Algae issues? Why dont more people use algae scrubbers?

[VintageReefer]

Stop washing your rocks!!!

He wants to prove its not hair algae that can be blasted off. I would think that’s a valid test, no?

And I think his source water for the power washing would be tank water

 

[jason2459]

Stop washing your rocks!!!

Yeah, I was surprised to read that part. But I guess people have been doing crazy stuff like actually bake "cook" their rocks too.

I don't know what the rip clean method is. Is power washing or scrubbing out of the tank a part of that?

I had a really bad run of GHA and bryopsis very early on. I did some hand pulling but I never ever considered pulling the rocks out. I've had stuff since then come and go but it was self driven for fun.

 

[Reefering1]

He wants to prove its not hair algae that can be blasted off. I would think that’s a valid test, no?

And I think his source water for the power washing would be tank water

It would be a valid test but a setback for the tank's progress.. you telling me that you can't see the gha lurking? (Hypothetical question, look close; I know you do, you can't run tank a tank like yours and not recognize it)Yes some of the green rocks(a significant % of rock) is not gha. But its there waiting to explode...

 

[mizimmer90]

It would be a valid test but a setback for the tank's progress.. you telling me that you can't see the gha lurking? (Hypothetical question, look close; I know you do, you can't run tank a tank like yours and not recognize it)Yes some of the green rocks(a significant % of rock) is not gha. But its there waiting to explode...

I'm setting up a new tank and seeded with a few rocks from my last tank... i can attest that the GHA is for sure lurking lol

 

[Reefering1]

Thanks. With my other bouts of "little furry animal" GHA, it seemed like it came out of nowhere. It didn't coat the rocks with a thin coating and then very slowly grew. And when it was furry, the fish didn't seem to touch it. They do graze on it now.
On one hand, I plan to see what I can do with what's there. However, on the other hand, as long as it stays the way it is, I'd be fine with that too. It's certainly better than what it was, and for a longer period of time...with the help of the ATS!!!

But your on the brink of another gha battle now, as I see it. Its there and ready, subdued/"under control", but ready for the opportunity to explode. Just takes a death, overfeeding, equipment failure and your back in it. Again keep there ats, explore the next level. Even if that's a bigger ats. I recommend carbon dosing. Easier to dial in, adaptable to any bio load change. Last time a fish was killed, I randomly dose a few ml here/ there in anticipation of the "nutrient spike". Run out of food and can't get more for a week? , drop some Ml's in anticipation of less input.. its like a remote control for your nutrients. Just need a detailed eye. And a full fuge helps to prevent bottoming out while you learn to read the tank

 

[VintageReefer]

Personally - I do see a mix of coloration and developing algae.

 

[Reefering1]

I'm setting up a new tank and seeded with a few rocks from my last tank... i can attest that the GHA is for sure lurking lol

So you see it in those pics? That's the basis of a ats right, that its thre and ready to grow in any system without being added? Agree he doesn't need to wash his rocks to prove it?

 

[Reefering1]

Personally - I do see a mix of coloration and developing algae.

So we agree, bigger ats or another tool to control is warranted?

 

[billyocean]

I've always wondered if I should try an ATS. Algae in my display isn't anything of a concern really but some does build up around plugs on frag rack. I suppose what keeps me away from it is the fact I have to dose p04 and n03 so I'm worried it may suck out too much. I don't run a skimmer either...just socks and rocks acro dominate. About to go from a 125 to a 300 so new issues to face on the horizon. Anyhoo..just kind of seeing if anyone had any thoughts.

 

[VintageReefer]

So we agree, bigger ats or another tool to control is warranted?

Yes we agree or tweak to his current ats. We don’t know his hours per day he runs the light. I also don’t know what light he uses. He said a red one he stole from his wife lol he could need more hours, a brighter light, more frequent harvesting etc

His rock appears phosphate bound to me.

 

[jason2459]

I've always wondered if I should try an ATS. Algae in my display isn't anything of a concern really but some does build up around plugs on frag rack. I suppose what keeps me away from it is the fact I have to dose p04 and n03 so I'm worried it may suck out too much. I don't run a skimmer either...just socks and rocks acro dominate. About to go from a 125 to a 300 so new issues to face on the horizon. Anyhoo..just kind of seeing if anyone had any thoughts.

