green algae problem.

romsoccer12 · 05/17/2009, 05:12 PM

green algae is overrunning my glass and top of my rocks. I try not to feed a lot. I have a bc with rubble instead of bioballs. I run the main lights for 5 hours and actinic for 8 hours. I try to scrape off most of it off the glass but its so thick by the sand bed, it wont come off. Anything more I should do? I dont have the skimmer yet. Will it help a lot? I have around 6 hermits 4 cerith snails 1 margarita and a small turbo and 2 emeralds. Should i get more snails?

PRDubois · 05/17/2009, 05:19 PM

Getting the skimmer and time.
You probally have high Nitrates or Phosphates or both.

How old is the tank?
Have you been doing 10% water changes each week?

dots · 05/17/2009, 05:22 PM

"Current Tanks: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5 weeks old"

Give it some time to mature.....stay vigil on your husbandry.

PRDubois · 05/17/2009, 05:24 PM

If that is up to date!

romsoccer12 · 05/17/2009, 05:40 PM

yeah its around 5-6weeks its like half ro water and half tap water but i replace evaportated water with RO and i do like 2 or 3 water changes each month with RO water

PRDubois · 05/17/2009, 05:45 PM

Do a 20% water change using RO
Then do 10% to 15% a week till the problem goes away
Cut the lights back to main lights for 3 hours and actinic for 6 hours for about a 2 weeks

Dont use any more tap water

romsoccer12 · 05/17/2009, 05:49 PM

will the corals die cutting back that much light? I have a big hammer coral and a small plate coral

PRDubois · 05/17/2009, 05:59 PM

Coral will be fine with that light for 2 weeks. When you increase the light again do it over a few days

Mopar Reefer · 05/17/2009, 08:31 PM

Have you tested for nitrates or phosphates? Use RO/DI water for everything, using tap water is feeding your algae problems. A quality skimmer will help but a phosphate reactor will do wonders for your GHA and their pretty cheap. I fought this battle a few months back. Lights out is only a temp fix and your corals will be ok as echoed by PRDubois. You may want to throw some chaeto in your sump/fuge or if you dont have one put it in the display under a rock. This will help with export of excess nutrients. Good luck.

Salt Convert · 05/18/2009, 07:46 PM

You might also try getting a Mexican turbo snail... I had green hair algae everywhere, got a Mexican turbo, and after 3 days, no more hair algae. Can't say enough about this little guy (though "little" isn't accurate compared to those black turbos- this guy is almost as big as a golf ball).

romsoccer12 · 05/18/2009, 07:55 PM

im half tap water half ro in my tank and i replace 1gal of evaporated water of RO and 3 1gal water changes of RO every month. I have no GHA just regular green algae. Im gunu try to get some chaeto pretty soon tho

seabayaquatic · 05/18/2009, 08:50 PM

Test the TDS on the RO water you are using. Membranes and filters can go bad pretty fast with municipal water sources. Add Ferric Oxide and activated carbon to reduce your phosphates and nitrates. Also, perform a 10-15% weekly water change sucking out the algae as best you can. Do this for at least 4 weeks and you'll be guaranteed to see a reduction in the algae. How much are you feeding?

romsoccer12 · 05/19/2009, 04:56 AM

like a half of an algae wafer once every two days and like 5 mysis shrimp every day

05/17/2009, 05:12 PM	#1
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	green algae problem. green algae is overrunning my glass and top of my rocks. I try not to feed a lot. I have a bc with rubble instead of bioballs. I run the main lights for 5 hours and actinic for 8 hours. I try to scrape off most of it off the glass but its so thick by the sand bed, it wont come off. Anything more I should do? I dont have the skimmer yet. Will it help a lot? I have around 6 hermits 4 cerith snails 1 margarita and a small turbo and 2 emeralds. Should i get more snails? __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

05/17/2009, 05:19 PM	#2
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Getting the skimmer and time. You probally have high Nitrates or Phosphates or both. How old is the tank? Have you been doing 10% water changes each week? __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

05/17/2009, 05:22 PM	#3
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	"Current Tanks: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5 weeks old" Give it some time to mature.....stay vigil on your husbandry. __________________ ~Doug

05/17/2009, 05:24 PM	#4
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	If that is up to date! __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

05/17/2009, 05:40 PM	#5
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	yeah its around 5-6weeks its like half ro water and half tap water but i replace evaportated water with RO and i do like 2 or 3 water changes each month with RO water __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

05/17/2009, 05:45 PM	#6
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Do a 20% water change using RO Then do 10% to 15% a week till the problem goes away Cut the lights back to main lights for 3 hours and actinic for 6 hours for about a 2 weeks Dont use any more tap water __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

05/17/2009, 05:49 PM	#7
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	will the corals die cutting back that much light? I have a big hammer coral and a small plate coral __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

05/17/2009, 05:59 PM	#8
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Coral will be fine with that light for 2 weeks. When you increase the light again do it over a few days __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

05/17/2009, 08:31 PM	#9
Mopar Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort Walton Beach Posts: 465	Have you tested for nitrates or phosphates? Use RO/DI water for everything, using tap water is feeding your algae problems. A quality skimmer will help but a phosphate reactor will do wonders for your GHA and their pretty cheap. I fought this battle a few months back. Lights out is only a temp fix and your corals will be ok as echoed by PRDubois. You may want to throw some chaeto in your sump/fuge or if you dont have one put it in the display under a rock. This will help with export of excess nutrients. Good luck.

05/18/2009, 07:46 PM	#10
Salt Convert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 38	You might also try getting a Mexican turbo snail... I had green hair algae everywhere, got a Mexican turbo, and after 3 days, no more hair algae. Can't say enough about this little guy (though "little" isn't accurate compared to those black turbos- this guy is almost as big as a golf ball).

05/18/2009, 07:55 PM	#11
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	im half tap water half ro in my tank and i replace 1gal of evaporated water of RO and 3 1gal water changes of RO every month. I have no GHA just regular green algae. Im gunu try to get some chaeto pretty soon tho __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

05/18/2009, 08:50 PM	#12
seabayaquatic Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 56	Test the TDS on the RO water you are using. Membranes and filters can go bad pretty fast with municipal water sources. Add Ferric Oxide and activated carbon to reduce your phosphates and nitrates. Also, perform a 10-15% weekly water change sucking out the algae as best you can. Do this for at least 4 weeks and you'll be guaranteed to see a reduction in the algae. How much are you feeding?

05/19/2009, 04:56 AM	#13
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	like a half of an algae wafer once every two days and like 5 mysis shrimp every day __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old