New to the Hobby

Hi, I'm Eileen. I just entered into the arena of saltwater, and prior to this kept freshwater fish. I have a 55 gallon aquarium, protein skimmer, bio-wheel external filter and two powerheads in the aquarium. I started out with regular lights and then switched to a nova extreme T5 HO, about two weeks ago. At the time I bought the light, there was one blue legged hermit crab in the tank (Hitchhiker from the live rock) I had asked about adding a cleanp crew and was advised to wait a week, due to the point I was at in the cycle. Last weekend, I added 10 astrea snails, and my water checked out fine and still does but I have green hair algae. I was cautioned to add a clean up crew slowly, so there would be enough to eat for everyone, but may of drug my heels too much. I'm planning on adding a emerald green crab, and some scarlet hermit crabs, any other suggestions? I think I probably need more snails and had thought about adding a yellow tang. Presently, I have two yellow tail damels, I've been advised to get them out, any thoughts? My water conditions are Ph 8.0, ammonia 0 and nitrite less than 0.3. (That's the lowest my nitrite test reads.)

Thanks for any feedback. Eileen

 

Welcome to 3reef! Why did they tell you to take out the damsels? got pics?? read some posts here(there are many) on hair algae I'll even start you off with a few...
http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/hair-algae-mega-problem-42907.html
http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/help-green-hair-alge-34333.html
http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/uncontrollable-hair-algae-33122.html

also I like nerite and cerith snails and larger hermit crabs!

 

Hi Eileen,
First off, Welcome. I would check to be sure that your Nitrites are at 0 before adding any more livestock, especially a Tang. They can be and are quite sensitive as they have no slime coat and are subsceptible disease. Have you checked your Nitrate levels ?

 

Damels

They said the damsels would be too aggressive to keep in the tank. Thanks for the info on the tang, will wait. The tank has only been up a month now and I want to do things right. Thoughts on a seahair? I'll go read those threads now, thanks for the assistance.
Eileen

 

I would hold off on anything like a sea hair. An algae bloom after cycling is normal. If the hair algae gets too much your best course of action is to remove it by hand.
It will be hard to keep a tang in a 55G. you might find a constant battle with Ick do to not enough swimming room.

J

 

welcome to 3reef!

 

the damsels will chase eachother around instead of anything else in your tank that you decide to add(IMO) ...I have one convict damsel and a blue chromis(damsel family) and the convict is my nicest fish in the tank. He never bothers anyone, unlike the blue chromis, who is a bully. I say keep em!!

 

Hi Eileen, Welcome.
Sounds like you have more than enough clean-up crew now, more than I have in my 125gal. You need to measure your Nitrate level and make sure it is near 0 also your phosphates to make sure they are OK. Something is feeding your hair algae and you need to stop it before it gets out of control. Also, make sure you don't leave your lights on too long. The lights will cause the algae to grow. Maybe 8hrs max, or less, right now.

 

I think I know one thing I was doing wrong. I was using tap water, that I was conditioning. I've switched to distilled water and will see if I can get RO water at fish store. 10 snails and 1 hermit crab is enough of a clean up crew? I have my lights on a timer, moonlight from 8pm to 8am, actnic light 8am to 8pm and daylight 10am to 6pm, should I change this?

 

Ya tap water with conditioner isn't that great. RO is better, RO/DI is best. I see you have only had it up for a month so give it some more time and keep the algae in check and it should go away. If the Algae gets real bad Algae Magic by Weiss will get rid of it in no time. I find turbo snails eat algae real good and fast.