Reef Tank/Algae question

Question
Update from Joyce Jones: It's been a couple of weeks since you wrote. I did get some new snails and crabs as suggested, and purchased the Phos Ban and coral dip from your company (so I am worth your while). The diatoms are slowly clearing up. I did another significant water change yesterday and have switched to the filtered bottled spring water, and added some live sand. There's not much change in the cup coral after a dip. The bottle suggests a direct application method, which I may try in a couple of days. Thanks for being there.  JKJ  -------------
Followup To
Question -
Hello, Scott. I went out at lunch and got some snails and crabs; they are working as I type. Regarding the water I use for water changes. I have been using gallons of distilled water for quite some time. Do you agree with using this. I know I oughta bite the bullet and get an RO unit. I could have paid for one 10 times over by now with all the distilled I buy. I don't trust our tap water due to past experiences. Is bottled spring water better?  Regarding the cup coral, I tried to brush off some of the slimey stuff in tank water with a Q-Tip yesterday without much success; I found there is no live tissue under the slimey stuff. How much iodine and tankwater should I use for a dip? Should I wait for a while since I messed with the coral yesterday?  Thanks for reminding about your online catalog. I forgot about it.  Now bookmarked.  Joyce Jones
Followup To
Question -
Hello from WV. I'm looking for suggestions regarding our 46 gal semi-reef tank. Recently I removed a very large hermit crab to our larger tank. Just after that a noticed a bit of brown/copper colored algae (I'm guessing it's algae) beginning in the 46. Shortly after that I installed new bulbs because the old ones were almost a year old. They are 50/50 power compacts (two 21"), and what was previous on it. The algae blossumed and I'm having trouble getting rid of it. I've checked salinity -- 1.024, pH - 8.2 with my fasTest kit, temp - 77, alkalinity - normal range, and calcuim - a little above normal range. I do not have a UV sterilizer on this tank. I do have an oversized wet/dry trickle filter. I did a 25 gal water change last Wed, cleaning all the poly filters and sponges, and a 5 gal water change yesterday, syphoning the bottom sand/gravel. I've reread "Marine Algae Control Secrets" by Bob Goemans, Ph.D, and believe I have brown diatom algae. It blows off the rock with a turkey baster. I also have a patagona cup that is ailing, and "sliming" in the tank some. It has developed spots of green/brown slimy stuff which is taking over the cup coral I believe. I've installed an extra powerhead (now have 2) for circulation. I've considered Chemi-Clean, but it says it's for red cyano bacteria.  Any suggestions?  Should one ever clean the inside of the wet/dry?
Answer -
Joyce,
Sounds like you have a brown diatom algae.  It is typically fed from silcates in the water and just like any other algae the lights.  Replacing the bulbs created the bloom because you renewed the light spectrums on it and it just took off like a weed so to speak.

I suggest adding some herbivores like blue legged hermit crabs and some turbograzer snails to eat the algae from the inside.  I also suggest using a PhosBan by Two Little Fishies in your filter to remove the phosphates and silicates that are feeding the algae.  This combination should get your algae under control in no time.

While it is a good idea to have a clean filter to prevent nitrate producing debree from accumulating, cleaning all of the media at the same time can cause more harm than good.  In the future consider a rotating schedule to prevent help keep debree at a minimum while preventing possible spikes in water quality.

As for the coral.  Is it feeding at all?  Sounds like a bacterial infection... I suggest removing whatever slime or gel that you see on it and dip it in a container with tank water and iodine.  If that doesn't prevent the jelly from coming back, consider using Kent Marine's Tech D coral dip.

We carry all of these product suggestions on our online catalog at www.aquariumcrazyfish.com  Check them out for more details or to pick them up.

Best of luck... keep me posted!

Regards,
Scott Johnson
Aquarium Crazy Fish
www.aquariumcrazyfish.com

Answer -
Joyce,
If you do not have your own RO system, I generally recommend using bottled drinking water as most of the bigger name companies that produce it filter the water via reverse osmosis and sometimes even UV.  Distilled is better than tap for obvious reasons, but for aquarium use it is actually too pure.  Granted you do add some of the minerals, etc back into the water with your salt mix, but if you continue to use it I'd recommend using Kent Marine's OsmoPrep for salt water aquariums.  This will help replace the necessary elements that have been removed.

As for the iodine... It depends on the type you use, but if you are using a normal concentrated iodine then I'd go 1/4 teaspoon for every 1/2 gallon of water.  If you use Lugol's Solution, add one drop per 1/2 gallon.  This can be done at any time.  Some people I know use this dip as part of the acclimation process.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Scott Johnson
Aquarium Crazy Fish
www.aquariumcrazyfish.com


Answer
Joyce,
Sounds like things are on the up and up.  Keep up the good work and keep me posted.

As for the cup coral... sounds like you've managed to stop whatever was infecting it.  Now it just needs to recover.

Regards,
Scott Johnson
Aquarium Crazy Fish
www.aquariumcrazyfish.com