Outbreak...

Mermaiden78 · 02-16-2008, 08:18 PM

I am having an outbreak of green hair algae. My params are right on target. Could it be my light is getting old that is causing it? Any suggestions are welcomed!!

OrionGirl · 02-16-2008, 09:00 PM

Could be. Any changes to the water source?

joephys · 02-16-2008, 09:17 PM

Whats in the tank right now? Do you have a skimmer? How old are the lights? Do you use RO/DI water?

Mermaiden78 · 02-17-2008, 08:24 AM

The light bulds are coralife quad 50/50, they are about a year or so old. I use ro water for water changes and tap for top off. I always run a bubble maker on it for a few hours before using it then and dechlorinator. I have been doing it like this since the beginning of the setup. It has been up and running for about 14 months now. The only things i have in the tank are a goby, turbo snail and hermit crab. Also, what would be good to add to the tank for a cleaning crew?

Slick Fork · 02-17-2008, 01:14 PM

An old light bulb won't CAUSE algae. The yellower spectrum will encourage algae to grow, but the other conditions have to be there.

The tapwater top-off is your problem. There is no point in using an RO membrane to remove all the crap from your tap water, and then go and use put all the crap in anyways by using tap as a top-off source.

How old is your RO system? How long since the membrane was replaced or even cleaned? Do you have a TDS meter, if so what is the tds reading on the RO output? If you don't have a tds meter, buy one... they're only $20. Check what your RO system is producing, if necessary replace the filters and the membrane and away you go!!

Mermaiden78 · 02-17-2008, 01:59 PM

I get the RO from the LFS. I dont have a clue as far as the TDS... I guess they would keep up with that. Thanks slick!!!

Emg · 02-17-2008, 03:49 PM

Don't be so sure Maiden......I'd ask them about it....

OrionGirl · 02-17-2008, 08:31 PM

I agree that a big part of the problem is the tap water topoff. What you're seeing is probably the consequences of concentration. The pollutants in the tapwater accumulate as time goes on...

joephys · 02-17-2008, 08:55 PM

Do you mean you have only one turbo snail and one hermit crab?

Mermaiden78 · 02-18-2008, 07:15 AM

yeah, I am getting more within a few weeks but I wanted to make sure everything is stable first. What would be something good to add to it as far and cleanng crew? I did have more but over time they have passed away or just disappeared.

Mermaiden78 · 02-18-2008, 07:40 AM

This is the sand with the funkies.

Hairy stuff growning on one of my plants.

This is my turbo snail. Covered in hairy stuff.

FTS Yeah I know it looks awful...

Mermaiden78 · 02-19-2008, 05:56 PM

Any suggestions for cleanup crew will be greatly appreciated!

OrionGirl · 02-19-2008, 08:57 PM

More snails--a variety, even if that's just one or two astrea, nasarrius, cerith, etc. Shrimp, maybe? An emerald crab would probably be safe as well.

joephys · 02-19-2008, 09:16 PM

I would second OG's suggestions. Asteria and cerith snails eat algae, hermits will also eat algae. Nassarius snails are something I need to look more into. I was under the impression that they ate all types of waste but have read recently that they will only eat uneaten food.

I personally stay away from turbo and margarita snails, since they are subtropical and don't live as long as they should in a tropical tank.

Mermaiden78 · 02-21-2008, 07:55 AM

I did go ahead and order a new light yesterday. I will invest in a larger scale cleanup crew and top off with RO. With doing all of that maybe everything will get back to normal. Thanks for the advice you guys... You are all the greatest!

Edit* I am looking at this for my tank but it is only a 29g would the 30 gallon pakage be too much?
Package Contents Quantity of species per
aquarium size
(gallons)
30
Trochus Snail or
Turban Snail 8
Super Tongan
Nassarius Snail 6
Cerith Snail 12
Scarlet Reef
Hermit Crab 10

Mermaiden78 · 02-26-2008, 02:52 PM

I got the new light in today. Gotta get mor RO water for the water change due this weekend. Maybe everything will level out now. I will never top off with tap again!!!!

OrionGirl · 02-27-2008, 09:37 PM

That's good. That should help.

joephys · 02-27-2008, 09:57 PM

I didn't see the edit about all of the stuff you were thinking of ordering. That should be fine in a 29 gallon.

Mermaiden78 · 03-04-2008, 10:37 AM

Cool, I just didnt want to over do it either. Thanks you guys!!

bencozzy · 03-05-2008, 01:20 PM

im going more renewable on the clean up crew, want something that will breed successfully in the tank.

im going with these guys Strombus Grazer Facts and collonista snails.

i have some misc. crabs, just thought they looked cool not sure if they are eating the hair algea or not but they are grazing on the rocks all the time. no hermit crabs for me though.

02-16-2008, 08:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	Outbreak... I am having an outbreak of green hair algae. My params are right on target. Could it be my light is getting old that is causing it? Any suggestions are welcomed!! __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year!

