I have a 29 gallon salt water tank. I have a bunch of live rock encrusted with coralline algae which is red, green and purple. However some of it is fading and I want to maintain it's color and health within the tank.
I add calcium to the tank but my lighting consists of one 50/50 flourescent bulb. What should I do? I cannot do metal hallide types of bulbs and don't have a huge budget either!!!
Thanks!
2007-05-09 10:01:56 · 4 answers · asked by CBJ 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
I started in saltwater with a 29 gallon tank, so I can tell you that you don't need to use a metal halide to keep the live rock in good shape. You may not have enought intensity from a single tube if your system is a standard aquarium hood, though. My first light was a twin tube fluorescent which was okay for the live rock, but when I added an anemone, I had to step up to a compact fluorescent system.
You also don't mention the pH of your water - when I moved to my present location, I started to have trouble that I'd never had with the tank before - and I found the reason was that with the tap water where I'm at, the buffers in the sea salt mix couldn't keep the pH above 8.0, and it was usually closer to 7.8. That had a big effect on the color of my live rock. I now have to use a kalkwasser supplement to keep the pH in the range where it should be (8.2-8.4) - this also adds extra calcium to the tank. I'd also check the temperature to make sure it stays between 76-80o and the salinity (1.024 is ideal). The link below give some additional ideas for coralline growth.
2007-05-09 19:43:04 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't need to use metal halide at all just for live rock. If you have just started this tank up and it is cycling what your seeing is die off from the cycle. This would be normal and it will rebound you just need to give it some time. I'm not sure how much calcium you add but keep your level around 400ppm minimum for good growth. Other algae will compete with corraline for the other nutrients as well such as phosphates and nitrates.
Of course more lighting and calcium of 400-450ish will give your best corraline growth. If you want to increase your lighting and are not going to be introducing any corals that need very high lighting then you can find a decent power compact or T-5 light set up for not to much money. T-5s are a little more expensive than power compacts but you can grow a lot of differant corals under them as well.
On a budget you can look for used light set ups on craiglist, at smaller local fish stores, etc.
2007-05-09 13:07:23 · answer #2 · answered by Brian 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Algae eaters or snails are a good thanks to pass to get rid of algae. in spite of the indisputable fact that, word that plecos can change into merely about 2 ft lengthy! make effective you both have a huge adequate tank or get smaller algae eaters which includes chinese language algae eaters or Ottocinclus (Ottos). yet differently to shrink algae is to reduce the quantity of sunshine. the mixture of sunshine and waste style algae, and in view that you have not any fish yet, it really is probable no longer the waste. you may also get stay flowers, which use an similar food from mild that algae does. they'll "expend" the food to augment so as that the algae received't get any.
2016-11-26 22:28:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to
www.rockinreef.com
They specialize in live rock, and are open right now.
Give them a call!
2007-05-09 10:08:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