Sounds like what ever you're doing is working right now. I wouldn't break what's not broken unless you don't like what you're doing now.

 

[VintageReefer]

I've always wondered if I should try an ATS. Algae in my display isn't anything of a concern really but some does build up around plugs on frag rack. I suppose what keeps me away from it is the fact I have to dose p04 and n03 so I'm worried it may suck out too much. I don't run a skimmer either...just socks and rocks acro dominate. About to go from a 125 to a 300 so new issues to face on the horizon. Anyhoo..just kind of seeing if anyone had any thoughts.

Are they new plugs? Like take a plug out of a bag, attach coral, put in tank, then around 1-3 weeks later it has algae?

 

[Reefering1]

Yes we agree or tweak to his current ats. We don’t know his hours per day he runs the light. I also don’t know what light he uses. He said a red one he stole from his wife lol he could need more hours, a brighter light, more frequent harvesting etc

His rock appears phosphate bound to me.

Agreed. But to dig deeper.. in your tank, do you attempt to balance ats efficiency with nutrients and end up harvesting every +/- 15 days, or just let it do its thing and it needs harvest in whatever it's time period?

 

[biecacka]

Would think a lot of it depends on the type of algae one has. Hair algae seems to be a common one people use scrubbers for, but what about bubble algae and cyano? Does the scrubber help prevent those too?
I used to run a scrubber on my tank, I didn’t have algae issues at the time, but did feed a ton and the scrubber seemed to help with allowing that.


corey

 

[VintageReefer]

Agreed. But to dig deeper.. in your tank, do you attempt to balance ats efficiency with nutrients and end up harvesting every +/- 15 days, or just let it do its thing and it needs harvest in whatever it's time period?

I guess I would say I know my system…my ats won’t bottom me out. I let it do it’s thing and harvest at my convenience. Sometimes I just peek in to check the growth and if there’s room for more I close the lid and check in a few days. If it is mostly full I’ll remove 75% of the algae

On average I harvest roughly every 2-3 weeks. I don’t really have a set schedule or track it.

Actually it will bring me to 0 phosphate and 0 nitrates and I have had those numbers several months in a row. My system still looked great. I do want more room for a margin of safety, so first I started dosing phosphate and nitrate, then thought that was dumb and I should just increase coral feeding. So now I feed the corals 5x a week and I’m steady at .02-.05 phosphate and 2-5 nitrate

 

[Reefering1]

I've always wondered if I should try an ATS. Algae in my display isn't anything of a concern really but some does build up around plugs on frag rack. I suppose what keeps me away from it is the fact I have to dose p04 and n03 so I'm worried it may suck out too much. I don't run a skimmer either...just socks and rocks acro dominate. About to go from a 125 to a 300 so new issues to face on the horizon. Anyhoo..just kind of seeing if anyone had any thoughts.

I think a ats would be a extreme reaction to control a little frag plug algea in a system that struggles to maintain residual nutrients. Then again, my overgrown fuge sucks out anything extra before you can see it it in a test, doesn't mean its not available. I bet if you left a pile of plugs in your sump,in. A few months you wouldn't have this "problem". But at the same time, I know you know all this, i think your fishing for the quality of answers... :-)

 

[Reefering1]

Would think a lot of it depends on the type of algae one has. Hair algae seems to be a common one people use scrubbers for, but what about bubble algae and cyano? Does the scrubber help prevent those too?
I used to run a scrubber on my tank, I didn’t have algae issues at the time, but did feed a ton and the scrubber seemed to help with allowing that.


corey

Tangs and vodka!

 

[biecacka]

For what?
I have plenty of vodka! Having some Ketel one on the rocks as I type this.

corey

 

[billyocean]

Are they new plugs? Like take a plug out of a bag, attach coral, put in tank, then around 1-3 weeks later it has algae?

It varies...its not terrible.

Sounds like what ever you're doing is working right now. I wouldn't break what's not broken unless you don't like what you're doing now.

That's what I do mostly but like to stay versed on options in case. This hobby is a trove of information..lol.

 

[VintageReefer]

. I bet if you left a pile of plugs in your sump,in. A few months you wouldn't have this "problem"

That’s where I was going to lead to. Leave the plugs in the tank a few weeks/month before adding corals to get them seasoned like rock. They should be exposed to light also.