Crap...Algae growing like weeds

jhebi · #1 12/19/2007, 02:57 PM

Suddenly my tank is growing algae like crazy, check my water for silica and I think my RO/DI is not doing the job of filtering the water........Is there anything i can do to stop the algae to grow like crazy, my tank is becoming an infastaton of it.....

Thanks

lowbudget · #2 12/19/2007, 03:02 PM

how long have you not changed your bulbs?
how many hours your light are on per day?
how bout phosphate?
what type of algae?

xtm · #3 12/19/2007, 03:23 PM

Have you considered using GFO? I started using Warner Marine PhosAR around the end of November and today my tank is squeaky clean. Literally NO algae anywhere you look and the sand is as white as snow... it looks like I just set up the tank 2 minutes ago. This stuff is unbelievable. Check out my post here: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...1#post11401101

crushed_rock · #4 12/19/2007, 04:21 PM

Dose with Magnesium. I did and algae growth started slowing down.

jhebi · #5 12/20/2007, 02:04 PM

its green alage on the rocks, mostly on the rocks, after something happened to my tank most corals died, i really not taking care that much, but need to bring it back.

I check and the silica in my tank water is kind of high, maybe that could be the problem and also my potassium and iodine is low and molybdenum is high(dont know what this is)

ktrandc · #6 12/20/2007, 02:14 PM

get a sea hare to trim down the algae (if it's long hair).

gtrestoration · #7 12/20/2007, 10:47 PM

Silica is really hard to test for with the kits available. You say it's green?... does it come of in sheets like the reddish stuff cyano?

SteveU

PasadenaReefer · #8 12/20/2007, 11:10 PM

turn your lights off for 2days and then turn them back on and run them for a shorter ammount of time maybe? Can't a UV sterrilizer kill algae while its being flushed through it?

reef_doug · #9 12/20/2007, 11:21 PM

Whats your TDS on the RO/DI?

Phosphate remover should help also.

FOSELONE · #10 12/20/2007, 11:21 PM

nice rock work xtm...

jhebi · #11 12/21/2007, 06:08 PM

Here is a pic of the algae

I am thinking about taking my tank apart, clean the rocks and than set it up again.....If i clean the rocks, what should I clean with?

And also if I clean them, leave half tank water and add half new water, will be ok or have an ammonia spike.

Thanks, i think thats the best way to go, just take apart and start over.

bromion · #12 12/21/2007, 06:18 PM

The solution is very simple. Do a small (5-10%) water change every day or every other day. Siphon out the algae to remove the water for the water change. Do this until the algae subsides. You may also want to use some activated carbon in a media bag, possibly phosphate removal media. The water changes should be sufficient.

If your RO/DI system is not working properly, check out all the possible problems. You may need to change your DI resin (typically done every few months or more often). It may also be the sediment/carbon prefilters. Or, unfortunately, you may need a new RO membrane if it is damaged. The first two are most likely.

gtrestoration · #13 12/21/2007, 08:04 PM

It looks like hair algae. It's feeding off the nutrients in your tank and it also traps the crap and feeds itself. If you can brush it off the rocks and siphon at the same time to remove it that should help along with water changes and correcting the top off water if it's a problem.

SteveU

PasadenaReefer · #14 12/22/2007, 01:46 AM

When i had bad hari algae, i used 2 turbo snails and an emerald crab in my 12gallon. It dissapeared in under two weeks. Completely disapeared and i have not seen signs of it since. maybe 4-5 months ago. Just an option, but like the other guys are stating, siphon and scrub may be just easier and less expensive, so you dont have to buy any animals.

jhebi · #15 01/04/2008, 04:02 PM

Will try to sinphon and make some water changes....i dont it seems like after my tank crashed, i just lost the passion for it, i just leave as it is now.....Before I would be all over and everyminute at reef central, but dont know what happened.....Maybe if the tank gets stable again.....

KWoo008 · #16 01/04/2008, 06:37 PM

Alex,

I know how it can be when your tank is not going well and you just wanna give up. I would follow the suggestions of doing several water changes with good quality water and also throw in a couple of sea hares. Although the sea hares won't solve the issues of how you got the hair algae infestation, they will do a great job at mowing it down. Once they clean up your tank, you should feel much better and hopefully get back your reefin' motivation...