Newbie question about green algae

wrote:
Gil,

Keep in mind that GHA comes from excess nutrients in the tank. If you
don't have some means of exporting nurtients you will get nuciance
(sp?) algae. A refugium is GREAT for this. If you can grow some
chaeto, it will use up all the excess nutrients that the GHA needs and
inhibit its growth.

Are you overfeeding? The best solution to GHA is to find the source of
the excess nutrients.



Hi,
Don't think that I am overfeeding being quite senstive to this from my
freshwater fish. I'm not overly sure about if I am feeding the right
amounts to the corals - I'm feeding around 2ml of Phytoplankton every
2-3 days - don't know if tis is over feeding or under. As for the fish,
there are just two Clowns who rapidly hoover up their food within around
30 secs - they are fed twice a day. If it was overfeeding I would expect
to be seeing nitrate and higher phosphates....

The GHA itself is pretty much contained and seems on the decline since I
started moving it with a turkey baster but I'm still getting some "red
dust" - I'm removing as much of this as I can twice a day.....

I will research into refugiums - sounds like a very good idea if/when I
set up a larger tank....not sure how it would fit into my current Nano
setup.

Thanks
Gill

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Gil,

Keep in mind that GHA comes from excess nutrients in the tank. If you
don't have some means of exporting nurtients you will get nuciance
(sp?) algae. A refugium is GREAT for this. If you can grow some
chaeto, it will use up all the excess nutrients that the GHA needs and
inhibit its growth.

Are you overfeeding? The best solution to GHA is to find the source of
the excess nutrients.



Hi,
Don't think that I am overfeeding being quite senstive to this from my
freshwater fish. I'm not overly sure about if I am feeding the right
amounts to the corals - I'm feeding around 2ml of Phytoplankton every 2-3
days - don't know if tis is over feeding or under. As for the fish, there
are just two Clowns who rapidly hoover up their food within around 30
secs - they are fed twice a day. If it was overfeeding I would expect to
be seeing nitrate and higher phosphates....

The GHA itself is pretty much contained and seems on the decline since I
started moving it with a turkey baster but I'm still getting some "red
dust" - I'm removing as much of this as I can twice a day.....

I will research into refugiums - sounds like a very good idea if/when I
set up a larger tank....not sure how it would fit into my current Nano
setup.

Thanks
Gill

You won't see the phosphate and nitrate if it is being converting into algae
bloom.
What sort of water flow do you have on the area? dead spots will have high
co2 and can help algae establish better in some spots than others.

You won't see the phosphate and nitrate if it is being converting into algae
bloom.
What sort of water flow do you have on the area? dead spots will have high
co2 and can help algae establish better in some spots than others.


Ironically, it is growing in the area with the most flow....it is
decreasing so perhaps part of the whole cycling thing....or maybe it is
the programme of light deprivation I've had to put in place that is
killing it off.....My problem wasn't the green algae but a
dinoflagellate bloom which I am now slowly getting under control (by a
combination of light deprivation, skimming, blasting (turkey baster),
manual removal, carbon, water changes, willpower, determination plus
whatever else you want to add....but it is a long haul....of course the
reduction in these will almost certainly impact my phosphates and
nitrates so a close monitoring regime is in place....but at least my
corals are perking up....shame it killed all the snails :-( Once under
control (I understand it never goes) I will restock with some algae
eating clean up crew....to be quite honest I can cope with the green
stuff all the while I get rid of the toxic dinoflagellate bloom....

After 5 days I am now seeing good progress....fingers crossed....

Gill

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...

You won't see the phosphate and nitrate if it is being converting into
algae bloom.
What sort of water flow do you have on the area? dead spots will have
high co2 and can help algae establish better in some spots than others.


Ironically, it is growing in the area with the most flow....it is
decreasing so perhaps part of the whole cycling thing....or maybe it is
the programme of light deprivation I've had to put in place that is
killing it off.....My problem wasn't the green algae but a dinoflagellate
bloom which I am now slowly getting under control (by a combination of
light deprivation, skimming, blasting (turkey baster), manual removal,
carbon, water changes, willpower, determination plus whatever else you
want to add....but it is a long haul....of course the reduction in these
will almost certainly impact my phosphates and nitrates so a close
monitoring regime is in place....but at least my corals are perking
up....shame it killed all the snails :-( Once under control (I understand
it never goes) I will restock with some algae eating clean up crew....to
be quite honest I can cope with the green stuff all the while I get rid of
the toxic dinoflagellate bloom....

After 5 days I am now seeing good progress....fingers crossed....

Gill

good stuff,
I have been blessed with no algae problems for a while
summers coming tho so that could soon change!