More tanks pics

[WuddyWoodpeckah]

Hey guys,

the tank is about 5 weeks old now. Here are some pics... thanks again Vitaly, Bassist and Jack.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/3064285337_2dce5104a1.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/3065124606_5f805ae2b7.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/3065124500_ef36f956c2.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/3065124542_b33ec3e9f0.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/3064298081_5e04a0ccfb.jpg


Thanks
~Wuddy

[local44]

looks like the hairy mushrooms are very happy

[WuddyWoodpeckah]

hey local: they sure are, and there are some other mushrooms growing too now, on that live rock you gave me!

do you have any suggestions about hair algae? i have a bunch growing on a couple of rocks. i dont mind it for now though.

i'm thinking i'll think about adding some more corals, but "slowly"!

~

[local44]

best thing to do for now is to pull it out by hand

[syrinx]

When the algae is on rocks that are removable, scrub them in a bucket of tank water as you do a water change. Usually this is just a phase and will go away of its own course.

[swegyptian]

Also be sure that you aren't feeding the tank too much. I scaled back on my feeding and the hair algae went away in a week or so.

[medic29]

You can run some Phosban as well which will help reduce the phosphates which in theory contribute to that awful stuff. My Lawnmower blenny and BiColor blenny had fun eating it.

[WuddyWoodpeckah]

hey guys... thanks for the suggestions, i will cut back on feeding and maybe test out the phosphate (although i am not sure how effective the testing kits are).

i have pulled out some of the hair algae by hand, as well. fingers crossed and hopefully i will get a lawnmower blenny (at the risk of overstocking).

[medic29]

The test kits are not very accurate for Phos; really the best indicator is the algae, IMO

[WuddyWoodpeckah]

i thought so too, rick. rule number 1: never trust a $10 test kit :)

[eshook]

Yeah its hard to trust phosphate test kits. The problem with them is that the algae sucks the phosphate out of the water before it can be tested. So it will usually read low unless you have a big problem. So, as Rick said, the only indicator is your algae growth. I find that instead of dumping all the food at once in a feeding it is better to dump a little bit over a 15-20 minute period. It gives the fish / coral a better opportunity to eat all the food.

Keep in mind that a young tank will have all sorts of algae issues, because it is still trying to reach a reasonable equilibrium. Just keep at it and try to suck out as much as possible.

[Vitaly]

Tank looks like it is comping along nicely. Rather than adding a lawnmower blenny, I would consider a Turbo snail to graze on on some of the hair algae...or maybe a Sally Light Foot crab (have not kept Sally Lightfoots, but that are supposed to be aggressive grazers).

Premium has both for a good price...jump in on the group buy ;-)

Also, let me know if you are still interested in the Hydor deflector.

[WuddyWoodpeckah]

oh oh.. i have one turbo snail, i guess i could do with one more.

vitaly, still on for the hydor. sorry i have been sidetracked by another project i took on: a 40 gallon planted discus tank :o).