help my sailfin tang looks tired

HI guys,

i've got some sort of green algae taking over my tank, brief history - i had an outbreak of white spot due to my own fault so i went hypo saliniy saved all my inhabitants, but lost coral and inverts, since this i added some extra filtration and reactors (carbon & phosban) i now have this green algae which i've never had, tank is approx 1yo i currently don't have a cleanup crew due to low salinity. my mhs are on for 4 hours, my actinic are on 8 hours leds 11 hours moonlight 13 hours.

is this related to algae if so how do i get rid of algae

any help appreciated

i'm going to load pictures next as it won't let me upload on this..

 

how fast did you drop the salinity and at what level?

In order to do hypo you HAVE to drop slowly....

I bet your tank is cycling again due to die off. What are your levels at.

to control the algea turn off all lights for several days.

Please post your parems

 

nitrates are high no longer have nitrite test kit so not sure about this - ammonias stable at 0 or has been the last week or so.

i'll cut the mhs - do i need to cut all other lighting also?

 

need to have test kits to see your water. Parems can change daily....

 

i'll go get the nitrite test kit (got rid after cycle had finished) - could flow cause the algae build up - do i need to stop all light or just the metal halides?

thanks

matt

 

no...it is from excess nutrients...probably from the die off of your CUC and/or overfeeding. If by chance you do a phosphate test remember...it will probably be zero! The algea is pulling it off..but it is NOT really zero.

Actually flow can cause algea buildup in areas....but not all over tank. Are you using RO water?

What is your salinity at?

Algea can also result from end of a cycle.

I would turn off all your lights for about 5 days. (trust me..corals will be ok)

You def need to keep all test kits for situations like this. I dont routinely test my nitrates, nitrites etc (can now tell by my tank) but I have them in case something is off. I do test my pH, kH and calcium a couple times a month. I do recommend testing your tank more frequently esp when having problems or just begining. Remember these levels can vary day by day!

I would also go and get some aquavitro alpha or Prime and pour it in your tank (not pour :} ) but add it. Your sailfin is probalby acting bad due to the stress of the cycle and the hyposalinity. I have a feeling you dropped things fairly fast if all your inverts died. Inverts can not take hypo conditions at all...and actually I would not recommend hypo even without inverts (have to have it so low for it to work..like 1.007 and it is VERY stressful on fish)

Best way to care for ick is 1. good water conditions, 2. good food with HUFA and vitamins added.

good luck. Post your salinity level and someone can help you figure out how to raise it back up (SLOWLY)

 

You're not going to get out of this half way, or cheap. Take a sample of water to LFS, do a full batch of tests. I'm worried about O2 as well. Fill out the ASAP form. If at any time you lack the required tests/info to fill out the ASAP form it's a good clue you need to buy more of whatever is required. I use it as a supplies checklist.