Reposition water

[Tom]

Hi.
I have a new saltwater tank with an algea scrubber running in it.
Everythings is going well.
But the water is evaporating too much.
I have no problem with that , but I wonder if I can use mineral or tap water to replace it, since I do not have to worry too much about algae ?
Tnaks a lot.

And keep with this good job.

[SantaMonica]

Welcome from Brazil.

It depends on what is in the tank, how much you top-off, and if you let the water sit overnight.

What is in the tank?

[Tom]

I just have 10 clibanarius and 10 turbo snail.
This tank is just 2 weeks old.
i have no fish and no coral yet. but i will.
ammonia: 0
Nitrite : between 0,5ppm and 1,0ppm
phosphate: I can´t measure that, cuz i´m not finding this test at the shops around here.
but i think it´s to high cuz there are some algeas growing in the top of my rocks.
what kind of problem can i have with tap or mineral water in my tank?
let me ask you one more thing.
i put my algea scruber in my sump, below of my tank.
and i notice that algaes, half green and half brown are growing in the glass of the sump and it´s spreading.
how can i fix that?
i´ll take some pics and show ya what is happening.
sorry about my english and thanks for help me.

have a nice day.

[SantaMonica]

If you set the tap water in a bucket for one or two days, it should be ok for a fish-only tank to add for evaporation.

The algae in the scrubber will remove other impurities in the water.

Add corals slowly, starting with soft corals (leathers, mushrooms, zoa's).

If your scrubber is open, the light will cause algae in the sump. That algae will not hurt, but if you want the sump to look clean, you will need to put a box around the scrubber light.

[Tom]

good Morning;
This video is of my algea scrubber , would you look and help me please.
I cut the screen to clean one at a time .
I cleared the first with 5 days and the second with 10 days .
This type of algae is normal or is something wrong?
must I clean the screens with less range?
how long it take for algae grow up green or less dark?
i´m not feedind the tank yet, cuz i have no fish and no corals in that.
see the video and give me tips .
Thank you .

[SantaMonica]

The flow is good.

Must scrape/brush all the dark stuff off.

The lights need real reflectors that cover the whole bulb.

[Tom]

hi.
Can i put a stronger bulb instead a reflector to solve my problem?
This kind of algeas means that my bulbs are not strong enough or my tank has a lot of nutrients?
how often must i clean my screen to have a green growth?
how long it take to starting show up some pods in my tank?

i´m new in saltwater tank and also with algea scrubber, for this reason i have so many question.
i hope you can help me.
thanks a lot for now.

[SantaMonica]

No, the bulb is already very strong. But all the light is going sideways, and is being lost. That is why it is growing dark.

Go to hardware store and get big utility light with reflector; it will work much better.

After the new reflector, you will have enough light, and growth will be green, and pods will start appearing.

Look at the end of this page for pictures:
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/show...3123#post13123

[Tom]

http://youtu.be/tHNsjWB2nIo

Hi, this is my growth after a new reflector, a light yellow algea,
I was reading some post here, and i noted that this kind of problem can be solved with more flow or less light, that is true?
Flow: everything I have, I don’t know how many “gph”
Light : 18/6
Feeding: none.
I will put some soft coral Saturday and 2 small fishes sunday, will I have some problem.
Thanks for the advice now I need to buy a mandarin, the tank has a lot of pods all around.
Thanks for now

[SantaMonica]

Let grow another 7 days, then clean.

18 hours light.

Ok to add soft coral and small fish.