Algae ???

[evangijo]

I have a big problem with algae.

What is the reason why the algae grow up so fast???

I used destilated water when is evaporated, I use a 36w UV sterilizer, what else I need to eliminate the algae.

My tank is : 55gal + 15gal wet/dry
fish: 1 marron clownfish
2 green chromis
1 wrasse
1 hat head
1 angel
1 I call him RONQUITO his a So !@#$%^&* I don't know
what kind of fish is this one

Please help me before I lost my mind with this algae problem.

 

[ClayWagner]

What's the water parameters? It appears you have a phophate problem and maybe nitrate troubles. Best thing for that is more water changes/refugium with chaeto or xenia/or phosphate removers (which you can use in phosban reactors or passive filtration with a bag at the end of your drain). You also have a high bioload for a 55 gallon. A large fuge would help with this, and a high end skimmer wouldn't hurt either.

 

[seapug]

Algae is caused by excess nutrients and is common on relatively young tanks. There are countless gadgets to help in the battle against it, but cutting back on feedings and increasing water changes is the most economical way to battle it. Your wet dry filter might be creating excess nitrate which can fuel hair algae growth, but it's usually not as big of a contributor to hair algae growth as phosphate from food and general filth. It will take time (3-4 months) but it will eventually go away with regular maintenance.

 

[arts007]

You'll need to test for nitrate and phosphate, although it may not show up to some degree as it may be bound up in the algae and/or sand, but its definitely there. Water changes may dilute it but wont solve the problem. How long has the tank been up and running? There are stages in the beginning where certain species of algae shows up quite a bit. Could be over feeding as well. But running a fuge with some macro algae such as chaeto will absorb some of the nutrients from the water and running a phosphate reactor is one of the best ways to reduce phosphates. But in the interim I would pull out as much as you can and try to do some of the above. Here is a good read on nitrates http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm