saltwater breakdown/rebuild

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
S

shark_curious

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 3, 2009
250
8
48
az
im having a huge issue with algae and diatoms(?). im considering draining the tank completely and moving my the fish over to a smaller tank. scrubbing down the tank, buying a clean up crew, building an algae scrubber... im also reading limestone sand might help with the algae, any input? looking for any and all ideas right now
 
its a 240 and im running a 55 gallon sump and octopus protein skimmer, not sure if that matters
 
Hopefully someone with more SW experience will chime in. I have just come to accept that my SW tank is going to have alga, the way I have it set up. I just clean off the two viewing pains and let the other sides grow. I also scrub off the decor now and then and just think of the rest as part of a planted tank. It was so much work to get it all running smoothly in the first place that I could not even contemplate taking it all down to get rid of alga, then have to start it all up again.
 
well im hoping that with the same live rock and leaving the sump be i won't have to recycle the tank considering i have such small stock
 
Bump: For someone with more insight to chime in.
 
shark_curious;4819801; said:
well im hoping that with the same live rock and leaving the sump be i won't have to recycle the tank considering i have such small stock
Click to expand...

I kind of think unless you do an algae scrubber or something difrent, like you mentioned, it will just come back. I also think the "diatoms(?)" are just a matter of time before they clear on their own.
 
well its been about two months and they only seem to be getting worse
 
Chaz88;4819822; said:
I kind of think unless you do an algae scrubber or something difrent, like you mentioned, it will just come back. I also think the "diatoms(?)" are just a matter of time before they clear on their own.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Cleaning out the tank is not solving the problem and the algae is apt to come back again. The instability for your fish and the fact that the tank will mostly like go through a mini cycle too just make it not worth it in my opinion.

Is it hair algae or slime algae?

What are your water parameters? Nitrates? Phosphates?

What is your stocking list? How do you feed the fish and how much?

What is your return pump and do you have any other things for water flow like powerheads?

I want to get this info so we can solve the issues you are having.
 
last time i tested my nitrates and phosphates are low. i have 4 powerheads moving 2000+ gallons per hour, i have one fox nosed butterfly about 4 inches and nothing else. i have a lifegard 4000 at about 4.5 to 5 feet high. im not sure if its slime or hair but researching online it looks like diatoms. ill get some exact parameters and pictures later
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom