Silicate sand and algae
 

Hello;

What's the concensus on silicate sand and it's cause of algae? Reading on
the webb I'm getting mixed opinions. I'm having trouble with hair algae and
just greeening up the sides of the glass in a fish only tank.The sand is about
2/3 silicate and 1/3 aragonite. I've tested the water (and those results NEVER
look like the charts) but it looks to me like phosphates are somewhere between
0 and .25 and nitrates are 0-5. On the other hand the algae keeps on a-comin'.
Right now is a 125 gal with a powder blue and a niger trigger (so hermits and I
assume sea hares are out.) Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Thanks

Bob

Silicate sand and algae
 

wrote:
Hello;

What's the concensus on silicate sand and it's cause of algae? Reading on
the webb I'm getting mixed opinions. I'm having trouble with hair algae and
just greeening up the sides of the glass in a fish only tank.The sand is about
2/3 silicate and 1/3 aragonite. I've tested the water (and those results NEVER
look like the charts) but it looks to me like phosphates are somewhere between
0 and .25 and nitrates are 0-5. On the other hand the algae keeps on a-comin'.
Right now is a 125 gal with a powder blue and a niger trigger (so hermits and I
assume sea hares are out.) Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Thanks

Bob

Bob,

If the silica sand was causing algae problems everybody that had a glass
tank would have the same algae problems since the silica and glass are
basicly the same.

It sounds like you need to reduce your phosphate levels . The problem
is that you have 2 much light on a fish only tank, you don't have
anything other than the algea to feed on the nutriants in the water.
Cut your lights way back and see if your algae goes away.

Kim Gross
www.jensalt.com

Silicate sand and algae
 

I have about the same mix you do and I was worried about using silica sand
but after running for almost 2 years and many tests I will say it's not a
problem.
I think for a DSB it's a great way to save some money.


wrote in message
...
Hello;

What's the concensus on silicate sand and it's cause of algae? Reading
on
the webb I'm getting mixed opinions. I'm having trouble with hair algae
and
just greeening up the sides of the glass in a fish only tank.The sand is
about
2/3 silicate and 1/3 aragonite. I've tested the water (and those results
NEVER
look like the charts) but it looks to me like phosphates are somewhere
between
0 and .25 and nitrates are 0-5. On the other hand the algae keeps on
a-comin'.
Right now is a 125 gal with a powder blue and a niger trigger (so hermits
and I
assume sea hares are out.) Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt
actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at
all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Thanks

Bob

Silicate sand and algae
 

wrote in message ...
Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Algae grows - that is normal...
What you need in the tank is algae grazers, which eat this algae.
Also, it would help if you plant some macro-algae in the tank...
But since you have powder blue - he might eat it all ;-)

Silicate sand and algae
 

Silicate sand and algae
 

Silica sand does not cause algae, but it is my belief that
calcium sand will do a better job of denitrifying.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 8/28/2006 11:21 PM:
Hello;

What's the concensus on silicate sand and it's cause of algae? Reading on
the webb I'm getting mixed opinions. I'm having trouble with hair algae and
just greeening up the sides of the glass in a fish only tank.The sand is about
2/3 silicate and 1/3 aragonite. I've tested the water (and those results NEVER
look like the charts) but it looks to me like phosphates are somewhere between
0 and .25 and nitrates are 0-5. On the other hand the algae keeps on a-comin'.
Right now is a 125 gal with a powder blue and a niger trigger (so hermits and I
assume sea hares are out.) Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Thanks

Bob

Silicate sand and algae
 

Wayne Sallee wrote:
Silica sand does not cause algae, but it is my belief that
calcium sand will do a better job of denitrifying.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 8/28/2006 11:21 PM:
Hello;

What's the concensus on silicate sand and it's cause of algae? Reading on
the webb I'm getting mixed opinions. I'm having trouble with hair algae and
just greeening up the sides of the glass in a fish only tank.The sand is
about
2/3 silicate and 1/3 aragonite. I've tested the water (and those results
NEVER
look like the charts) but it looks to me like phosphates are somewhere
between
0 and .25 and nitrates are 0-5. On the other hand the algae keeps on
a-comin'.
Right now is a 125 gal with a powder blue and a niger trigger (so hermits
and I
assume sea hares are out.) Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt
actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at
all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Thanks

Bob


Thanks everyone. I'll try to reduce light and probably change my test
kits. I have a Kent Hi-max 60 RO unit and tested the output and it's coming out
clean on phosphates with the test kit I have, same with nitrates. I've got a
kole tang just about ready from quarantine but don't think they are hair algae
eaters. I'll probably put a rabbit fish in there. I have one in my reef and
he's been an algae chomper extraordinaire over the years.:)


Bob

Silicate sand and algae
 

Yea they are real good at eating algae. Sometimes they eat
other things, but definitely do a good job on algae.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 8/29/2006 3:36 PM:
Wayne Sallee wrote:
Silica sand does not cause algae, but it is my belief that
calcium sand will do a better job of denitrifying.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 8/28/2006 11:21 PM:
Hello;

What's the concensus on silicate sand and it's cause of algae? Reading on
the webb I'm getting mixed opinions. I'm having trouble with hair algae and
just greeening up the sides of the glass in a fish only tank.The sand is
about
2/3 silicate and 1/3 aragonite. I've tested the water (and those results
NEVER
look like the charts) but it looks to me like phosphates are somewhere
between
0 and .25 and nitrates are 0-5. On the other hand the algae keeps on
a-comin'.
Right now is a 125 gal with a powder blue and a niger trigger (so hermits
and I
assume sea hares are out.) Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt
actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at
all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Thanks

Bob


Thanks everyone. I'll try to reduce light and probably change my test
kits. I have a Kent Hi-max 60 RO unit and tested the output and it's coming out
clean on phosphates with the test kit I have, same with nitrates. I've got a
kole tang just about ready from quarantine but don't think they are hair algae
eaters. I'll probably put a rabbit fish in there. I have one in my reef and
he's been an algae chomper extraordinaire over the years.:)


Bob

Silicate sand and algae
 

Hey if you want some quicker answers and some good information come
join my new board www.aquariumfriends.com Just join and post your
questions.




Wayne Sallee wrote:
Yea they are real good at eating algae. Sometimes they eat
other things, but definitely do a good job on algae.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 8/29/2006 3:36 PM:
Wayne Sallee wrote:
Silica sand does not cause algae, but it is my belief that
calcium sand will do a better job of denitrifying.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 8/28/2006 11:21 PM:
Hello;

What's the concensus on silicate sand and it's cause of algae? Reading on
the webb I'm getting mixed opinions. I'm having trouble with hair algae and
just greeening up the sides of the glass in a fish only tank.The sand is
about
2/3 silicate and 1/3 aragonite. I've tested the water (and those results
NEVER
look like the charts) but it looks to me like phosphates are somewhere
between
0 and .25 and nitrates are 0-5. On the other hand the algae keeps on
a-comin'.
Right now is a 125 gal with a powder blue and a niger trigger (so hermits
and I
assume sea hares are out.) Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt
actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at
all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Thanks

Bob


Thanks everyone. I'll try to reduce light and probably change my test
kits. I have a Kent Hi-max 60 RO unit and tested the output and it's coming out
clean on phosphates with the test kit I have, same with nitrates. I've got a
kole tang just about ready from quarantine but don't think they are hair algae
eaters. I'll probably put a rabbit fish in there. I have one in my reef and
he's been an algae chomper extraordinaire over the years.:)


Bob

Silicate sand and algae
 

Promptness is not an issue here. Often, within seconds, there is a
snide remark or half answer to the question you post.

Crap, I think the above may be a snide remark.

jasno999 wrote:
Hey if you want some quicker answers and some good information come
join my new board www.aquariumfriends.com Just join and post your
questions.




Wayne Sallee wrote:

Yea they are real good at eating algae. Sometimes they eat
other things, but definitely do a good job on algae.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 8/29/2006 3:36 PM:

Wayne Sallee wrote:

Silica sand does not cause algae, but it is my belief that
calcium sand will do a better job of denitrifying.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 8/28/2006 11:21 PM:

Hello;

What's the concensus on silicate sand and it's cause of algae? Reading on
the webb I'm getting mixed opinions. I'm having trouble with hair algae and
just greeening up the sides of the glass in a fish only tank.The sand is
about
2/3 silicate and 1/3 aragonite. I've tested the water (and those results
NEVER
look like the charts) but it looks to me like phosphates are somewhere
between
0 and .25 and nitrates are 0-5. On the other hand the algae keeps on
a-comin'.
Right now is a 125 gal with a powder blue and a niger trigger (so hermits
and I
assume sea hares are out.) Have (2) 160 watt 10 k VHO's and (2)160 watt
actinic
VHO's. Alot of light but my reef has triple that and has no hair algae at
all.
Reef gets pretty green on the glass in three days, this 125 does almost
everyday.

Thanks

Bob


Thanks everyone. I'll try to reduce light and probably change my test
kits. I have a Kent Hi-max 60 RO unit and tested the output and it's coming out
clean on phosphates with the test kit I have, same with nitrates. I've got a
kole tang just about ready from quarantine but don't think they are hair algae
eaters. I'll probably put a rabbit fish in there. I have one in my reef and
he's been an algae chomper extraordinaire over the years.:)


Bob