brown algea problems - Aquarium Advice

will8 · 07-21-2008, 01:09 PM

hi guys again, as i said in a thread the other day i had a diotom problem, well i think its more of a cyrano problem but its brown not red. my levels are phos 0.1ppm so is the RO/DI water so there is something wrong with my ROunit, its only 2 months old. Nitrates are 10ppm. just reading meluso58 link about problem algea, iam doing most of the points he said. but about cutting back the lights, i have recently added a pulse xenia and a mushroom coarl. my question is would it cause to many problems to the coarls if i did cut back the lighting.

**Ziggy953** · 07-21-2008, 01:12 PM

No....Your corals will be just fine with cutting back the lighting. What kind of lights do you have on the tank?

If you are getting a phosphate reading after the water goes through your RO/DI unit there is something wrong or you have Extremely high phosphates in your water. Test your tap water see what you get there. You may want to change out the DI part of your filter.

**melosu58** · 07-21-2008, 02:38 PM

What kind of lighting schedule are you keeping right now?

will8 · 07-21-2008, 03:39 PM

i have 4x 54w t5s. one blue and three whites. they come on at 10.30am and turn off at 9.30pm. what time schedule do you suggest?
do you mean change the resin out of the DI part of the RO unit?
i will go and test the tap water now while i make a cup of tea.

will8 · 07-21-2008, 04:15 PM

just tested the tap water for phoshates, it was 0.5-0.6ppm. forgot to say i have a reactor with rowaphos, even with that it still measures 0.1ppm.

lance · 07-23-2008, 01:08 AM

You cant test 1 batch from any source. It could take time for levels to rise and become noticable. If your useing an RO/DI unit then i dought this is the source. Sounds like another source from water change amount or time scedule. To overstocking or over feeding to flow amount or placement or LR amount and placement to your CUC. My guess its atleast 2 of the above.

Tanks size and age?
All equipment used from skimmers to powerheads?
All or most of your stock from CUC to coral?
Type of food and amount fead?
Is the tank covered or by a window or vent or a small room?

cmor1701d · 07-23-2008, 02:06 PM

Cut your lights down to 4 hours a day max. You choose the time (morning or evening).

Have you tested your RODI water for phosphates, or just the tap? If the tap water is .5 and after the RODI you are still reading .1 then change out the DI cartridge, run a few gallons and test again.

will8 · 07-23-2008, 03:43 PM

here is the list lance, 100ukgallon tank 3.5 months old
instant ocean skimm 800, hydor koralia 3, maxi jet 400litres
per hour power head, rena xp3 filter, reactor with rowaphos.
livestock, 2 common clowns, coarl beauty, flame angel, humbug damsel, pbt,royal gramma, 12 turbo snails 8 other snails not sure which ones,2 cleaner shrimps, blood shrimp, marbled sea serpant, arrow crab, brittle worm, 2 blue knuckled hermits. and finally pusle xenia and a green mushroom.
feed them frozen brine shrimp with garlic and pellets every other day and live mysis, brine when i visit lfs, and half a sheet of nori every day. tank is half covered with a lid, not near a window or vent but is next to a small room, what does this matter?
think that it.

lance · 07-23-2008, 11:56 PM

In a 100 gallon you want an exchange around 2000 gph but your stocked so i would do atleast 2500 gph. You want a good constant circulation. The flow helps your bacteria population.

Covering the top even halfway means less gas exchange at the surface and less oxygen in the tank, Your LR and LS will help convert nitrate and ammonia into nitrogen then this leaves at the surface.

Whene you feed next add some extra and whatch how it floats.It should stay suspended and not drop or just hang. Then feeding less amounts more often with 5 or 6 types would be better for the fish diet.

A 2 month tank with so many fish means that your bacteria population isnt large enough to handle all this and then will slow there growth down.

If the tank is in a small room thats inclosed you could get higher amounts of carbon monixcide , Spelled wrong , .

I would increase the flow do weekly 25% water changes and cut back on the light a little and remove any cover and you should see a differance.

will8 · 07-24-2008, 12:12 AM

thanks lance, will get another koralia power head, and do some changes you pointed out and see what happens. thank again.

