qucik way to get rid of algea

holycow · 04/02/2011, 09:54 AM

So I started a tank about two months ago, we decided to start off with a 10 gallon until we got the hang of it. the tank has a bunch of algea everywhere, at first it started off like a rust color on the walls, so i brushed it off and then it started growing on the biggest rock then it moved to the sand. the rock started turning red, then purple, then black, with patches of green. the sand was a dark red/rusty colored. i looked up online how to get rid of it and it said to siphon it and take out the rock and wash it under fresh water. i did that. the rock is clean but the sand still has blobs of algea everywhere. whats a quick easy way to get rid of it? oh i dont have any type of cleaner fish yet. getting those today.

jimmy_beaner · 04/02/2011, 10:05 AM

It sounds like cyano. There are chemical aids (like chemi-clean), but ultimately you'll need to figure out what you're doing that caused it. It has access to some nutrient (likely phosphate) that's allowing it to grow. Reducing photo period can help, but figure out how to get rid of some of the phosphates. I'm growing chaeto and running phosguard to soak up extra phosphates and it's still slowly growing. A skimmer can help too.

SushiGirl · 04/02/2011, 10:12 AM

Very common in new tanks. Keep your water parameters stable, cut your light cycle, siphon out what you can. It will pass.

Oh, and there is no good "quick way" to do anything in this hobby, except mess up LOL.

KMP · 04/02/2011, 10:18 AM

Check your Magnesium - make sure its at 1400. Do water changes - prior to - take a turkey baster and blow up all that you can.

04/02/2011, 09:54 AM	#1
holycow Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: tampa Posts: 3	qucik way to get rid of algea So I started a tank about two months ago, we decided to start off with a 10 gallon until we got the hang of it. the tank has a bunch of algea everywhere, at first it started off like a rust color on the walls, so i brushed it off and then it started growing on the biggest rock then it moved to the sand. the rock started turning red, then purple, then black, with patches of green. the sand was a dark red/rusty colored. i looked up online how to get rid of it and it said to siphon it and take out the rock and wash it under fresh water. i did that. the rock is clean but the sand still has blobs of algea everywhere. whats a quick easy way to get rid of it? oh i dont have any type of cleaner fish yet. getting those today.

04/02/2011, 10:18 AM	#4
KMP Wag More; Bark Less Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,602	Check your Magnesium - make sure its at 1400. Do water changes - prior to - take a turkey baster and blow up all that you can. __________________ Kenny Current Tank Info: 70g Shallow Reef [Home]; 15g Starfire Cube [Office]

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04/02/2011, 10:05 AM	#2
jimmy_beaner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Clive, IA Posts: 692	It sounds like cyano. There are chemical aids (like chemi-clean), but ultimately you'll need to figure out what you're doing that caused it. It has access to some nutrient (likely phosphate) that's allowing it to grow. Reducing photo period can help, but figure out how to get rid of some of the phosphates. I'm growing chaeto and running phosguard to soak up extra phosphates and it's still slowly growing. A skimmer can help too.

04/02/2011, 10:12 AM	#3
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Very common in new tanks. Keep your water parameters stable, cut your light cycle, siphon out what you can. It will pass. Oh, and there is no good "quick way" to do anything in this hobby, except mess up LOL.