Supplements

[Nedim]

I started dosing liquid calcium and strontium and Molybdenum. Basically to promote corraline. The thing is-Im getiing some bright green algae and really ugly diatoms. Ive got snails and hermit crabs. Any ideas?

 

[Bifferwine]

What are your nitrates, phosphates and silicates (if you have that test) at?

 

[Nedim]

Last time I checked, nitrates were 20. No clue on phos. and silicates. Whats a good test kit for everything?

 

[Bifferwine]

There isn't really a test kit for everything... You have to buy those separate. Work on getting the nitrates down, I bet you have phosphates too. I doubt it's the supplements that are causing the algae. Try a phosphate sponge or something like that. If you are overfeeding, cut back. I had major algae issues when I fed flakes and pellets. Switched to frozen only and haven't had a problem since. If you keep your lights on too much, cut back on that too.

 

[Nedim]

Well, I feed 1 frozen cube of shrimp a day. I was thinking of adding a phosphate sponge and maybe something for the nitrates.

 

[reeffreak]

Nedim,
I don't know what kind of lighting you are running but I couldn't get coralline to grow under NO lights.Maybe it was just me.

I wouldn't dose for calcium or anything else if I'm not 100% sure that is was low.
Did the test for calcium showed that it was low?

 

[JellyMan]

Is the bright green algae a lime color? The start of coralline algae is lime green and within 3 months it turns red and purple hope this helps.

 

[d.french]

i agree with reeffreak wouldn't dose it unless you need it, i use seachem products they seem to work well for me like seachem complete it has calcium, strontium, and magnesium and also seachem carbonate.

 

[yote]

Im going to agree with everybody else,Dont add anything unless you need too.
Jellys right about the algae too.If it's a lime green color and has to be scraped off with a razor blade then its the begining of coraline.

 

[yote]

Oh,and the easiest way to get coraline to grow is take a new soft bristled tooth brush and brush some of the coraline thats on your rock.Some spores will come off and where ever they stick,coraline will grow.

 

[Nedim]

Alright, thanks for the advice. Ill grab a kit this weekend