Algae... everywhere

[Fishfish0001]

Hi.

So my 14 gallon biocube, which has all standard parts and a skimmer has been overrun by lots of green algae on the glass walls, and on the waters surface. It will be mild, usually a small tint that is easily cleaned off the walls, but sometimes overnight it will explode, and the walls will get compleatly green, and the surface gets so coated that the lighting turns yellowish.

I've tried to reduce the food, and phytoplankton inputs, and that hasn't really slowed anything down. Ive cleaned the water every Sunday, as I normally do, but the algae comes right back the next day.

I cleaned out the Skimmer, filter parts, and put in a new carbon pad (Chemi-Pure Elite) but nothing has really had an effect. This happened before, but it suddently went away and was fine. Now it has come back even worse than before.

Any ideas on what to try? Im considering hiring someone from our saltwater store to come re-arrage the tank, and transport my Clownfish back to their store, and maybe suggest a new layout and corals for me, along with doing a good cleaning of the tank. Im hoping this will fix the problem, as I don't feel comfortable rearranging everything, and having a pro is always nice for a first time thing like this.

Should I just get him to come and clean up the tank really well, or should I try something else?

On a side note. I have these worm like things everywhere with 2-3 white "tentacles" coming out, and they are really ugly. What are they, and how do I remove them? I also have a few worms that are attached to the rocks, that come out a night and stretch out and do stuff.

Edit: Its possible that this could be from Phosphates, but Im not sure. How long would it take for the phosphates to die off/disappear. The Chemi-Pure Elite says it removes them. I don't have a phosphate testing kit either. Any suggestions for one, and are there any things to reduce phosphates?

 

[allsps40]

The worms sound like spaghetti worms, they are good. As for you algae issues. Stop dosing the phytoplankton. I used the stuff many different types over the years. I found that it never improved my corals or clams and would cause blooms. Mostly green algae on the sand and glass. Most of the stuff would get skimmed out by the skimmer anyways. What water do you use to make your salt water for changes?? If you are using tap or LFS bought water the I highly suggest getting a RO unit. If you have a good RO already then dont worry about your water source. What is your water quality looking like. Test water for everything and post up the results, that will help us out to help you. Dont hire someone to clean the tank for you. I would make up about 10 gallons of new salt water. Scrub all the algae from the tank, LR, just hit everything really good. Then once you have all the algae in the water do the 10 gallon change. I would not run the lights for a few days after the cleaning just so the algae does not have a chance to bloom right away, any corals will be in for a few days 2-3. Do not feed phytoplankton any more, I would only use the stuff in a large heavy stocked reef tank. I only feed my 6 gallon nano cube 2-3 times a week and do a weekly 25% water change. If you have the Oceanic skimmer you should get rid of it for a better skimmer. Tunze makes a great nano skimmer. The Oceanic one does not work for crap, a seaclone works better. Another good upgrade is to put a MJ1200 in the sump to replace the stock pump, or adding a Hydor Koralia nano to increase flow. I hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Fishfish0001]

I get my saltwater and RO from a reputable Saltwater Store. I think the problem with the cleaning is that sometimes I forget to use RO, and the skimmer top gets rinshed with Tap Water, which is probably one cause. (My tap doesn't have any chlorine in it, its from the well).

I've been trying to remember not to do that, and the blooms are getting a little smaller now.

Heres a picture of the beginning of a bloom (Corals are small because I had to turn the lights back on to get the picture):

Top of water


Tank


And heres the worms with the 2 stringy things I was talking about, couldn't find the other type I saw:

 

[allsps40]

Yeah spaghetti worms they are good. Well water will have alot of TDS and possibly phosphates and nitrates in it. Dont use that in the tank. Defiantly a nutrient problem. For sure stop the phytoplankton feeding. Do a large water change and clean all algae.

 

[Fishfish0001]

Im going to change the water today and clean up all the algae. It appears that it has maxed out the algae, its about the same as in those pictures, so it has defiantly slowed down

For clarification- I don't directly add tap, I use RO water, but sometimes Ill clean something with tab (like the skimmer top and stuff)