07-21-2008, 01:09 PM	#1
will8 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cleethorpes Posts: 68	brown algea problems hi guys again, as i said in a thread the other day i had a diotom problem, well i think its more of a cyrano problem but its brown not red. my levels are phos 0.1ppm so is the RO/DI water so there is something wrong with my ROunit, its only 2 months old. Nitrates are 10ppm. just reading meluso58 link about problem algea, iam doing most of the points he said. but about cutting back the lights, i have recently added a pulse xenia and a mushroom coarl. my question is would it cause to many problems to the coarls if i did cut back the lighting.

07-21-2008, 01:12 PM	#2
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 3,938 Images: 5	No....Your corals will be just fine with cutting back the lighting. What kind of lights do you have on the tank? If you are getting a phosphate reading after the water goes through your RO/DI unit there is something wrong or you have Extremely high phosphates in your water. Test your tap water see what you get there. You may want to change out the DI part of your filter. __________________ Happy Reefing! *120 Build in progress 6/18/08* Visit our Article section for answers on a variety of topics. LFS, PWC, PH RO/DI what in the world? Look here! Pods, algae and more!

07-21-2008, 02:38 PM	#3
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,756 Images: 80	What kind of lighting schedule are you keeping right now? __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

07-23-2008, 02:06 PM	#7
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,894 Images: 43	Cut your lights down to 4 hours a day max. You choose the time (morning or evening). Have you tested your RODI water for phosphates, or just the tap? If the tap water is .5 and after the RODI you are still reading .1 then change out the DI cartridge, run a few gallons and test again. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

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07-21-2008, 03:39 PM	#4
will8 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cleethorpes Posts: 68	i have 4x 54w t5s. one blue and three whites. they come on at 10.30am and turn off at 9.30pm. what time schedule do you suggest? do you mean change the resin out of the DI part of the RO unit? i will go and test the tap water now while i make a cup of tea.

07-21-2008, 04:15 PM	#5
will8 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cleethorpes Posts: 68	just tested the tap water for phoshates, it was 0.5-0.6ppm. forgot to say i have a reactor with rowaphos, even with that it still measures 0.1ppm.

07-23-2008, 01:08 AM	#6
lance Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 205	You cant test 1 batch from any source. It could take time for levels to rise and become noticable. If your useing an RO/DI unit then i dought this is the source. Sounds like another source from water change amount or time scedule. To overstocking or over feeding to flow amount or placement or LR amount and placement to your CUC. My guess its atleast 2 of the above. Tanks size and age? All equipment used from skimmers to powerheads? All or most of your stock from CUC to coral? Type of food and amount fead? Is the tank covered or by a window or vent or a small room?

07-23-2008, 03:43 PM	#8
will8 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cleethorpes Posts: 68	here is the list lance, 100ukgallon tank 3.5 months old instant ocean skimm 800, hydor koralia 3, maxi jet 400litres per hour power head, rena xp3 filter, reactor with rowaphos. livestock, 2 common clowns, coarl beauty, flame angel, humbug damsel, pbt,royal gramma, 12 turbo snails 8 other snails not sure which ones,2 cleaner shrimps, blood shrimp, marbled sea serpant, arrow crab, brittle worm, 2 blue knuckled hermits. and finally pusle xenia and a green mushroom. feed them frozen brine shrimp with garlic and pellets every other day and live mysis, brine when i visit lfs, and half a sheet of nori every day. tank is half covered with a lid, not near a window or vent but is next to a small room, what does this matter? think that it.

07-23-2008, 11:56 PM	#9
lance Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 205	In a 100 gallon you want an exchange around 2000 gph but your stocked so i would do atleast 2500 gph. You want a good constant circulation. The flow helps your bacteria population. Covering the top even halfway means less gas exchange at the surface and less oxygen in the tank, Your LR and LS will help convert nitrate and ammonia into nitrogen then this leaves at the surface. Whene you feed next add some extra and whatch how it floats.It should stay suspended and not drop or just hang. Then feeding less amounts more often with 5 or 6 types would be better for the fish diet. A 2 month tank with so many fish means that your bacteria population isnt large enough to handle all this and then will slow there growth down. If the tank is in a small room thats inclosed you could get higher amounts of carbon monixcide , Spelled wrong , . I would increase the flow do weekly 25% water changes and cut back on the light a little and remove any cover and you should see a differance.

07-24-2008, 12:12 AM	#10
will8 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cleethorpes Posts: 68	thanks lance, will get another koralia power head, and do some changes you pointed out and see what happens. thank again.