Trouble In 14g Paradise

redwarrior77 · 05/26/2009, 03:36 PM

My poor little tank is in the midst of a very dramatic hair algae outbreak. Richard, any advice? Here's what I'm trying so far...

1. More water changes.
2. New PC bulbs...I think waiting too long to swap out old PC bulbs may have helped kick this off.
3. Gonna test all my levels tonight.
4. Considering adding a media bag of phosguard if phosphates are high.

Is there anything besides a sea hare that will eat this stuff? If so, I have quite the salad bar. I'm tentatively planning on adding more blueleg hermits, some more snails, and an emerald crab to help my red mithrax crab tend the thick carpet of green.

Moral of the story...when they say to replace your PC bulbs every 6 months...don't think that means you can try to make them last 9 months to a year. Doh!

redwarrior77 · 05/26/2009, 05:54 PM

I don't have a phosphate test! Eeek!

Here are the results of the tests I was able to do:

Specific Gravity - 1.026
PH - 8.2
Alkalinity - 2
Nitrite - between 0 and 0.1
Nitrate - 50 <----This is the only one that read outside the normal range for my test kits.

So, it looks like I definitely have raised nitrates...other than that...?

liverock · 05/26/2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by redwarrior77
I don't have a phosphate test! Eeek!

Here are the results of the tests I was able to do:

Specific Gravity - 1.026
PH - 8.2
Alkalinity - 2
Nitrite - between 0 and 0.1
Nitrate - 50 <----This is the only one that read outside the normal range for my test kits.

So, it looks like I definitely have raised nitrates...other than that...?

Hiya

Nitrates....water change time....and need the clean up crew refreshment......the lights you got....

Once it gets going, is hard to eliminate......but you can do it.

Remove physically what you can...and get the critters going....and small water changes once a week for a month....should come around!

Keep me posted...

Nice to hear from you...

Sea ya
Richard TBS

small alien · 08/22/2009, 03:58 PM

Often tests will show zero because the algae is using it all up. Assume it's there.

05/26/2009, 03:36 PM	#1
redwarrior77 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 236	Trouble In 14g Paradise My poor little tank is in the midst of a very dramatic hair algae outbreak. Richard, any advice? Here's what I'm trying so far... 1. More water changes. 2. New PC bulbs...I think waiting too long to swap out old PC bulbs may have helped kick this off. 3. Gonna test all my levels tonight. 4. Considering adding a media bag of phosguard if phosphates are high. Is there anything besides a sea hare that will eat this stuff? If so, I have quite the salad bar. I'm tentatively planning on adding more blueleg hermits, some more snails, and an emerald crab to help my red mithrax crab tend the thick carpet of green. Moral of the story...when they say to replace your PC bulbs every 6 months...don't think that means you can try to make them last 9 months to a year. Doh!

08/22/2009, 03:58 PM	#4
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	Often tests will show zero because the algae is using it all up. Assume it's there. __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

05/26/2009, 05:54 PM	#2
redwarrior77 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 236	I don't have a phosphate test! Eeek! Here are the results of the tests I was able to do: Specific Gravity - 1.026 PH - 8.2 Alkalinity - 2 Nitrite - between 0 and 0.1 Nitrate - 50 <----This is the only one that read outside the normal range for my test kits. So, it looks like I definitely have raised nitrates...other than that...?