Algae Problems

wookiefever · 01/28/2016, 06:02 PM

Hello everyone, I came home today to find that my tank has been completely overrun with algae. It is a 2wk old tank (yes it is cycled) and I was wondering if you had any suggestions as to what is causing the algae outbreak and what I can do to stop it/remove it. If you could ID the type of algae that would be awesome.

Current CUC:
8 Astrea Snails
3 Tiny Blue legged Hermit Crabs
1 Emerald Crab
1 Turbo snail
3 Margarita snails

Tank:
55g with 20g sump
Protein skimmer is running

Thank you in advance,

wookiefever

P.S. will post pictures from my phone as soon as I can take some.

wookiefever · 01/28/2016, 06:04 PM

wookiefever · 01/28/2016, 06:04 PM

jrkonzelman · 01/28/2016, 07:00 PM

If it's only 2 weeks old, this is normal and called an algae bloom..give it some time for your tank to stabilize and it will clear up if your paramaters are good. You can add some snails shortly as well.

Bogue Chitto · 01/28/2016, 08:30 PM

You have cyano also, You need to try to get it out without stirring things up. Maybe take some of the rocks out and clean the algae off, and also, feed sparingly.

wookiefever · 01/28/2016, 09:21 PM

Yea the cyano has been a pain. It won't pull off without making a mess. I'm weary to take the rocks out though because won't that cause die off? I heard that I think margaritas eat cyano is this true or will anything eat the damn bacteria?

wookiefever · 01/28/2016, 09:22 PM

Thanks for the responses. If it's an algae bloom do I need to do anything like add another power head or is it just best to let it run its course

Dkuhlmann · 01/29/2016, 08:00 AM

Just let it run it's course and make sure your water parameters are stable. This is a good time to get in practice so later you will have no problems with corals etc. Stability is the key to a successful tank.

Also are you using RO/DI water?

wookiefever · 01/29/2016, 08:04 AM

Yup it's all RO/DI

floydie83 · 01/29/2016, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Just let it run it's course and make sure your water parameters are stable. This is a good time to get in practice so later you will have no problems with corals etc. Stability is the key to a successful tank.

Also are you using RO/DI water?

I agree at two weeks old I'm not surprised to see algae issues.

Best of luck!

Dkuhlmann · 01/29/2016, 09:03 AM

So just sit back and watch mother nature do her thing. You will see many different ugglies but one of the prettiest color shows

Sounds better than my tank looks like crap what do I do about it?

wookiefever · 01/29/2016, 09:29 AM

Thanks for the input everyone

I do think I will add some snails but that's it for now. My tank inhabitants have actually been more active since the algae so that's nice to see

01/28/2016, 06:02 PM	#1
wookiefever Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	Algae Problems Hello everyone, I came home today to find that my tank has been completely overrun with algae. It is a 2wk old tank (yes it is cycled) and I was wondering if you had any suggestions as to what is causing the algae outbreak and what I can do to stop it/remove it. If you could ID the type of algae that would be awesome. Current CUC: 8 Astrea Snails 3 Tiny Blue legged Hermit Crabs 1 Emerald Crab 1 Turbo snail 3 Margarita snails Tank: 55g with 20g sump Protein skimmer is running Thank you in advance, wookiefever P.S. will post pictures from my phone as soon as I can take some.

01/29/2016, 08:00 AM	#8
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Just let it run it's course and make sure your water parameters are stable. This is a good time to get in practice so later you will have no problems with corals etc. Stability is the key to a successful tank. Also are you using RO/DI water? __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

01/29/2016, 09:03 AM	#11
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	So just sit back and watch mother nature do her thing. You will see many different ugglies but one of the prettiest color shows Sounds better than my tank looks like crap what do I do about it? __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

01/28/2016, 06:04 PM	#2
wookiefever Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167

01/28/2016, 07:00 PM	#4
jrkonzelman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 52	If it's only 2 weeks old, this is normal and called an algae bloom..give it some time for your tank to stabilize and it will clear up if your paramaters are good. You can add some snails shortly as well.

01/28/2016, 08:30 PM	#5
Bogue Chitto Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 960	You have cyano also, You need to try to get it out without stirring things up. Maybe take some of the rocks out and clean the algae off, and also, feed sparingly.

01/28/2016, 09:21 PM	#6
wookiefever Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	Yea the cyano has been a pain. It won't pull off without making a mess. I'm weary to take the rocks out though because won't that cause die off? I heard that I think margaritas eat cyano is this true or will anything eat the damn bacteria?

01/28/2016, 09:22 PM	#7
wookiefever Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	Thanks for the responses. If it's an algae bloom do I need to do anything like add another power head or is it just best to let it run its course

01/29/2016, 08:04 AM	#9
wookiefever Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	Yup it's all RO/DI

01/29/2016, 09:29 AM	#12
wookiefever Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 167	Thanks for the input everyone I do think I will add some snails but that's it for now. My tank inhabitants have actually been more active since the algae so that's nice to see