algae bloom help

[Nashvegas]

I am going to help a friend get his 24g cube in better shape...it is completely lost in algae bloom all over..as well as some red cyano...I already added an additional powerhead for flow while back...bloom now all over the powerhead..but what do you guys think else I could do...I am planning to pull the rocks out scrub remove..clean sand, glass...basically start over...obviously it wont solve the phosphate problem...he still has sponges and bioballs in the back cube..so should I remove all that..replace with what?... run phospagen at all times? any help would be good..thanks this tank is a mess..

 

[crumbletop]

Yeah, sure. Your friends tank ....

Does the tank have inhabitants?

Basically, I'd get rid of the bioballs and replace with some LR rubble, and if there aren't any fish in there, I'd quit feeding altogether, run some phosban, and let it run for a while with good flow. If you can skim the water, I'd do that as well, and I'd cut the photoperiod way back -- maybe even total darkness for 3-5 days in the beginning.

 

[gflat65]

Yup-no bioballs. I use LR rubble, too. Water changes (nothing out of norm, but make sure they are being done, esp if there are issues). Added circulation should help the cyano. Make sure Alk (most forgotten issue causer) and calcium are in check, too.