Just need to vent

[spencjw]

Can we see a picture of the algae? Some algae in a ref tank is normal, some people exaggerate about the amount of algae. It will help to see.

Also tell us about your filtration system please. How many fish do you have in what size tank?

I am using a filter sock in left chamber, I change this every two to three days. I have a bubble magnus protein skimmer, I have had this off since nitrates and phosphates were low. I also have a IM desktop UV light in Right chamber. It’s a IM 25 gallon lagoon. I have 1 AI prime for lighting on for a 10 hr period. My fish list was above not many or large. Here is a pic, hurts my heart for it to look like this with the time and effort I feel I put in. I know most of us go through it, the reward wouldn’t be worth it if it was easy.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I am using a filter sock in left chamber, I change this every two to three days. I have a bubble magnus protein skimmer, I have had this off since nitrates and phosphates were low. I also have a IM desktop UV light in Right chamber. It’s a IM 25 gallon lagoon. I have 1 AI prime for lighting on for a 10 hr period. My fish list was above not many or large. Here is a pic, hurts my heart for it to look like this with the time and effort I feel I put in. I know most of us go through it, the reward wouldn’t be worth it if it was easy.

Thats not too bad bud! Mine was a literal mat of green.... if you dont have corals, cut back on the light intensity. Your fish won't need it, turn it on for a few hours on low intensity so you can see your fish if you like, but 100% only for your viewing pleasure. Once your tank levels out this won't happen as much. Perfectly part of the cycle. Get past this phase and you'll have a pristine looking tank everyone strives for. Just so ya know though, a lot of those perfect, prestine tanks still have algae growing in some tight, hard to reach spots, it just isn't obvious and fish and cuc pick at it while it slowly grows in.

 

[spencjw]

Can we see a picture of the algae? Some algae in a ref tank is normal, some people exaggerate about the amount of algae. It will help to see.

Also tell us about your filtration system please. How many fish do you have in what size tank?

I use a filter sock in left chamber, change out every 2-3 days. Nothing in second chamber. I have my heater and return pump in middle chamber. A bubble magnus protein skimmer in fourth chamber, have it off right now since parameters are low. The right chamber holds a IM desktop UV light. I have an AI prime for light, a Nero 3 for flow. Below is a pic, a lot of algae, hate showing it like this but it is what it is. The reward wouldn’t be worth it I guess it is was easy. The struggle is real.

 

[56longroof]

Have you seen the cloudy water the cubes sit in after defrosted? Can’t be good for water quality. I prefer a low nutrient system. Haven’t had the need for a clean up crew in my system in over 20 years. Clean up crews are a band-aid, not a fix to why excess algae is growing.

If its working for you that's great. I respectfully disagree on all points but I will leave it at that.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I use a filter sock in left chamber, change out every 2-3 days. Nothing in second chamber. I have my heater and return pump in middle chamber. A bubble magnus protein skimmer in fourth chamber, have it off right now since parameters are low. The right chamber holds a IM desktop UV light. I have an AI prime for light, a Nero 3 for flow. Below is a pic, a lot of algae, hate showing it like this but it is what it is. The reward wouldn’t be worth it I guess it is was easy. The struggle is real.

this was about 8 months ago, I had such terribly ugly phases. First algae, then I assume dinos, then the worst cyano outbreak... so bad if I didnt blow off my corals every day they'd smother and die. Time, good upkeep, more cuc, and I threw in some high quality live rock, then it just cleared up on day. Literally within a week, everything changed. Its a process bud, theres no shame in it.

 

[spencjw]

I use a filter sock in left chamber, change out every 2-3 days. Nothing in second chamber. I have my heater and return pump in middle chamber. A bubble magnus protein skimmer in fourth chamber, have it off right now since parameters are low. The right chamber holds a IM desktop UV light. I have an AI prime for light, a Nero 3 for flow. Below is a pic, a lot of algae, hate showing it like this but it is what it is. The reward wouldn’t be worth it I guess it is was easy. The struggle is real.

this was about 8 months ago, I had such terribly ugly phases. First algae, then I assume dinos, then the worst cyano outbreak... so bad if I didnt blow off my corals every day they'd smother and die. Time, good upkeep, more cuc, and I threw in some high quality live rock, then it just cleared up on day. Literally within a week, everything changed. Its a process bud, theres no shame in it.

