Nutriants

NanoReef · #1 12-02-2005, 03:26 AM

i have been told that i have "nutriant rich water" because i have a bit of the thick black alge. how can i get rid of this problem and keep my tank not so nutriant rich??!! my tank is a 20 gallon.

OCDP · #2 12-02-2005, 04:04 AM

Use RO/DI water, feed less and in smaller amounts. Setup a refugium for nutrient export stuffed with macro algaes.... the black algae your mentioning sounds like dinoflagelettes? (sp???) nasty stuff from what I have heard.

Those are just a couple suggestions

AndyL · #3 12-02-2005, 04:31 AM

Lets add 2 things to what OCDP said:

More (and larger) water changes... More skimming.

NanoReef · #4 12-02-2005, 01:13 PM

my tank is 100% RO/DI water..... i change about 10-15% weekly. how often SHOULD i be doing it?

i have crabs · #5 12-02-2005, 01:38 PM

20g tank + $250 wourth of fish = nutrient problem

67g tank = pricless

NanoReef · #6 12-02-2005, 01:40 PM

i only have 4 fish...im getting a 90 soon. 67 is too small!!!

OCDP · #7 12-02-2005, 01:58 PM

Oh yeah, forgot about the skimming... that will definitely help you out.

If your using true, pure RO/DI water you really shouldn't be experiencing such nutrient problems. You either feed too much, too often... have too high of a bioload for you to handle... or there is something feeding the nutrients... ie, phosphates and nitrates. But if you do use RO/DI and do weekly changes.. that should be sufficient.

I would get a skimmer (a good one..) and skim really wet for a while... feed less, (every second or third day) in very small amounts.

I use a 20g tank, and have had slight nutrient issues... but with heavy skimming, frequent water changes and small feedings my tank looks just fine without nuisance algaes.

AndyL · #8 12-03-2005, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NanoReef

i only have 4 fish...im getting a 90 soon. 67 is too small!!!

Four fish doesn't mean much - Four lions, vs four gobies are two radically different bioloads.

Not all RO is the same, check TDS readings of that water.

You should really have a skimmer, 4 of any kind of fish in a 20g is quite a bioload. A substantial hunk of graciliara, or chaeto would really help you on your way.

Johnny Reefer · #9 12-03-2005, 02:29 AM

10-15% water changes weekly ought to be adequate, but...
...alot of absent info here.

What do your water quality tests say?
How old is this set up?
A bit of black algae? How much is a bit?
What kind of algae? Have you tried to ID it? Take a picture and post?
Four fish? What type? How big?
What else have you got in the tank? Inverts? Corals? Live Rock? (more than just fish contribute to a bio-load).
Are you skimming?

Cheers,

NanoReef · #10 12-03-2005, 02:36 AM

ok, i have 2 percs, 1 six line wrasse, and 1 manderine draggonette. all very small. i bit of alge as in a patch about 3 inches long and 2 inches wide. i am skimming but it is a very crappy skimmer. what would be good for the 20 ????? i have a squamosa clam in there, TONS of different zoos, finger leather, ricordia, conch, snails, crabs, emerald crab, various polyps, and feather duster.... i think im missing a few things....but i cant think of them... o ya a bta.... i THINK thats it