Angela_96

I have no idea where it came from! I have perfect water parameters, pH 8.2, ammonia -0-, nitrite -0- nitrate 5-10, calcium 440, i am using a powerhead, and a protein skimmer, doing my water changes, topping off with distilled water (not adding salt each time)
My salinaity is 1.023
I have a full cleanup crew, even with a pepperment shrimp. tons of snails, and hermit crabs. I have only been running my lights at 8 hours at the most a day, cutting back to less as I have been noticing the algae growth.

I ordered a phosphate filter (polyfilter today off the internet) to see if that helps, and have plans to pull the strings out myself to help the crew).. any advice?? I don't want to use any chemicals?

I haven't been adding any nutrients w/ the exception of 2 drops of pyhtoplantion for the coral.


BTW, we don't have an RO unit so I am using distilled water.. is there any water that would be more pure?

travie

How long has the tank been setup? I'm guessing you are still in the algae cycle of your tank. It will pass with you removing it from the tank, not overfeeding(keeping your phosphates at 0), and with water changes.

Distilled water should be fine, since you cannot get RO water.

sirdarksol

I think travie's got you covered. Chances are things are getting balanced out. As long as you keep your numbers like they are and keep removing the hair algae, you should be fine.

Angela_96

Its been set up since Sept 28th. So I am guessing its still in algae stage?

travie

Most likely still in the algae stage. The length of the stages are different for everything tank. Just need to deal with it while it runs its course, then everything will start to look better. I did and still do have some nasty hair algae in my 10g.

Angela_96

Its so icky! I am going to work with it some today pulling it out, I got a ton of clean up crew the other day I had already some snails and a red leg hermit. I got a pep shrimp and more snails and another red leg and a couple blue legged guys to help. I figured after I got the stuff pulled out they could help me clean it up some? Then a phosphate filter, and would siphoning out the sand help any, eventhough the nitrates are low I wonder if getting them any lower would help? I am also lowering the lighting time some.

travie

They will probably eat some. If you just got them, it might take a couple of days till they start eating. Different inverts, eat different types of algae, and what eats what is a question for someone other then myself, because I'm not sure the exact what eats what.

Angela_96

I did a ton of research on my little fellas as far as making sure to maximize the cleaning (now if they will eat up that big of a mess??) .. the hermits are great little guys for the algae.. So are the snails that I bought. I just hope they will clean the mess up after I get the majority of the hair algae plucked out.

nemo addict

buy a emerald crab they eat hair algae hermits and other CUC dont really eat it well ,, when you solved your algae problem remove the emerald crab