I appreciate it. I will definitely not give up. I enjoy it to much. Even with all this going on I still want a bigger tank, lol.

 

[Damage12]

If it’s working for you that's great. I respectfully disagree on all points but I will leave it at that.

If its working for you that's great. I respectfully disagree on all points but I will leave it at that.

Haha, ok.

 

[petcellar]

I use a filter sock in left chamber, change out every 2-3 days. Nothing in second chamber. I have my heater and return pump in middle chamber. A bubble magnus protein skimmer in fourth chamber, have it off right now since parameters are low. The right chamber holds a IM desktop UV light. I have an AI prime for light, a Nero 3 for flow. Below is a pic, a lot of algae, hate showing it like this but it is what it is. The reward wouldn’t be worth it I guess it is was easy. The struggle is real.

With no corals you also always have the option of cutting back on light to help while you fight that algae and beef up your CUC as well

 

[robanister]

I use a filter sock in left chamber, change out every 2-3 days. Nothing in second chamber. I have my heater and return pump in middle chamber. A bubble magnus protein skimmer in fourth chamber, have it off right now since parameters are low. The right chamber holds a IM desktop UV light. I have an AI prime for light, a Nero 3 for flow. Below is a pic, a lot of algae, hate showing it like this but it is what it is. The reward wouldn’t be worth it I guess it is was easy. The struggle is real.

That's not a whole lot actually. Lettuce nudibranch and sea hares will clear it up. Mines due to phosphate close to 1. Now down to .02 but I believe that is false due to algae uptake.

 

[rookie 220]

One thing that's not stated for its importance enough is a good clean up crew. And alot of them with plenty of diversity. You would be surprised at how well certain critters are at keeping a tank clean. Try Reef Cleaners and message them for suggestions.

Pods pods pods, reef cleaners worked for me when restarting my tank
Ugly stage was really weird, white algae everywhere, dumped in around 6 jars of eco pods, dosed phyto and in a week it was all gone
Got more pods and tuxedo urchin when the hair algae started and poof, gone

 

[akma]

I have only been in the hobby for around 6 months. I have felt from all the videos and research I have done I was going well and it was fun and easy. Man was I wrong, I have been dealing with hair algae and I can’t figure out how to beat it. I get turned around with the guidance or tips I get from web searches, videos and forums. I don’t know if the algae is throwing off my numbers. I know that the algae will come back if I don’t get my numbers in check but I feel like I can’t truly know what they are or get them in check until the algae is gone but I can’t seem to get rid of them. I plan tomorrow to take my rock out and in old tank water scrub all the algae off the best I can and replace. Right now my nitrates are at 2.3, phosphate at .01, my alk is crazy low 6.4 (new Hanna checker so hope doing right) by calcium is 600 and mag is 1450. It’s a 25 gal lagoon. I use Red Sea blue bucket. All and all up to this point it has been pretty good. I feel like this is where the true learning and test comes. Thanks for the vent, wish me luck.

How often are you doing water changes? Have a skimmer? When you take the rock out to scrub, spray some hydrogen peroxide on it. Will kill the algae.

 

[robanister]

How often are you doing water changes? Have a skimmer? When you take the rock out to scrub, spray some hydrogen peroxide on it. Will kill the algae.

Peroxide will remove the algae but if no water change is done after the problem will return due to released substances.

 

[JayM]

If its working for you that's great. I respectfully disagree on all points but I will leave it at that.

I completely agree with your disagreement.

 

[metro6775]

Why? I feed at least 6 cubes a day plus some of my homemade and never rinse anything. I feel there is absolutely no reason for this.

