View Full Version : Green Algae Starting on Glass....
Reef_|<eeper
04/19/2006, 08:59 PM
I have had my tank set up now for approx. 2 months. I just got past my diatom spike and now green algae is starting to take hold on my glass. It's not very much at this time, but what should I add to my tank so that it doesn't take over? What I have in the tank currently is ; 2 Percula Clowns, 1 Six-Line Wrasse, 1 Yellow Tailed Blue Damsels, 3 Turbo Snails, 3 Nassarius Snails, 9 Red-Legged Hermit Crabs. All of these are in a 45 gal.
unimike
04/19/2006, 09:21 PM
I have same problem, I was told by the LFS even though my water parameters are GREAT, green algae thrive at water temperture above 80 degrees....and if you are using tap water it contains very high in Phosphates which can cause the growth of green algaes.
Reef_|<eeper
04/19/2006, 09:24 PM
Well mine is just starting to grow, and yes I use my tap water and mix in the salt.
unimike
04/19/2006, 09:42 PM
That is probably why you are having that problem since the tap water contains very high phosphates and did you condition your water before putting it into your tank ?
Did you cut back in feeding and lighting ?
PatMayo
04/19/2006, 10:10 PM
Algae is typical. Get the phosphates under control and then make sure the alkalinty/calcium and ph are in line. If you don't overfeed, have a good skimmer and the parameters are under control the algae will eventually go away or be very minimal. I think that RO/DI water is essential.
I keep my ph at 8.0 to 8.2. Alkalinity at 3.2 or so Meq/l and my calcium at 425 or so. Coralline is growing like the band.
Lots of patience. I still to this day have just a pinch of algae but that is ok. The critters take care of it.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=147010
http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
Regards,
Pat
Reef_|<eeper
04/20/2006, 08:45 AM
I'll have to see how much lfs' in my area sell their water for. Do you guys recommend that I buy their salt water? Or that I buy RO water and add in the salt?
PatMayo
04/20/2006, 08:53 AM
I recommend that if you do buy there water you test it with a TDS meter otherwise I wouldn't buy it and I would go with distilled water in the 1 gallon jugs. I used that for months and it worked well. Tested at zero tds.
Regards,
Pat
Reef_|<eeper
04/20/2006, 09:18 AM
Anyone else have a word on this matter? Bottled Distilled, RO or Salt from a LFS?
Reef_|<eeper
04/20/2006, 08:59 PM
Bump
cyclops23
04/20/2006, 10:47 PM
i went on to ebay and bought a RODI unit for pretty cheap, cost effectivewise, thats probably your best bet. by the time you buy enough water to fill your tank, not to mention water changes, you'll dang near have enough in it to buy a RO unit
Recife
04/20/2006, 11:03 PM
Or you can try this: http://www.purelyh2o.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=59&category_id=1
Buying water is awkward. You have to carry buckets, etc etc.
You can also consider buying those water conditioners. Kent's Ammonia Detox is a great one in my opinion, but it doesn't remove heavy metals. There's another one, Aquasafe or Aquaclear (something along those lines) that is supposed to be really good and removes phosphates.
cyclops23
04/20/2006, 11:44 PM
it also depends on how much stuff is in your tap water, trust me from experience on this one. :D my well water is LOADED with nitrartes, phosphates, all that good stuff. my ro unit wasn't taking enough out. for a comparison, i got a 110gpd, 6-stage RO/DI unit from filters direct on ebay for $95. if you go the ebay way, look into their store. the charge the same $20 shipping even if you buy multiple items. if you buy RO water, i don't know what the price would be by you, but here it's aroud $4 a gallon! even distilled, at $.50, would add up in a hurry. hope this helps. im a newbie to SW, but i found out about water quality the hard way.;)
Reef_|<eeper
04/21/2006, 09:36 AM
Well see, this is my problem with the RO/DI unit... I live in an apartment, and I don't think the management would like that very much. Don't I have to deal with the plumbing and whatnot to use a RO/DI unit? I guess I just don't understand how they are installed.
kau_cinta_ku
04/21/2006, 09:42 AM
most RODI units come with a facut adaptor to hook up to the sink. just screw it on and when your done take it off and put it in the closet. i also reccomend purelyh2o units though as i have both filter direct units and purelyh2o units and you will save so much in the long run starting off with a quality filter.
Reef_|<eeper
04/21/2006, 09:52 AM
Whats the average life for a RO/DI unit? Are there parts/things that need to be replaced? What does that run?
Fire Dude
04/21/2006, 10:09 AM
You also might think about adding more clean up crew, especially snails. Most people recommend at least 1 snail and 1 hermit per gallon. I find the hermits take out my snails so I don't keep as many of them, though. Astraea (sp?) snails will make short work of your glass.
