algae help

[pokmingsheng]

hey guys..

i was hoping for my liverocks to grow some algae on it after 1 month of cycling,

but theres not much progress...

wanted at least some algae on it for my LS to feed on them...

however of cos i would like to avoid an algae bloom...

any advice i can get out there? (:

thanks!

[TayHongSiang]

hey guys..

i was hoping for my liverocks to grow some algae on it after 1 month of cycling,

but theres not much progress...

wanted at least some algae on it for my LS to feed on them...

however of cos i would like to avoid an algae bloom...

any advice i can get out there? (:

thanks!

You can feed lettuce or those dried seaweed for yr herbivore LS...coz algae will grow everywhere from the glass walls to your pipings, on yr sand bed...not only on yr rocks...i dun think you want that....coz some of these algae you need to scrap them real hard to get rid of them esp those on the glass walls... which i am experiencing now...haha

[Thexder]

What lind of LS you have? Not all LS will eat algae. Some that are supposed to eat algae may not eat.

[sparks1107]

are u referring to coraline? cause people normally wont want algae on their rocks

coraline will add colours to your rocks instead of dark greenish algae.

[pokmingsheng]

i think i was refering to coraline.. haha... how to i have them on my rocks?

as for my plant-eating LS, i think i got the wrong concept..

i thought algae is an easy way to supplement their diet w/o feeding them.. haha..

[sparks1107]

theres a kind of coraline solution bottle that will coat ur LR with it. not sure of any brands though.

hopefully someone here who knows about it will recommend u.

[sparks1107]

and ya.. people do buy some LS such as algae blenny, snails etc. to get rid of their algae problems instead of treating algae as food for them tho there's some exceptions

recently just bought algae blenny, snails, hermits to feed on my unwanted algae

[TayHongSiang]

you can get PURPLE UP...or increase yr calcium level using brands like grotech Part A and Part B or aquapharm brand.

[pokmingsheng]

you can get PURPLE UP...or increase yr calcium level using brands like grotech Part A and Part B or aquapharm brand.

so increasing the level of calcium will help???

[TayHongSiang]

so increasing the level of calcium will help???

calcium + alkaline level + magnesium + good salt mix

soon you will see deep red / purple / pink appearing on yr rocks and glass walls

if you want some green colour on yr rocks...add strontium. strontium good for LPS also.

[vampiel_6]

calcium + alkaline level + magnesium + good salt mix

soon you will see deep red / purple / pink appearing on yr rocks and glass walls

if you want some green colour on yr rocks...add strontium. strontium good for LPS also.

hi AhSiang, sorry i am also a noob in marine stuff.

May i know, what is the proper Calcium, KH, & Mg readings that will helps to cultivate the red/purple and pink on the rocks?

[TayHongSiang]

hi AhSiang, sorry i am also a noob in marine stuff.

May i know, what is the proper Calcium, KH, & Mg readings that will helps to cultivate the red/purple and pink on the rocks?

i dun test them...haha. I dose based on my tank size. (you can refer to this http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php)

Table 1. Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria.

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation: Typical Surface Ocean Value:1

Calcium 380-450 ppm 420 ppm

Alkalinity 2.5-4 meq/L

7-11 dKH

125-200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents 2.5 meq/L

7 dKH

125 ppm CaCO3 equivalents

Salinity 35 ppt

sg = 1.026 34-36 ppt

sg = 1.025-1.027

Temperature 76-83° F Variable2

pH 7.8-8.5 OK

8.1-8.3 is better 8.0-8.3 (can be lower or higher in lagoons)

Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm 1280 ppm

Phosphate < 0.03 ppm 0.005 ppm

Ammonia <0.1 ppm Variable (typically <0.1 ppm)

Table 2. Other parameters in reef aquaria.

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation: Typical Ocean Value:1

Silica < 2 ppm, much lower if diatoms are a problem <0.06 - 2.7 ppm

Iodine Control not recommended 0.06 ppm total of all forms

Nitrate < 0.2 ppm Variable (typically below 0.1 ppm)

Nitrite < 0.2 ppm typically Variable (typically below 0.0001 ppm)

Strontium 5-15 ppm 8 ppm

ORP Control not recommended Variable

Boron < 10 ppm 4.4 ppm

Iron Below Kit Detection Limits (additions OK) 0.000006 ppm

[reeftask]

If your LR is not not very stable yet, coraline algae will hard to grow as green algae will first grow and cover all the areas preventing coraline algae to grow.

Best way, get matured LR or wait till your LR are very matured.