Huge algae

[Imanz0]

Well, i was wondering if there is any chemicals that i can drop in my tank that will reduce this algae. My snails and crabs dont even seem to be touching any of the algae in my tank...http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm231/Imanz1/DSC00828.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm231/Imanz1/DSC00829.jpg

[demonsp]

You need nass snails. And MB more flow?

[Aquarist007]

basically it is a phosphate and nitrate problem causing this. Reduce the import of those and the algae will die off.

There are many things you can do rather then add chemicals to your tank. I have listed some on this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1329802

[Imanz0]

My nitrates arent high at all, i feed my clownfish(2) only 1 flake a day.

[bertoni]

How much live rock is in the system? How much flow is there?

[Imanz0]

10 pounds, and a 140 GPH Pump (14 gallon biocube)

[demonsp]

Nass snails will burrow in the SB mixing it up.Start with 5. Also better flow toward the bottom would help. Also befoer you do water changes mix small areas up before you drain to remove be debris.Only mix small areas at a time.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12328889#post12328889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Imanz0
My nitrates arent high at all, i feed my clownfish(2) only 1 flake a day.

the algae is consuming the nitrates and phosphates as fast as they are being produced so you don't get a high reading on them

also you mentioned nitrates--phosphates taste just as good to algae---have you measured them.

[Imanz0]

I got 2 nas snails, though only 1 of them pops up every now and then. Now, about the phosphates, i dont got a test kit for that, but lets say they are high, what would i do to take them down?

[demonsp]

This could be waste collecting.Nass snails love this food source or a hotdog cucumber and flow reduces its source. As well as water source.

http://netclub.athiel.com/cyano/cyanos2.htm

[Imanz0]

Well, by what you guys are telling me, it seems its actually a ugly-yet good thing. Its eating my nitrates and wastes, thought this was a part of a diatoms.? -Will this ever be going jover my polyps or over my xenia?

[Jeffrey9100]

A sandsifting star will help

[demonsp]

Stars will eat inverts like shrimp and would like a larger tank.

[Imanz0]

How the hell did this get so many views? Its only been 40 minutes this post is up, and over 700 posts -.- ... Guess im not alone with this problem. Well anyway, i thought this was a part of diatoms, but this is like so much, and just making tank look ugly, will this ever go over my corals?

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12329097#post12329097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Imanz0
I got 2 nas snails, though only 1 of them pops up every now and then. Now, about the phosphates, i dont got a test kit for that, but lets say they are high, what would i do to take them down?

there on the thread I suggested;)

basically;
use only ro or ro/di water
feed less and rinse all frozen cubes with ro water
set up a refugium with chaeto
run a phosban reactor with phosban media
make sure the flow in your tank is between 20-40 times the tank volume
make sure the flow through the sump matches the output of your skimmer
once a week take a turkey baster to the live rock and sand bed and lightly baste it--that gets phosphates and nitrates, etc back into the water column where they can be filtered off

[Imanz0]

Alright, Im feeding them 1 flake each a day, using RO water i buy from LFS, is that too much, and i love that picture you got capn. Btw, i just got 14 gallon tank, u sure i need a sump?...

[woogy]

capn you mentioned this in your thread of shock and awe aganist algae...In practical words this means that in the tank your flow should be directed to always enhance the above natural flow in the tank.
It should for a circle or semi circle and be pushed down, across the substrate up to the surface--across the surface--churning it up and towards the overflow

ok how is this achieved with positioning of the powerheads?

I have mine on each side of the tank facing each other

[Aquarist007]

I have five korialias;
My over flow is in the left hand corner. Beside it pointing downward but still affecting the surface is one k#4
The loc lines are also on that side pointing downwards but towards the other side of the tank.
On the opposite side of the tank are two more K'4. These are directed to hit the middle and high levels of the reef where I have sps corals--and are directed towards the overflow. One of them is placed as high as I can causing great turbulance towards the overflow
The other two k#2's are in the middle of the tank on an interval time to change up the flow for the sps's

[demonsp]

Facing each other will lower there effect. THeres no one way but one on the right mid facing front center then on the left doing same but off set. Then something like a HOB filter to break surface tension. In a new tank lower flow is fine but as tank load increases then an increase in flow helps keep the balance. I think your the one flake guy. This wont due.I feed them flake in the morning and what they eat in 1 or 2 min then frozen at night what they can eat in 2 or 3 min.They are omnivores and like meat and veggie. Also whene you feed them frozen add some extra and see how your flow is.Food should stay suspended and not fall to the bottom or float.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12329924#post12329924 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
I have five korialias;
My over flow is in the left hand corner. Beside it pointing downward but still affecting the surface is one k#4
The loc lines are also on that side pointing downwards but towards the other side of the tank.
On the opposite side of the tank are two more K'4. These are directed to hit the middle and high levels of the reef where I have sps corals--and are directed towards the overflow. One of them is placed as high as I can causing great turbulance towards the overflow
The other two k#2's are in the middle of the tank on an interval time to change up the flow for the sps's

