Green Algae HELP!!

[CyanoETR]

Im sure this topic has been covered a million times.. i tried doing a search but for some reason the search function was not working. I am starting to see clumps of bright and dark green hairy algae on my sand bed and some parts of the live rock. My tank has been up and running for about 13 months (just fish a live rock). I just added soft corals to my tank about 2 weeks ago and I also added a 175W Metal halide. I dont have a sump or fuge only a HOB skimmer. I test my water and all the parameters are fine

How do I get rid of the algae?

This is my plan of attack:
1. Physically remove as much algae as possible
2. Increase water movement (add a maxijett 1200)
3. Do a major water change (30%)
4. Decrease the lighting 2 hours (currently have the light on 10 hours a day).
5. Decrease feeding to every 3 days instead of everyother day.

How does this sound?.... Can anyone else provide me with any other methods to help get rid of this algae.

should i add a larger cleanup crew? or maybe a algae eating fish?

 

[Ti]

sounds good.
Never hurts to add a few more janitors either

 

[Entropy]

IME increasing flow does not help against green algae (bryopsis, hair, macro, etc.) but it will not hurt either. I would say figuring out the source of the growth is your first goal. Excess nutrients coupled with the new and improved lighting is probably your culprit.

 

[CyanoETR]

I def. think its the lighting.. i never had a problem with the algae until i added the halide.

I am on the way to the LFS.. i gonna pick up some more snails. Can anyone recommend a good algae eating fish?... lawnmower blenny perhaps? would adding a pair of cleaner shrimp help?

 

[spotszilla]

I had It really bad. I upped my water changes, cleaned as much of it out as I could, added an Emerald crab and HOB fuge. But I think decreasing the amount of time my lights are on helped the most.

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Hey Cyano,

i would recommend in decreasing feedings, lighting times, and increase the flow. I would also have your water tested for Phosphates. If you are using RO water, have it tested for TDS. A fuge will also help with nuissance alage. Lawnmower blenny would be good, but cleaning shrimp will do nothing. If its really bad, you might want to "cook" your rock, however, this takes a long time, and i would try other ways first. The first thing i would do is have my water tested for phosphates.

Good luck, and keep us posted

~BADFISH~

 

[CyanoETR]

anyone else have any advice, ideas, suggestions???


i think im gonna go ahead and order a CPR HOB Aquafuge.. and add some Chaeto...

 

[CyanoETR]

anyone else have any advice, ideas, suggestions???


i think im gonna go ahead and order a CPR HOB Aquafuge.. and add some Chaeto...

 

[tikireefer]

how does the CPR HOB Aquafuge work? Is the pump in the fuge or does the pump hang into the tank? How do you know what is the right size fuge for your tank??

 

[CyanoETR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6582962#post6582962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tikireefer
how does the CPR HOB Aquafuge work? Is the pump in the fuge or does the pump hang into the tank? How do you know what is the right size fuge for your tank??

CPR makes 3 different sizes.. im lookin at the small which holds about 2.6 gallons.. the pump hangs inside the tank. I think the small will be sufficent for my 35 gallon tank.

 

[ONEMANBAND]

get a sea hare. they eat algae like no other.

 

[CyanoETR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6584163#post6584163 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ONEMANBAND
get a sea hare. they eat algae like no other.

what is a sea hare?... ive never heard or seen one before...

 

[ONEMANBAND]

http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_species/default.asp?hOri=1&inhab=139

 

[ONEMANBAND]

Thats a big one, they do come in smaller sizes. ask you local lfs or look at the online vendors, just one is necessary.

 

[CyanoETR]

okay.. so I just added a sea hare, some Turbo snails and a small lawnmower blenny to my tank. The sea hare is doing a great job eating the lil patches of algae on the glass... but hes not really touching any on the sand. I physically removed as much algae as possible, but its tough to get ahold of all of it. I also did a 25% (8 gallon water change). I will be adding a Maxi Jet 1200 to increase waterflow later this afternoon.. Hopefully ill start seeing some results.

 

[ONEMANBAND]

Give the sea hare a week, they are algae bulldozers. Good luck.

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Looks like your doing the right thing CYANO, it wont happen overnight, but you should see somewhat of an improvement.