Decisions, decisions...

[lanman]

So I put up the 58, and moved everything from the 45 into it, leaving behind a 30-gallon frag tank, and a 20-gallon sump/refugium. The 45-gallon system had an annoying brown algae problem.

 

Well, now that the frag/refugium system has been on its own for a week or two - all of the algae is gone, and it's just about perfect for water clarity, quality, etc.

 

On the other hand, the new system (58-display and 40-gallon sump) is starting to get a little of that annoying brown algae.

 

I had planned to connect the frag tank and refugium to the 58-gallon system, and now have the parts for it...

 

But do I want to? I don't know if it's the fish, fish food, some evil rock, or what - but whatever is causing the algae moved to the new tank. I could always make another refugium... and leave the 'frag system' on its own. At least until I've figured out the algae problem.

 

Recommendations?

 

bob

[dandy7200]

Your new tank will cycle just as the old did. The diatoms will go away on their own as long as you can provide a efficient means of nutrient export (skimming and water changes). Let it do it's thing and relax over a long holiday weekend.

[fab]

Welcome to New Tank Syndrome and near-mandatory successive algae blooms.

 

fab

[dandy7200]

Welcome to New Tank Syndrome and near-mandatory successive algae blooms.

 

fab

 

 

Yep. About a month ago I added about 20# of live rock to my display to fill a couple holes I had and to make some more room for mounting corals. Even in my fairly established tank (about a year) I am experiencing some of this, it didn't help that I added a a couple fish about the same time but c'est la vie. Mainly cyano for me and a touch of red hair algae touch of bubble but there is really nothing I can do except wait it out.

[Grav]

Bob,

 

You have been here 2x. Maybe next time I'll come to your place and offer some suggestions.

 

Phil

[lanman]

Bob,

 

You have been here 2x. Maybe next time I'll come to your place and offer some suggestions.

 

Phil

Always welcome suggestions! Only reason I find this suspicious is because it is the exact same algae I had in the 45. Builds up in the exact same spots (plastic, and to a lesser degree glass). It does NOT care about flow - it even builds up on the mouth of the water return. It's not excessive; I cleaned it all off the frag rack last Sunday - and I don't see any there yet at all. It's just annoying, and amazing to me that when I removed the 45 from the old system, leaving just the frag tank and refugium, the algae (which was quite thick on one of the powerheads in the frag tank) has just gone away completely.

 

I'll just try to wait it out - as long as the frag tank is doing well, and the 58 is doing well - I'll just be patient with them. At least I'll wait until I have my super-skimmer set up and running before I connect the two systems together.

 

Of course - now it's time to start thinking about my next upgrade....

 

bob

[fab]

Are you running a phosphate reactor? ... or UV sterilizer? and RO/DI with silica buster DI stage?

 

Just some other ways to try to beat mother nature at her incessant algal tricks.

 

fab

[lanman]

Are you running a phosphate reactor? ... or UV sterilizer? and RO/DI with silica buster DI stage?

 

Just some other ways to try to beat mother nature at her incessant algal tricks.

 

fab

No UV; I just purchased a phosphate reactor and some media. RO/DI filter. Never heard of 'silica buster'.

 

bob