2 problems that need fixing

[reefermike]

alright the first problem is. One of my xenia frags looks like crap while the other is absolutly fine. Its darker in colour and some what withered and less active. Whats going on??

And the second problem is that my green hair algae is drving me nuts. I have 11 blue leg hermits and 4 astrea snails as thats all iv been able to get around here. My Nitrates and Phosphates both read zero. I do a weekly water change and lighting is only on for less then 10 hours. I have cheato in my fuge as well... what the heck is going on here.

My riccordias are doing amazing. They have opened up fully and maybe even grew a bit. My fish are fine and I feed frozen brine every couple of days. Im looking into shrimp to eat the extra food and might go for a combo of 2 types of shrimp.

Enlighten me on how to help my tank become more healthy... pleaseeeeeee!!!

 

[drty811]

1. i have had my xenia do this from time to time. if they get irratated they will do this. mine all come back in time. if you fraged it, it needs time to recooperate.

2. youll have to manually remove it with a toothbrush or scrub pad.

 

[reefermike]

if i go and scrub it off or brush it off its still in the tank and it comes back. Do you do it out of the water in a bucket or something?

Does temperature accelerate growth?

 

[drty811]

if you can take it out of the tank, i would. best time to do it would after a water change. clean it off in the old water. i found it grew nomatter what i had the temp at.

 

[reefermike]

i read that feeding you tank with phytoplankton can help controll green hair algae... does anyone know if this is a truthful fact?

 

[reefman23]

I havent heard that before. BUT... if you are feeding a phyto that isnt a refrigerated brand such as DT's (refrigerated meaning it is alive), then you may see an INCREASE in hair algae. Products such as Kents Phyto are dead and of basically no use to your tank besides possible raising nitrates.

Jesse