Algae Bloom

tangy2 · 11/23/2006, 09:11 PM

I've recently transferred all my fish and rock to a 72-75 gallon tank. It looked beutiful for the first 2 weeks, but since then algae has taken over and won't go away. I have hairy algae on the rocks, hard green algae on the glass, it's just everywhere. I have a protein skimmer I have to change every 3-4 days. I have a wet/dry filtration system, and a really good lighting system (don't know the specs off hand), that runs a total of 10 hrs/day. Can anyone give me any advise on what to do??? I just want it to look nice again.

drummereef · 11/23/2006, 09:17 PM

New tanks tend to develop algae blooms as they go through their break in period. Could take a few months for the tank to stabilize. But, the wet/dry filtration you have could be the root problem. If you are using bio-balls in there, I would say that it is building up detritus which is causing a nitrate problem. I would think about removing, slowly, any bio-balls and any mechanical filtration medium for that matter. Anything that detritus can build up in can cause excess nitrates - thus causing algae blooms.

Using RO/DI water with a tds of 0 will really help overall water quality as well. Just some things to think about.

aquamn1999 · 11/23/2006, 09:18 PM

need more info. Fish only tank, live rock, corals ? Your tank is going thru it's cycle. Add snails or a lawnmower blenny. If you don't have corals decrease your lighting untill the bloom is gone.

jimbo045 · 11/23/2006, 10:10 PM

Off hand, your temp. might be high. You can give more info. And try to stay 75-79 . JD

aquamn1999 · 11/23/2006, 10:19 PM

forgot to mention get rid of your bioballs in your wet dry if you have enough live rock or clean them. Turn your wet dry into a refugium.

PatMayo · 11/23/2006, 10:52 PM

Nutrients. Export more than intake. If you don't have any corals reduce lighting to nil. Fish don't care about light. You also could have some phospate. YOu could use a reactor and run some RowaPhos. Growing Cheato or another macro algae will help as well.

Here is a couple of links that will help you.

http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=147010

Regards,

Pat

tangy2 · 11/25/2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aquamn1999
need more info. Fish only tank, live rock, corals ? Your tank is going thru it's cycle. Add snails or a lawnmower blenny. If you don't have corals decrease your lighting untill the bloom is gone.

Yes, I have live rock (covered in hairy algae). No corals. I have snails, my blenny doesn't do his job ~> he eats the food I feed the fish. I will try to decrease the lighting.

tangy2 · 11/25/2006, 02:25 PM

Thank you everyone.

11/23/2006, 09:11 PM	#1
tangy2 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 115	Algae Bloom I've recently transferred all my fish and rock to a 72-75 gallon tank. It looked beutiful for the first 2 weeks, but since then algae has taken over and won't go away. I have hairy algae on the rocks, hard green algae on the glass, it's just everywhere. I have a protein skimmer I have to change every 3-4 days. I have a wet/dry filtration system, and a really good lighting system (don't know the specs off hand), that runs a total of 10 hrs/day. Can anyone give me any advise on what to do??? I just want it to look nice again.

11/23/2006, 09:17 PM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	New tanks tend to develop algae blooms as they go through their break in period. Could take a few months for the tank to stabilize. But, the wet/dry filtration you have could be the root problem. If you are using bio-balls in there, I would say that it is building up detritus which is causing a nitrate problem. I would think about removing, slowly, any bio-balls and any mechanical filtration medium for that matter. Anything that detritus can build up in can cause excess nitrates - thus causing algae blooms. Using RO/DI water with a tds of 0 will really help overall water quality as well. Just some things to think about. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

11/23/2006, 10:52 PM	#6
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	Nutrients. Export more than intake. If you don't have any corals reduce lighting to nil. Fish don't care about light. You also could have some phospate. YOu could use a reactor and run some RowaPhos. Growing Cheato or another macro algae will help as well. Here is a couple of links that will help you. http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=147010 Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

11/23/2006, 09:18 PM	#3
aquamn1999 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 155	need more info. Fish only tank, live rock, corals ? Your tank is going thru it's cycle. Add snails or a lawnmower blenny. If you don't have corals decrease your lighting untill the bloom is gone.

11/23/2006, 10:10 PM	#4
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	Off hand, your temp. might be high. You can give more info. And try to stay 75-79 . JD

11/23/2006, 10:19 PM	#5
aquamn1999 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 155	forgot to mention get rid of your bioballs in your wet dry if you have enough live rock or clean them. Turn your wet dry into a refugium.

11/25/2006, 02:25 PM	#8
tangy2 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 115	Thank you everyone.