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/reefescapetangster/capn_hylinur/DSC_0301.jpg

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12329974#post12329974 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
Facing each other will lower there effect. THeres no one way but one on the right mid facing front center then on the left doing same but off set. Then something like a HOB filter to break surface tension. In a new tank lower flow is fine but as tank load increases then an increase in flow helps keep the balance. I think your the one flake guy. This wont due.I feed them flake in the morning and what they eat in 1 or 2 min then frozen at night what they can eat in 2 or 3 min.They are omnivores and like meat and veggie. Also whene you feed them frozen add some extra and see how your flow is.Food should stay suspended and not fall to the bottom or float.

there is 1900 gph facing down to the substrate from the left, 3600 gph towards the overflow
Every 30 sec that flow is mixed up with 1200 gph

When I feed from the left the flow of flakes does exactly what I have intended it to do

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12330004#post12330004 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
there is 1900 gph facing down to the substrate from the left, 3600 gph towards the overflow
Every 30 sec that flow is mixed up with 1200 gph



A fast flow across the top will draw the water up from the substrate.
When I feed from the left the flow of flakes does exactly what I have intended it to do

Also, the overflow only has one one inch drain line--so the max the tank will empty will be 600gph.
The extra flow that way is going to perpetuate the circling current effect

[Imanz0]

Wow! Look at that algae free tank! Just 1 question about my xenia, for each litle xenia head, whats the average growth rate for a new one? Like 1 new one every 1 week?

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12330145#post12330145 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Imanz0
Wow! Look at that algae free tank! Just 1 question about my xenia, for each litle xenia head, whats the average growth rate for a new one? Like 1 new one every 1 week?

that's a very difficult question to ask--everyones tank and conditions are different.

[Imanz0]

Hmmm, ok well, i got a question, how do you have all of those power heads, with out a sandstorm, i can bearly give my xenia some flow with out a sandstorm.

[woogy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12329974#post12329974 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
Facing each other will lower there effect. THeres no one way but one on the right mid facing front center then on the left doing same but off set. Then something like a HOB filter to break surface tension. In a new tank lower flow is fine but as tank load increases then an increase in flow helps keep the balance. I think your the one flake guy. This wont due.I feed them flake in the morning and what they eat in 1 or 2 min then frozen at night what they can eat in 2 or 3 min.They are omnivores and like meat and veggie. Also whene you feed them frozen add some extra and see how your flow is.Food should stay suspended and not fall to the bottom or float.

why does mostly everyone suggest for the powerheads to face each other to create more random flow?...so it would be better to have the powerheads facing the front of the glass one on each side of the back facing down??

[Imanz0]

Ok, so lets say that i do buy a power head, where would i put it in the 14 gallon cube, it also has a nozzle thing for its output flow, ill how you a pic of it tomarow.

[demonsp]

LOL lets say. Well a 14 gallon is very small. You dont need much for correct use. How does a reef get random flow from waves. They do get a constant supply of fresh water from these waves. In your tank they need a circuler motion for foos dispersal and O2 exchange and waste control.
Is this the same tank you lost fish in?

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12330475#post12330475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by woogy
why does mostly everyone suggest for the powerheads to face each other to create more random flow?...so it would be better to have the powerheads facing the front of the glass one on each side of the back facing down??

it is random flow on the real reef

the placing really depends on the coral you have--some LPS corals do not like a lot of flow or the flow directed right at them
Sps corals like a lot of turbulance---this is why I have alot of power at the top layers of my reef where the sps corals are

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12330239#post12330239 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Imanz0
Hmmm, ok well, i got a question, how do you have all of those power heads, with out a sandstorm, i can bearly give my xenia some flow with out a sandstorm.

a Koralia #1 would be fine giving you 400 gph--you can bounce it off the glass walls to deflect the flow

[Imanz0]

400GPH, that sounds like way too much for a 14 gallon, i dont want to get something, and then regret it. (Would rather save for a chiller than a mistake). Is there with something with less GPH than the #1? I think 400 sounds like alot for a 14 gallon...

[demonsp]

Placement much more important then amount.

[bertoni]

A Maxi-Jet 900 might be a good choice. I like them.

[Imanz0]

How will it stick to my glass wall? Because i got a a biocube., and im not cutting any holes in it. I like that korila thing because it said it was magnetic and i can work with that really easily.

[bertoni]

I made magnetic adapters for mine, but there are commercial products, too. I just glued the mount to one of the magnetic algae remover products.

[demonsp]

Having more flow toward the top means the most inportant part,the bottom lacks and could creat many problems taking time
to appear. Then for better total water O2 supply then mixing the bottom up means better distribution. Its better to creat a flow from the bottom to the top and with enough to creat surface movement.Then something like a HOB filter to help break surface tension.
ITs better to adjust coral to flow then flow to coral.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12331024#post12331024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
it is random flow on the real reef

the placing really depends on the coral you have--some LPS corals do not like a lot of flow or the flow directed right at them
Sps corals like a lot of turbulance---this is why I have alot of power at the top layers of my reef where the sps corals are