling the algae to grow whether it is over feeding, not using ro/di water, bad salt etc. Any of these ring a bell?

 

[Brenden]

Good source of RO/DI water is my first suggestion. You could also run some phos ban.

 

[ronj]

i would recommend the same...RO/DI water...what are you feeding in the tank?? also, what kind of filtration system do you have????

 

[artman230]

I have an aqua clear filter that hangs on the back with black diamond carbon and seachem media (white powder), and a few bio balls....Its about a 250 gph filter, and I also have a power sweep powerhead that is 125 GPH....I havent been using RO/DI water in my changes because I am not set up for that yet...but eventually I want to get a continuous syphon overflow and set my tank up for a sump/ refugium.....But I just moved over to puyallup and am living with my sister until we get a place together...my tank is set up in my parents basement. I didnt have the slime algae till I put chaeto in my tank that I got for free do you think I should take it out??? And what about that phos ban, that doesnt hurt the corals/ inverts at all does it?

 

[artman230]

I forgot to mention that I feed flakes to two chromis', a royal gramma, and an ocellaris clown.....

 

[Krish]

I havent been using RO/DI water in my changes because I am not set up for that yet.

There ya go! Not using ro/di water will add phosphates and or nitrates into your tank unless you are real lucky with good tap water, which is highly un-likely. You could do 100% water change and not help if you are just feeding the algae what it wants with nitrate and phosphate filled water. You'll need to flush out that water with ro/di water or else, like I said, you'll be adding fuel to the fire.

I have an aqua clear filter that hangs on the back with black diamond carbon and seachem media (white powder), and a few bio balls

How often do you change your carbon? Usually 3 weeks is max to keep any carbon in. After that, and once exhausted, it will reelease all it had absorbed back into your water and you'll be back to square 1. Also, are the bio-balls submerged? In any event, I can't see them doing all that much for you sitting in an aquaclear filter but catch detritus and degrade water quality. I'd allow your live rock to do it's thing and just remove the bio-balls unless you are prepared to stay on top of keeping them detritus free. Just a thought...All point to why you are having issues. Easy fix man so no worries

 

[ronj]

yep, i agree with Krish...ditch the bioballs and start using RO/DI water..buy some from the grocery store if you have to, but the water you are using is most likely most or all of the problem!!!!

 

[artman230]

I just put the carbon in it's about two weeks old, and I have much more...Ill pull the bio balls too because I also didnt really think they were doing anything good either I was just too lazy to take them out. As far as the water....I will get some at the store (what do I get spring water?) and just though id say that puyallup actually has really good water, not dissagreeing with you guys, just letting you know its better than most. But thanks for the advice...I just changed it yestersay so depeding on the algae I will probably change it again next tuesday. But if you guys could help me with another thing, I have about 9 or 10 different frags in my tank, do you think I can get 2 more that I really want, or should I wait till I have a bigger tank? I have room for them, but I dont want to have too much of a bio-load....let me know what you think. Thanks again!!!

 

[Krish]

Well, maybe you're right! Why not have the water you use tested before it is added to the tank or test it yourself. That way you can determine if it is ok to use. About the corals...I think you should be fine man. I'm no coral expert in any way, shape or form, but they eat poop (most of them) and so they will be helping IMO. I've seen tanks with corals oveflowing so it must not be the same as a tank full of fish. The only downfall I see is having to bump up your additives, but that's a small price to pay for a nice looking tank. I'll wait for someone more experienced to chime in there though

 

[artman230]

Ahhh!....I am going to go ahead and get some DI water from the store next time I change my water and see what happens then, that is a good idea I dont know why I didnt think of that earlier. I was just saying that tap water in my town is pretty good thats all. And as far as the corals go I will probably add two more frags and thats all.....(until I find something else I want!) It seems like that is always how it is with me.....

 

[Krish]

LOL...Join the club! We are never finished with this hobby Good luck with the red slime...Post your progress

 

[moortim]

If you can, post your tank parameters for us, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate. That will tell a lot about what is causing the algae. I agree with everyone else on the water. I tested my tap water and it is pretty good too but I was having all kinds of algae problems. When I started buying water from the store it all went away.
Good luck.

Tim

 

[varpanus]

i swear krish's first instinct to everything is bump up the waterflow!

 

[Krish]

i swear krish's first instinct to everything is bump up the waterflow!

ROFL!! Lack of flow is a big No No in this hobby. I went back to freshwater out of frustration a few years ago because algae cut my hip and part of the problem was lack of flow. I had only about 1,000 gph in a 90 gal!

 

[LakeEd]

ROFL!! Lack of flow is a big No No in this hobby. I went back to freshwater out of frustration a few years ago because algae cut my hip and part of the problem was lack of flow. I had only about 1,000 gph in a 90 gal!

You fit into a 90gallon tank, to get your hip cut on Algae??? OUCH!!! :shock:

 

[Krish]

You fit into a 90gallon tank, to get your hip cut on Algae??? OUCH!!!

ROFL!!! Yeah...The pool wasn't working at the time

 

[artman230]

Yeah I like strong currents too....but sometimes what I think is enough...still isnt.

 

[Krish]

If you haven't seen this yet, check it out

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18140