Algae problem

joelr · 02/16/2008, 02:36 PM

I've got an algae problem in my tank and since I'm a newbie I need some help identifying it and figuring out what I should do about it.

We've tried cleaning it out but it just came right back and now it is starting to spread to the rocks and just barely onto the glass.

It's a 75g tank. One emerald crab, 2 turbo snails, 6 astrea and 2 nessarius. Plus one maroon clownfish. There are two powerheads in the tank and I'm running a Remora Pro skimmer that sits on the back of the tank. Ammonia and Nitrite are at 0 and Nitrate is consistently at 10.
I've been feeding the clown once a day: seaworm supreme. Is once a day too much?

Here are the pictures.

Joel

rbursek · 02/16/2008, 02:41 PM

How old is your tank, type of water used, do you test for phosphates? More flow may help.

demonsp · 02/16/2008, 02:47 PM

Which powerheads do you have?
How old is your tank?
Water source?

joelr · 02/16/2008, 02:56 PM

Water Source: RO/DI
Power Heads: Maxi-Jet 1200 and Hydor Koralia 3; they're placed at opposite ends of the tank, about mid-level. Seems like that should be plenty of flow.
Calcium about 500 and Alkalinity about 2.6 (calcium seems high).
I don't have a phosphate test kit - should I be testing for phosphates?

How old is the tank? Uh... we got it at the end of December so I guess that's 7 weeks now.

demonsp · 02/16/2008, 03:03 PM

Looks like that is a low flow area.Increaseing flow qould help and getting some sand sifting CUC fast will help.

demonsp · 02/16/2008, 03:03 PM

Looks like that is a low flow area.Increaseing flow qould help and getting some sand sifting CUC fast will help.

rbursek · 02/16/2008, 03:20 PM

Alright, your phosphates should be low with ro/di water. Cyano algae is usually part of tank cycle. More flow down low will help, lights off for 3 days works good, any direct sun light on the tank? How much and what do you feed, that can contribute at this point till your rock matures. There is a fix, Blue Life Red Slime Control, I have used it when I had this when my tank was cycling.
Bob

uscharalph · 02/16/2008, 03:34 PM

It's part of something all new tanks go thru. You can suck it out with a turkey baster or a gravel vac during water changes. keep up tank maintenance and this phase will pass.

joelr · 02/16/2008, 04:04 PM

How long should this (this phase) take? Will the algae just disappear?

I have one clown now, is it safe to add another fish at this time?

Is there anything else I should be doing? Should I be running a carbon filter?

rbursek · 02/16/2008, 04:33 PM

DrF&S have a Vietnam crab that they say eats Cyano algae. Carbon will help if you have phosphates.
Bob

02/16/2008, 02:36 PM	#1
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	Algae problem I've got an algae problem in my tank and since I'm a newbie I need some help identifying it and figuring out what I should do about it. We've tried cleaning it out but it just came right back and now it is starting to spread to the rocks and just barely onto the glass. It's a 75g tank. One emerald crab, 2 turbo snails, 6 astrea and 2 nessarius. Plus one maroon clownfish. There are two powerheads in the tank and I'm running a Remora Pro skimmer that sits on the back of the tank. Ammonia and Nitrite are at 0 and Nitrate is consistently at 10. I've been feeding the clown once a day: seaworm supreme. Is once a day too much? Here are the pictures. Joel

02/16/2008, 03:34 PM	#8
uscharalph Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,248	It's part of something all new tanks go thru. You can suck it out with a turkey baster or a gravel vac during water changes. keep up tank maintenance and this phase will pass. __________________ Ralph Mendoza Jr. Long Beach, CA Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon Reef Tank

02/16/2008, 02:41 PM	#2
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	How old is your tank, type of water used, do you test for phosphates? More flow may help.

02/16/2008, 02:47 PM	#3
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Which powerheads do you have? How old is your tank? Water source?

02/16/2008, 02:56 PM	#4
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	Water Source: RO/DI Power Heads: Maxi-Jet 1200 and Hydor Koralia 3; they're placed at opposite ends of the tank, about mid-level. Seems like that should be plenty of flow. Calcium about 500 and Alkalinity about 2.6 (calcium seems high). I don't have a phosphate test kit - should I be testing for phosphates? How old is the tank? Uh... we got it at the end of December so I guess that's 7 weeks now.

02/16/2008, 03:03 PM	#5
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Looks like that is a low flow area.Increaseing flow qould help and getting some sand sifting CUC fast will help.

02/16/2008, 03:20 PM	#7
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	Alright, your phosphates should be low with ro/di water. Cyano algae is usually part of tank cycle. More flow down low will help, lights off for 3 days works good, any direct sun light on the tank? How much and what do you feed, that can contribute at this point till your rock matures. There is a fix, Blue Life Red Slime Control, I have used it when I had this when my tank was cycling. Bob

02/16/2008, 04:04 PM	#9
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	How long should this (this phase) take? Will the algae just disappear? I have one clown now, is it safe to add another fish at this time? Is there anything else I should be doing? Should I be running a carbon filter?

02/16/2008, 04:33 PM	#10
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	DrF&S have a Vietnam crab that they say eats Cyano algae. Carbon will help if you have phosphates. Bob