Have you seen the cloudy water the cubes sit in after defrosted? Can’t be good for water quality. I prefer a low nutrient system. Haven’t had the need for a clean up crew in my system in over 20 years. Clean up crews are a band-aid, not a fix to why excess algae is growing.

I just strain mysis before adding. No need to rinse.

 

[56longroof]

I just strain mysis before adding. No need to rinse.

I dont rinse anything. I figured the fines are good coral/ filter feeder food.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I dont rinse anything. I figured the fines are good coral/ filter feeder food.

Agreed. I used to drain fluids out, but now I have little containers that I throw 2 cubes in, a little selcon, then top off with tank water. Shake it up, then dump it all in.

 

[BrettMallette]

I test PO4 daily and have seen little to no evidence on a 55G system that rinsing changes the PO4 load on the tank. I feed a full cube daily unrinsed now. Was rinsing for months. All that grossness in the cube is food for something. Only noticeable difference is if overfeeding and the mysis sit on filter socks or floss for too long. Or feeding flakes.

 

[backbayreef]

I use a filter sock in left chamber, change out every 2-3 days. Nothing in second chamber. I have my heater and return pump in middle chamber. A bubble magnus protein skimmer in fourth chamber, have it off right now since parameters are low. The right chamber holds a IM desktop UV light. I have an AI prime for light, a Nero 3 for flow. Below is a pic, a lot of algae, hate showing it like this but it is what it is. The reward wouldn’t be worth it I guess it is was easy. The struggle is real.

It’s not too bad actually and expected when you started with (very likely) dry rocks? Like others said, this will subside with a good CUC - I like trochus snails and urchins. Easy problem to solve and you’re on the right track. Good luck!

If you’re impatient like me, go with 100% live rocks! I have the same tank as you (IM 25) but with an external overflow. I started the tank with all LR from my frag tank and corals, inverts, and fish went in after 48 hours. So far, still no ugly stages, no skimmer, no reactors, nothing problems! I have a build thread on it if you care to take a peek. You should start one as well to document your journey.

 

[BryanM]

I have only been in the hobby for around 6 months. I have felt from all the videos and research I have done I was going well and it was fun and easy. Man was I wrong, I have been dealing with hair algae and I can’t figure out how to beat it. I get turned around with the guidance or tips I get from web searches, videos and forums. I don’t know if the algae is throwing off my numbers. I know that the algae will come back if I don’t get my numbers in check but I feel like I can’t truly know what they are or get them in check until the algae is gone but I can’t seem to get rid of them. I plan tomorrow to take my rock out and in old tank water scrub all the algae off the best I can and replace. Right now my nitrates are at 2.3, phosphate at .01, my alk is crazy low 6.4 (new Hanna checker so hope doing right) by calcium is 600 and mag is 1450. It’s a 25 gal lagoon. I use Red Sea blue bucket. All and all up to this point it has been pretty good. I feel like this is where the true learning and test comes. Thanks for the vent, wish me luck.

If you're doing regular water changes and the salinity of your newly mixed salt is good, it is unlikely that your alk is that low.

I do not believe you are feeding enough. 1/4 cube for all those critters seems quite low, and fish like to eat 3-4x a day.

Your N and P are almost non-existent as well, either of these bottom out and your issues will get worse before they get better. N between 10-50, P between .1-.3 are both reasonable targets, though some will disagree with me.

You could add a lawn mower blenny, they are usually fond of green hair algae, and other algae's as well.

 

[56longroof]

If you're doing regular water changes and the salinity of your newly mixed salt is good, it is unlikely that your alk is that low.

I do not believe you are feeding enough. 1/4 cube for all those critters seems quite low, and fish like to eat 3-4x a day.

Your N and P are almost non-existent as well, either of these bottom out and your issues will get worse before they get better. N between 10-50, P between .1-.3 are both reasonable targets, though some will disagree with me.

You could add a lawn mower blenny, they are usually fond of green hair algae, and other algae's as well.

Do you think .1-.3 phosphate is within limits for SPS? I try to keep mine at .1 or lower. Just curious if Im over thinking it.