Fighting regular green algae.

[sirreal63]

The rock may appear to be clean, meaning free from much debris, however this rock is mined from the ground. Any phosphates in the runoff water that percolate down will bring that PO4 in contact with the rock, and this is the issue with dry rock that is mined. It can be removed with an acid bath, (the quickest way), with GFO or lanthanum chloride, (the slowest way) or time in the aquarium where it will slowly leach out. Algae growth on the rock only is a sure sign that the rock has PO4 bound in it's outer layers.

With the tank already set up and running, the best thing to do is give it time and keep the GFO fresh. The algae will run it's course but there is no way to know how long it will take, it could be many months before it reaches a stasis with the water in the tank. I bought some of the original Marco in 2007 (it was not so clean) and it has been through 3 acid baths, the first one removed the majority of the PO4 and I still think the acid bath is the easiest and most effective way to remove the PO4.

Give it time Jared, it actually isn't as bad as some tanks I have seen.

 

[GuvNa H2o]

IS the tank near a window? Looks like it..

 

[cdalmost]

Your tank is only four months old, which is still very new. This is normal. You should definitely cut back the photoperiod since there is nothing in the tank (besides the algae) that requires light. Cutting down on feeding will also slow down the algae and encourage the tangs to help you out. Try adding a few hardy snails, reducing feeding, and reducing lights, and then give it a few weeks. If there is phosphate bound in the rocks then it will take time to come out. Also be sure to siphon under the rock where you say the detritus settles, and clean that filter sock often (daily is best).

Note that a test kit may not register any phosphate reading if the algae sucks it up as fast as it comes out. If you are really worried about phosphate in the rock, take one out and put it in a bucket of RO water, in the dark, and let it soak for a few days, then test for phosphate. Change all the water and then do it again (because the first time may have just been from algae dying off the rock). If you get high readings each time then there is phosphate trapped in the rock.

 

[cherubfish pair]

If your problem is indeed phosphates leaching out your liverock, I can think of some methodologies that will help.

1. remote live sand bed. (sump)
2. bio-pellets
3. macro-algae filter.

 

[Reefahholic]

Ok...cleaned, re-scaped, changed carbon, GFO, and kicked my powder blue tang out for being a bully. He's in QT for a week until is grounding is over.

Quick pic...cloudy I know...stirred all the sand. Re-scaped because I was trying to catch that stubborn powder blue and took the RT scape out and broke it in three pieces. Oops...

 

[Reefahholic]

No comments about the new minimal aquascape????

 

[cherubfish pair]

It's nice for minimal... But I like bommies in my tanks.

 

[Reefahholic]

With the new carbon.