Huge green algae problem

Deftones2015 · 11/26/2008, 02:29 PM

I have a 75 gallon tank. This is the first time I've had problems with algae. It is all over the glass and I can barely see in the tank. All of the sps seem happy as can be as well as the fish. I have an msx 160 in the sump and a bag of fresh carbon by the return. I also have a reactor that i run carbon in that i change every 3 weeks to a month and recently added a reactor with phosban in it. I do not have a fuge at all. I added a 6-bulb T5 fixture to the week about a week and a half before the algae outbreak.

I'm afraid that a new fish I bought may have died but I'm not sure.

What should I do about the algae? Should I tear down the tank so I can put a bigger sump in the bottom with a refugium? Or should I wait it out?

jackets22 · 11/26/2008, 03:35 PM

whats your tank parameters? Running your lights too much? Clean up crew?

Sounds like a mag float and good water change. And look for the fish to see if you can pull it out if it is dead.

sunny d polyp · 11/26/2008, 03:59 PM

Deftones, they make a HOB (CPR) refugium that will fit your tank. Before you tear everything down try a fuge you can't go wrong, mine is full of chaeto and I have to trim it every month or so. It helps with nutrient export and helps feed the tank. When I trim it I disconnect the power head that feeds the refugium this dumps most of the water and forces alot of bugs into the tank. Hope this helps.

Deftones2015 · 11/26/2008, 04:28 PM

I have been using a mag float, the skimmer has been skimming the algae out of the water i have half an inch in the cup daily. I did a 20 gallon water change this weekend and it hasn't phased it.

I looked for the fish a little while ago, tore apart all of my rock work and came up with no dead fish and no live fish either.

My clean up crew is kind of lacking in the algae eating dept. but I have a lot of nassarius snails and a few crabs and a ton of bristle worms. Haven't been feeding the tank lately either.

Whats a good amount of time to run the light?

Deftones2015 · 11/26/2008, 05:53 PM

Phosphates are at .5
Nitrates are at 20ppm

So how can I get my nitrates down?

SWINGRRRR · 11/27/2008, 01:38 PM

I replied to your other thread as well, but donâ€™t worry about Phosphates testing. They are mostly inaccurate. Do a visual test, if you have algae, you have Phosphates.
I wouldnâ€™t worry about that right now anyway. You need to get the nitrates down.
1 water change isnâ€™t going to get it down and keep it down.
1. Reduce feeding for a bit.
2. Get religious about the water changes. 20% a week till all the other problems are fixed.
3. Get the supposed dead fish outta there, if its still there.
4. Drastically increase your flow. Make sure there are no dead areas.

11/26/2008, 02:29 PM	#1
Deftones2015 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Marion Ohio Posts: 351	Huge green algae problem I have a 75 gallon tank. This is the first time I've had problems with algae. It is all over the glass and I can barely see in the tank. All of the sps seem happy as can be as well as the fish. I have an msx 160 in the sump and a bag of fresh carbon by the return. I also have a reactor that i run carbon in that i change every 3 weeks to a month and recently added a reactor with phosban in it. I do not have a fuge at all. I added a 6-bulb T5 fixture to the week about a week and a half before the algae outbreak. I'm afraid that a new fish I bought may have died but I'm not sure. What should I do about the algae? Should I tear down the tank so I can put a bigger sump in the bottom with a refugium? Or should I wait it out?

11/26/2008, 03:35 PM	#2
jackets22 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 277	whats your tank parameters? Running your lights too much? Clean up crew? Sounds like a mag float and good water change. And look for the fish to see if you can pull it out if it is dead. __________________ Jon __________ Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed Reef

11/26/2008, 03:59 PM	#3
sunny d polyp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fl. Posts: 198	Deftones, they make a HOB (CPR) refugium that will fit your tank. Before you tear everything down try a fuge you can't go wrong, mine is full of chaeto and I have to trim it every month or so. It helps with nutrient export and helps feed the tank. When I trim it I disconnect the power head that feeds the refugium this dumps most of the water and forces alot of bugs into the tank. Hope this helps. __________________ " if you were to open my cranial cavity it would contain a plethora of copes swimming in a sea of phyto" Current Tank Info: 120/gal mixed reef 18/gals phyto nana,tet and iso 10/gals roti's

11/26/2008, 05:53 PM	#5
Deftones2015 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Marion Ohio Posts: 351	Phosphates are at .5 Nitrates are at 20ppm So how can I get my nitrates down? Last edited by Deftones2015; 11/26/2008 at 06:03 PM.

11/27/2008, 01:38 PM	#6
SWINGRRRR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pcola FL Posts: 2,504	I replied to your other thread as well, but donâ€™t worry about Phosphates testing. They are mostly inaccurate. Do a visual test, if you have algae, you have Phosphates. I wouldnâ€™t worry about that right now anyway. You need to get the nitrates down. 1 water change isnâ€™t going to get it down and keep it down. 1. Reduce feeding for a bit. 2. Get religious about the water changes. 20% a week till all the other problems are fixed. 3. Get the supposed dead fish outta there, if its still there. 4. Drastically increase your flow. Make sure there are no dead areas. __________________ Have you ever tried to hold a monkey still if it is not drunk ~ insteng Current Tank Info: 45gal Rimless mixed reef--SWC 150BMK--2xMP10ESW--Giesemann 150W HQI

11/26/2008, 04:28 PM	#4
Deftones2015 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Marion Ohio Posts: 351	I have been using a mag float, the skimmer has been skimming the algae out of the water i have half an inch in the cup daily. I did a 20 gallon water change this weekend and it hasn't phased it. I looked for the fish a little while ago, tore apart all of my rock work and came up with no dead fish and no live fish either. My clean up crew is kind of lacking in the algae eating dept. but I have a lot of nassarius snails and a few crabs and a ton of bristle worms. Haven't been feeding the tank lately either. Whats a good amount of time to run the light?