Green algae ID

[tada1096]

this algae showed up in my tank a week ago and sense has taken over the tank. its on my sand and live rock. any clue what this is, and what i need to do to get rid or it? please help


<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/tada1096/?action=view&current=DSC05593.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/tada1096/DSC05593.jpg" border="0" alt="green algae 3"></a>



<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/tada1096/?action=view&current=DSC05592-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/tada1096/DSC05592-1.jpg" border="0" alt="green algae 2"></a>

 

[hollister]

Algea green slime MB. What do u use for water movement?

 

[tada1096]

I have a maxi jet 600 power head. Then my canister filter and hand on filter.

 

[hollister]

What size tank ?

 

[tada1096]

55 gal

 

[tkeracer619]

How long has the tank been running?

How often do you clean the canister?

Are you controlling phosphates?

 

[hollister]

Algea normal in a new tank but good water flow helps reduce it. I would add 1 more 600 at least.

 

[tada1096]

Tank has been up about 3 months. I clean the canister every week but some times it slips to 2 weeks. And i guess I have never tested phosphate. My test kit is just a standard one. Nitrate 15 nitrite 0 ammonia 0

 

[tkeracer619]

This is normal and will go away. Suck it out when you do water changes. Increasing the flow will help.

Have you considered adding a sump, skimmer, and media reactor with GFO/Carbon instead of your hang on equipment? You will have better results with less maintenance.

 

[tada1096]

i would like to add a sump but i thought that you had to have a pre made over flow or something.

so basically there is not alot i can do about this stuff other then some better cleaning equipment.

how should i go about cleaning this stuff off just scrap it off or let it go away on its own?

 

[tkeracer619]

You can put a hang on the back overflow on your tank. Lifereef has a great record for reliability. http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html

As long as you maintain it on occasion it shouldn't have any issues. You can if it makes you feel safer put a low cost float switch on your tank above normal operating level and if for some strange reason the overflow looses siphon and the tank water rises it will cut off your return pump before it causes any floods.

When you do water changes suck it out using a tube. I use a small plastic tube inserted into a flexible vinyl tube to suck stuff off the sand bed. Cheap and very effective.

 

[tada1096]

i do have a skimmer also its a Excalibur hang on.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

do you have any snails? margarita snails will probably eat it or astrea.