Solution to Nuisance Algae

[sparks1107]

Hi guys, im currently using Oceanic salt. For some reasons, nuisance algae is blooming in my tank (most of them on my LRs). Anyone using Oceanic encountering the same problem as me?

Heard that sea hare and cheato can help to remove/reduce them, however, i dont have a sump so placing cheato inside my tank is certainly unsightly.

Any other solutions? Where can I get sea hare?

[ambystoma82]

natural algae eaters only can minimise e situation..

they cannot really visibly make them look lesser...

unless u talking abt like support a 100+ sea hare in small tank...

else u can try rowas phos.. takes up little space only if u dun intend put in FR

else u can try algae scrubber... but normally equipment like this takes up moer space..

[sparks1107]

currently, im already using an algae scrubber to clean away the tank's surface algae (tho some of it cant be scrubbed away)

already bought an algae blenny and few hermits to minimize the problem as well.

dont think it gonna make any huge difference though. btw, whats the main water parameters for algae bloom?

im thinking whether its oceanic salt thats causing this, so im considering a change of brand.

[ambystoma82]

erm bro e algae scrubber i meant is this one

not e manual hand held one..

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...mp;#entry805374

i dun tink salt plays so much of a increase in phosphate..

more likely is your system..

there is only 2 ways to remove phosphate from tank...

buy rowas or phos ban which are erm chemicals to suck phosphate into it

or

let something else suck them like algae growth,then u do weeding accordingly..

for the algae scrubber case its e same concept...

[sparks1107]

alright thanks bro.

think theres activated carbon that removes phosphate right?

[Marcuss]

Hi,

Be aware! some lower quality activated carbon totally useless and will release phosphate to your tank.From my understanding activated carbon will remove D.O.C and not phosphate.

[cdckjn]

I had a similar problem - so I add turbo snails & algae benny - seems to bring situation in control.

[ambystoma82]

I had a similar problem - so I add turbo snails & algae benny - seems to bring situation in control.

b careful with turbo snails..

they tend to topple stuff... as they like to squeeze into small corners...

[ambystoma82]

i nv realli add carbon..

carbon is a sucker for most of additives... n medications..

not to speak it will release it toxic back to water after some time..

[TayHongSiang]

Algae blenny will help...just that they are quite shy and timid...i have one in my tank to help control green algae.

Tangs will also help to control.

Turbo snails will take some time.

Btw, did you use tap water to mix yr salt or distilled water?

[iskay]

Do train your algae blennies to eat nori before release into tank. A lot of them starve to death after the algae on your rocks have been exhausted.

[sparks1107]

the snail i added few days ago dead so far i didnt see my algae blenny pecking on any algae yet hopefully he'll do well in my tank.

just went to buy phosphate media. its packaging is something like activated carbon. and amazingly thing is, the shop owner told me to just add activated carbon and phosphate media into my waterfall filter for my 2 ft tank. no need to put white sponge as filter (which im doing it now). he showed me his 2ft and 3ft tank. both without sponges! he told me that the white sponge will store many waste and said my skimmer do the work.

any comments on this guys? advisable?

[sparks1107]

oh ya.. will adding the phosphate media decrease my pH value?

[iskay]

Sponge is mostly used to trapped detritus. Skimmer skims off DOC. Detritus turns to DOC when dissolved.

I think as long as sponge is changed frequently (once a week), should be fine.

But again, would like to hear more from other reefers.

[sparks1107]

sry for asking noob question, hope u can clarify for me.

detritus = dead waste?

DOC = ???

[iskay]

Detritus = wastes

DOC (Dissolved Organic Compounds) = dissolved wastes

[sparks1107]

thanks for clarification.

i think ill stick on to my white sponge as filter. sounds too risky for me to take

[bornfish]

hi,been using oceanic salt fr 2yrs,not much pbm with algae though not running FR,got mny fishes in tank of4x2x2.

normally no3,po4 exceed limit coz algae.

[sparks1107]

alright thanks. the phosphate bag that i bought helps. now the LR are whiter now

those algae on my LRs are starting to go away.

however, theres still some hairy algae thats stucked on some LRs.

[TayHongSiang]

alright thanks. the phosphate bag that i bought helps. now the LR are whiter now

those algae on my LRs are starting to go away.

however, theres still some hairy algae thats stucked on some LRs.

Rmb to change yr phosphate media every 2-3 months of usage. If not it will leak phosphate back to your tank.

You can prolong its use by taking out to wash and dry it under the sun.

Skimmer will take out organic waste like ammonia. However, to reduce detritus, you need to do 10% water change every week and with good water flow to keep them with accumulating at dead spots in yr tank. And also yr sponge will help to trap detritus and dirt. I dun think its a good idea to totally trust LFS on this.

Those hairy algae you can pluck them or use a siphon to suck them out.

You can also dose calcium to help to accelerate the growth of coraline aglae on yr rocks making it hard for green algae to grow.

[reefcrazy]

I had the same problem a few months ago and tried many methods without avail. Then I came across this product called AlgaeX from Fauna Marin. After two weeks, all the nusance algae dissappeared. I got it from Henry at MarineLife but saw it available at Petmart too. You may want to try this if others don't work. I think it's a lot less painful solutiion than constant water change or switching off your lights that may have bad consequences on your LS.

[sparks1107]

alright thanks. glad to say that my phosphate media worked wonder.. so many nusiance algae gone. and my LR are no longer coated with those dark greenish algae. think after 2-3mths ill just remove it and see if they'll come back. if not ill just make do with just activated carbon.

[VelvetAirwaves]

if you're using tap water , it'll always come back.

[Jameshong]

alright thanks bro.

think theres activated carbon that removes phosphate right?

The best way to reduce phosphate is to use Fluidised Reactor with either Rowaphos or AquaPharm SORB4 !

[peacemaker]

So what's the recommended flow rate? I have an FR lying around, but haven't used it yet.