Reef_|<eeper
04/21/2006, 10:12 AM
I get paid today, should 6 astaea snails be alright?
kau_cinta_ku
04/21/2006, 10:14 AM
the unit itself should last a lifetime but the filters will need to be changes out.
carbon, sediment filter - every 6 monthes
DI filter when you start to get a TDS reading
membrane - should last 2 years if the other filters have been changed on time
Fire Dude
04/21/2006, 10:19 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7220264#post7220264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef_|<eeper
I get paid today, should 6 astaea snails be alright?
In your 45G you could, theoretically, add 39 more snails. ;) But, add what you can and see what you think.
kau_cinta_ku
04/21/2006, 10:29 AM
1 snail and 1 hermit is way to much. start off slow with a good variety of snails and work your way up. starting off with to many and you run the risk of alot of them starving to death
CarmieJo
04/21/2006, 11:34 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7213022#post7213022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef_|<eeper
Anyone else have a word on this matter? Bottled Distilled, RO or Salt from a LFS?
I had been buying RO water and mixing the salt myself. Then I had surgery about a month ago and I've bought premixed SW for my water changes since then. Buying the premixed SW is much more expensive but right now the convenience is worth the extra expense.
:fish:
Cutiewitbooty
04/21/2006, 12:24 PM
a mag-float works wonders for that film :D
Reef_|<eeper
04/21/2006, 12:53 PM
Thanks everyone for all the help. Do most of the RO/DI units on ebay go for reasonable prices?
Reef_|<eeper
04/21/2006, 02:13 PM
I'm not trying to cover up the problem, I'm trying to fix it. I have a magfloat.
HowardW
04/21/2006, 03:09 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7212851#post7212851 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PatMayo
I recommend that if you do buy there water you test it with a TDS meter otherwise I wouldn't buy it and I would go with distilled water in the 1 gallon jugs. I used that for months and it worked well. Tested at zero tds.
Regards,
Pat
Do you have any concerns that the distilled water is made using copper equipment?
zeblisik
04/21/2006, 04:59 PM
my little tank has been up for a couple months and ive had tons of cyanobacteria and green algea................. I've mostly used tap water for top off.
I finally bought some distilled water from the local grocery. after several days the cyano and algea scaled down.
I've also used phosphate pads and purigen.
But seeing the difference using distilled water convinced me to buy a good ro/di unit.
I also live in an apartment. There are lots of ways of installing the water unit, there are several alternatives to using the needle piercing valve.
I will probably just hook up the system and fill large containers myself.(it should be here next week) I won this one one ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7758995090&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
There is also a lot of waste water produced when using the reverse osmosis unit.
You may want to consider just using deionization, especially if you have pretty good water to begin with. I know people will shout me down but there is a lot of waste water (about ¾ of the water is wasted). Also DI only is much simpler, and cheaper to start up.
purelyh2o
04/22/2006, 10:55 AM
Do you have a washer and dryer set up in your apartment?
Reef_|<eeper
04/22/2006, 10:18 PM
Yes I do...
purelyh2o
04/22/2006, 11:08 PM
If you have a washer and dryer in the apartment the best way to install the system is to buy Y splitter from Home depot and split the cold water feed behind the washer so that it feeds the washer and the RO system. The convenient part of hooking it up there is that the drain for the washer can be used for the RO as well and all of the hoses can be kept in the same place.
Reef_|<eeper
04/22/2006, 11:12 PM
Thats pretty cool actually. Thanks for the input. I'm torn though as to what I should do. I only have 10lbs of LR in my 45... and I would like to buy a 45 lb LR pack from DrFosterSmith. But then again, I think that I could really use a RO/DI unit. They are both around the same price. Which should I get?
purelyh2o
04/22/2006, 11:23 PM
GO with the RO DI and add the rock slowly.
Reef_|<eeper
04/22/2006, 11:27 PM
The thing is though, I live in MN. LFS' around here sell LR for $10 per lb. I would rather buy it in a pack where calculated down to the lb it would be $2.5 So it would be hard to add it slowly. I don't want to pay $450 when I could get it for $150. Even after shipping.
purelyh2o
04/22/2006, 11:36 PM
I just hate to see you start the tank with questionable water
Reef_|<eeper
04/22/2006, 11:42 PM
Alright, I'll be investing in a RO/DI unit in a couple weeks then. If someone else can make a good case on why I should get the LR first, I will listen. Otherwise I'm listening to Bryan. Thanks for all your help guys.
purelyh2o
04/23/2006, 12:20 AM
:)
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