02-16-2008, 09:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,723	Could be. Any changes to the water source? __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

02-17-2008, 08:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	The light bulds are coralife quad 50/50, they are about a year or so old. I use ro water for water changes and tap for top off. I always run a bubble maker on it for a few hours before using it then and dechlorinator. I have been doing it like this since the beginning of the setup. It has been up and running for about 14 months now. The only things i have in the tank are a goby, turbo snail and hermit crab. Also, what would be good to add to the tank for a cleaning crew? __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year!

02-17-2008, 01:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	I get the RO from the LFS. I dont have a clue as far as the TDS... I guess they would keep up with that. Thanks slick!!! __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year!

02-17-2008, 03:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Emg Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northeastern Ct Posts: 3,263	Don't be so sure Maiden......I'd ask them about it.... __________________ Blog of my tanks and critters....come check em out and don't forget the archives ! http://emgstanks.blogspot.com/ Eileen

02-16-2008, 09:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,392	Whats in the tank right now? Do you have a skimmer? How old are the lights? Do you use RO/DI water?

02-17-2008, 01:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Slick Fork Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wild Rose Country Posts: 278	An old light bulb won't CAUSE algae. The yellower spectrum will encourage algae to grow, but the other conditions have to be there. The tapwater top-off is your problem. There is no point in using an RO membrane to remove all the crap from your tap water, and then go and use put all the crap in anyways by using tap as a top-off source. How old is your RO system? How long since the membrane was replaced or even cleaned? Do you have a TDS meter, if so what is the tds reading on the RO output? If you don't have a tds meter, buy one... they're only $20. Check what your RO system is producing, if necessary replace the filters and the membrane and away you go!!

02-17-2008, 08:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,723	I agree that a big part of the problem is the tap water topoff. What you're seeing is probably the consequences of concentration. The pollutants in the tapwater accumulate as time goes on... __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

02-17-2008, 08:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,392	Do you mean you have only one turbo snail and one hermit crab?

02-18-2008, 07:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	yeah, I am getting more within a few weeks but I wanted to make sure everything is stable first. What would be something good to add to it as far and cleanng crew? I did have more but over time they have passed away or just disappeared. __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year!

02-18-2008, 07:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	This is the sand with the funkies. Hairy stuff growning on one of my plants. This is my turbo snail. Covered in hairy stuff. FTS Yeah I know it looks awful... __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year!

02-19-2008, 05:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	Any suggestions for cleanup crew will be greatly appreciated! __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year!

02-19-2008, 08:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,723	More snails--a variety, even if that's just one or two astrea, nasarrius, cerith, etc. Shrimp, maybe? An emerald crab would probably be safe as well. __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

02-19-2008, 09:16 PM	#14 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,392	I would second OG's suggestions. Asteria and cerith snails eat algae, hermits will also eat algae. Nassarius snails are something I need to look more into. I was under the impression that they ate all types of waste but have read recently that they will only eat uneaten food. I personally stay away from turbo and margarita snails, since they are subtropical and don't live as long as they should in a tropical tank.

02-21-2008, 07:55 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	I did go ahead and order a new light yesterday. I will invest in a larger scale cleanup crew and top off with RO. With doing all of that maybe everything will get back to normal. Thanks for the advice you guys... You are all the greatest! Edit* I am looking at this for my tank but it is only a 29g would the 30 gallon pakage be too much? Package Contents Quantity of species per aquarium size (gallons) 30 Trochus Snail or Turban Snail 8 Super Tongan Nassarius Snail 6 Cerith Snail 12 Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab 10 __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year! Last edited by Mermaiden78 : 02-21-2008 at 04:58 PM.

02-26-2008, 02:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	I got the new light in today. Gotta get mor RO water for the water change due this weekend. Maybe everything will level out now. I will never top off with tap again!!!! __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year!

02-27-2008, 09:37 PM	#17 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,723	That's good. That should help. __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

02-27-2008, 09:57 PM	#18 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,392	I didn't see the edit about all of the stuff you were thinking of ordering. That should be fine in a 29 gallon.

03-04-2008, 10:37 AM	#19 (permalink)
Mermaiden78 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 657	Cool, I just didnt want to over do it either. Thanks you guys!! __________________ Hope everyone had a great new year and for the ones with the (crazy) resolutions that i never keep, I hope you do well with them this year!

03-05-2008, 01:20 PM	#20 (permalink)
bencozzy Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: columbus ohio Posts: 650	im going more renewable on the clean up crew, want something that will breed successfully in the tank. im going with these guys Strombus Grazer Facts and collonista snails. i have some misc. crabs, just thought they looked cool not sure if they are eating the hair algea or not but they are grazing on the rocks all the time. no hermit crabs for me though. __________________ bencozzy®™ is in the sole ownership of this person!!©

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