Mold/Algae?

darshwood · 10-12-2007, 07:49 PM

Hey Guys:

Recently I noticed that my FO tank had been overtaken with algae. It had been about a month since my last water change so I was a little overdue. I made about a 33% water change. The next day I have already noticed that there is some growth on the substrate. I would like to think that it is algae but none like I've ever seen before. It has a bit of mold-like appearance. Does this sound familiar to any of you?

Thanks a ton,
Darsh

Chitown1 · 10-13-2007, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darshwood

Hey Guys:

Recently I noticed that my FO tank had been overtaken with algae. It had been about a month since my last water change so I was a little overdue. I made about a 33% water change. The next day I have already noticed that there is some growth on the substrate. I would like to think that it is algae but none like I've ever seen before. It has a bit of mold-like appearance. Does this sound familiar to any of you?

Thanks a ton,
Darsh

It sounds like a algae bloom, Maybe we can help more if you answer some specific questions.

1. What type of filtration are you using?

2. Do you have a skimmer and what kind?

3. What are you feeding and how often?

4. What type of water are you using, tap, distilled, RO, RO/DI?

5. What type and how old is your lighting?

6. how big is the tank and what do you have for livestock?

7. What type and how deep is your substrate (crushed coral, sand, etc.)?

darshwood · 10-15-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chitown1

It sounds like a algae bloom, Maybe we can help more if you answer some specific questions.

1. What type of filtration are you using?

I have a HOB powerfilter that I used for mechanical, biological and chemical filtration. It has activated carbon as well as media for nitrates and one for phosphates. The media was changed about a month ago.

2. Do you have a skimmer and what kind?

I have a venturi powered skimmer.

3. What are you feeding and how often?

I feed once a day, but I am not certain that it is all being eaten. There may very well be some waste.

4. What type of water are you using, tap, distilled, RO, RO/DI?

I use filtered tap water.

5. What type and how old is your lighting?

I have a marine-glo actinic and a power-glo bulb. Both are fairly new.

6. how big is the tank and what do you have for livestock?

29 gallon with only two fish at the moment.

7. What type and how deep is your substrate (crushed coral, sand, etc.)?

I have about an inch and a half of live caribbean sand.

Thanks for your help, Chitown. I am conducting a series of water changes in hopes that this will clear up. My fear is that this could be bacterial in nature. I'll keep you all posted.

Chitown1 · 10-15-2007, 06:03 PM

OK. The first thing I would do is changes the water source. Tap water can be high in nitrates and other non beneficial additives, you can get a report for your water conditons from your city, village or county, they are required by law to provide it and it will specifiy all of the percentages of all readings.
I would go with RO or even better RO/DI filtered water. It is available at most fish stores, but make sure to verify it is Ro or RO/DI and not just filtered. If you do not have a LFS near you, some botteled water is RO filtered, if it is, it will state that somewhere on the bottle, if it does not say it, it is not RO filtered.
If you have a LFS, they may even sell it mixed with salt, by me, fresh water sells for $.50 per gallon and salt sells for $.90-$1.00 per gallon. If you really want to save $$$$ long term, buy your own RO/DI unit, I get mine from www.thefilterguys.biz I normally do not recommend a buisness, but these guy's are bar far the best in the buisness. You can buy your own unit for less tha $150.00.
The next thing I would do is cut back a bit on the feedings, if you think there might be left over food, there prob. is. Dont worry about starving your fish, they will be fine with a little less food. I feed mine every 2 days, I used to feed daily, but it was difficult to maintain params, so I cut back and the params become much more stable.
What brand or model is your skimmer?
Skimmers play a VERY important role in water conditons, if you have a inexpensive skimmer, you will def. not by effectivly performing proper skimming. If you have a brand like Jebo, Seaclone and a few others, you might want to think about upgrading. A Remora C skimmer is prob. the best hang on unit out there, you can pick one up used for around $125 on Ebay and will drastiacally make a difference in your water conditons, which is the main cause of algae outbreaks and blooms.
This is truely a "you get what you pay" for hobby, it is better to go slow and get quality up front, otherwise it will cost more by upgrading later, not to mention that fact that many people get discouraged because of low quality or the wrong equipment. It does not take a fortune and you can find deals from time to time, dont let the price of new put you into shock.

Abbey · 10-15-2007, 10:53 PM

which unit would you recomend most? i am kind of short on cash but i could just wait a while because i have decided to do things the right way instead of the cheap way. so far this method has only alowed me to buy a used tank w/ simple sum and some livesand but i am sure it will help in the long run.

chadf · 10-15-2007, 10:57 PM

I have the 2nd one down on this page http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm

I also got the dual TDS meters and the chloramamine filter upgrades. Very nice filter IMO, My TDS is still 0 after like 200 gallons of water!

Chitown1 · 10-16-2007, 06:25 AM

Even the first one would be better than using tap, I have the $199 model, it comes with most of the add ons the others dont, dual TDS, pressure guage etc. but you dont need that stuff to start, what you need is better quality water and the $124 model will give you that. You can get a TDS later, when it is new you will not need to measure TDS as much anyway, that comes down the road.