algae help

[gguertin]

I have a 75 gallon tank and am have a very large amount of algae. I have an anenome and am planning on adding some other coral. I have a couple hermit crabs and am afraid of getting more because they seem to pick at my anenome. the gravel and rock have so much algae that it looks like grass waving back and forth. Is there anything or a type of fish or animal that can clean that stuff up? I dont want to clean it out when i do a water change but if I cant find a way to clean it up I am going to clean it my next water change cause it makes the tank look terrible.

 

[davidryder]

increase water flow, decrease lighting, use filtered water... there are probably a dozen things you can do for algae control. sometimes you have to just wait it out while you manually clean it out. what kind of algae is it? tangs eat algae, some wrasses eat flatworms (six line)... phosphates, silicates, CO2, and light are the main things that fuel algae.

 

[rustybucket145]

Do you have a skimmer? Do you have any fish? How much do you feed your fish? How often do you change your water? Do you have a refugium? Do you use Tap Water or RO/DI? What is your weekly/monthly dosing schedule?

Cleaning it off isn't really going to do anything. It will grow right back. You have to locate the 'root' of the problem (pun intended). Whether it be a nutrient issue, a light issue or other issue. First you need to answer all the questions above to get a firm grasp on your tanks health. Once you have these questions answered you can begin moving toward a beautiful healthy reef tank! Many others (myself included) have battled algae at one time or another. So don't get impatient. This is a battle that is won over months rather than hours.

 

[gguertin]

I am using tap water yes, I know it isnt the best but I cant afford ro/di and it is pretty hard to carry all that water from cub or something like that every day or two. I have a protein skimmer, and 2 strips of power compacts for lighting. I also have a sump with a bio wheel. I have a blue tang, and 2 clown fish so far for fish I am planning on adding a wrasse soon though, any other ideas for fish that will eat algea? what about other critters that might too.

 

[gguertin]

what is a dosing schedual? I dont put anything in the tank but food? For food I use flake food some days and emerald something or another soked in garlic at other times.

 

[zimmy1979]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6849084#post6849084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gguertin
I am using tap water yes, I know it isnt the best but I cant afford ro/di and it is pretty hard to carry all that water from cub or something like that every day or two. I have a protein skimmer, and 2 strips of power compacts for lighting. I also have a sump with a bio wheel. I have a blue tang, and 2 clown fish so far for fish I am planning on adding a wrasse soon though, any other ideas for fish that will eat algea? what about other critters that might too.

Hate to tell you this but until you start using RO/DI water you will always battle an algae problem. I think removing the bio wheel might also help you since they tend to be a nitrate factory.

 

[gguertin]

so you think it would be better to run the sump without the biowheel just for more water volume? Or should I just eliminate it all together? What about the filters above the biowheel?

I have been using this aquasafe stuff from tetra aqua and it is "supposed" to make the water safe for salt water.

 

[gguertin]

anyone?

 

[OnTheReef]

A lot of grocery stores now sell RO water for about 30 cents a gallon. The model that Safeway uses produces water that is about 8-10 ppm TDS. Not wonderful, but a long ways ahead of tap water. The product you are adding to the water to make it "safe" is no doubt just a dechlorinator, which does nothing to remove the algae food. Also, check out the Reefkeeper and Typhoon models at http://www.airwaterice.com. You can get a 5-stage 0 TDS unit for less than $200! I own the Typhoon III and it works extremely well. Also, see Julian Sprung's excellent book "Algae: A Problem Solver Guide" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/18...102-2691755-0059323?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Good Luck!

 

[Serioussnaps]

dONT LISTEN TO ANYONE THAT SAYS DECREASE LIGHTING
REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH LIGHT YOU HAVE IT WONT GROW IF YOU ARE EXPORTING NUTRIENTS
CLEAN IT OUT MANUALLY DO ALOT OF LARGE WATER CHANGES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND GET ABOUT 6 OR 7 ASTREA SNAILS AND A COUPLE OF TURBO SNAILS
IF YOU ARE USING CARBON IT LOSES EFFICACY AND LEACHES PHOSPHATES REMOVE EACH BAG AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS AND START USING POLYFILTERS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS
HEAVY SKIMMING GOES A LONG WAY TOO

 

[scylam]

may i suggest to plant some macro algae in the tank to compete with the other undesired ugly looking algaes? and the macro algae can also become food for the fishes... how's that?
stephen