max h2o change?

[Grins]

Do you have a photo? It could be algae growing on the algae. Believe it or not it happens.

In order for macro algaes to do their job with removing excess nutrients they do need to be prune back (just pulling a clump out of chaeto works) in order for you to remove the nitrates they've absorbed. Otherwise it is still in your system. What kind of light do you have on it now because it should be noticably growing.

 

[cmar]

right now i only have 2 ocean suns (24" each) in my stock hood. planning on adding more light w/ a custom hood. cheato isn't really showing much new growth, even if i place it high up near lights. also, yellow tang has been pruning it a bit. i assume new growth would be thin, green sprouts?

 

[Grins]

ah you have it in your display?

 

[cmar]

yeah, i originally got it for a fuge, but i ran into some problems, so i figured i'd just put it in the tank. not good? my biggest concern is that the more time goes on, the worse the situation gets. i thought that after everything was established, it'd get better. what other clean-up should i be doing...?
thanks so much for all your time!

 

[Grins]

I had mine in my display but just between the time I got it from a local reefer and my fuge was ready. I had to wedge it between the rocks and glass to keep it from getting all over the tank so it didn't really grow so much. Once it was in the fuge and tumbling a bit it has taken off.

As for getting the nitrates down if your source water is nitrate free I'd concentrate on water changes and not overfeeding for now.

 

[cmar]

i really don't feed much, and have cut down even more in the last few weeks. i plan on really attacking the water changes, maybe 10% every other day or so for a while...which is where i was going w/ my orig. question. just don't know why the 'trates are more of an issue now, i thought that they'd become less, if anything, as things became more established.
thanks again!

 

[Grins]

If they are becoming more of an issue I'd be curious what in the system might be trapping them. Bioballs, crushed coral beds, rockwork that doesn't get good flow, etc. can all be places to consider.

 

[cmar]

well, no crushed coral, no bio balls, and gonna add another powerhead. don't know where else to look! i should leave the sand alone...correct? or should i be vacuuming it?

 

[cmar]

no cc. no bio balls...gonna add another power head. i should leave the sand alone...correct? or should i be vacuuming it ?

 

[Grins]

If it is a deep sand bed leave it alone. If it is a shallow one opinion is split on whether you should vacuum it. Personally I vacuum small sections of it each week during water changes.