Ongoing Algae Issue for over a year

[moneymm]

You should start with a complete blackout for 3 days after you scrub the rocks. That will really knock it all out and you can do some big water changes, and DEFINITELY drop the lighting down afterwards, I would say 4-6 hours a day until you get a handle on this.

But possibly the most important thing is how old are your bulbs? Aging bulbs shift to red and this type of bacteria loves that. Simply getting new bulbs would be a huge help. Which ATI bulbs do you have?

bulbs are 14 months old. ATI AQUA BLUE SPECIAL and ATI 36 Inch 39W Blue Plus T5HO

 

[moneymm]

+1 on scrubbing the rocks...luckily you don't have any coral in there so you can mess with stuff a little bit more.

Honestly the first thing i thought of was you need an Algae Turf Scrubber...that way you can set aside a place for algae to grow and out compete the DT, search youtube for DIY projects they cost ~$5 to make and take 15 minutes.

You definitely need to figure out what is causing this much growth. The nice thing about the ATS and scrubbing the rocks is you can basically start over with a nice clean setup and manage it if/when it starts to creep back in.

One other note, you need to clean that circ pump, being all jammed up like that is only making your problem worse. Shut it off, pull it out of the tank and scrub the hell out of it with a denture tooth brush...

no room for the ats

 

[bat21]

bulbs are 14 months old. ATI AQUA BLUE SPECIAL and ATI 36 Inch 39W Blue Plus T5HO

You sir need to get new bulbs. Those are way past their lifetime, especially if you run them 12 hours a day every day. This is without a doubt a huge part of your problem. Possibly your entire problem altogether. Those ATI types are fine. You could get more of those, or even get one or two Actinic bulbs, which would help even more, but would be a bit more blue than you currently have.

So, here is your plan of attack:
1) order the new bulbs right now
2) scrub your rocks, clean your powerheads, and anything else you can
3) turn off your lights completely for 3 whole days
4) run as much gfo as you can to soak up whatever phosphates you can
5) change out any mechanical filters often to get any of that crap out of the system
6) put in the new bulbs, and work your way back up. start with 4 hours a day, then slowly increase your way back up to 8. I wouldn't do more than 8.

And you should have this thing kicked and have a tank you can be proud of. Replace your bulbs every 6-8 months. If there are no growths like this at all, you can stretch them longer, but now you know what to look for.

 

[moneymm]

You sir need to get new bulbs. Those are way past their lifetime, especially if you run them 12 hours a day every day. This is without a doubt a huge part of your problem. Possibly your entire problem altogether. Those ATI types are fine. You could get more of those, or even get one or two Actinic bulbs, which would help even more, but would be a bit more blue than you currently have.

So, here is your plan of attack:
1) order the new bulbs right now
2) scrub your rocks, clean your powerheads, and anything else you can
3) turn off your lights completely for 3 whole days
4) run as much gfo as you can to soak up whatever phosphates you can
5) change out any mechanical filters often to get any of that crap out of the system
6) put in the new bulbs, and work your way back up. start with 4 hours a day, then slowly increase your way back up to 8. I wouldn't do more than 8.

And you should have this thing kicked and have a tank you can be proud of. Replace your bulbs every 6-8 months. If there are no growths like this at all, you can stretch them longer, but now you know what to look for.

my algae problem has been since i started with this light fixture. i didnt have the proper hanging rods, so i rested it on top of the tank for a couple days, and that started all the algae issues that i never have gotten rid of.
i have backup bulbs here, how long do these bulbs last?

 

[bat21]

my algae problem has been since i started with this light fixture. i didnt have the proper hanging rods, so i rested it on top of the tank for a couple days, and that started all the algae issues that i never have gotten rid of.
i have backup bulbs here, how long do these bulbs last?

Perfect. So follow those steps and you're golden. There is no right answer with the bulb life. Obviously how much you use them each day will affect the lifespan. I replaced my 8 month old bulbs and the difference was dramatic.

 

[brad65ford]

What type of fish do you have that a cube of mysis last you 5 or 6 days?

lol was thinking the same since i feed 10 times that amount in a similar system. Forgot how much you can feed a cycled tank.

 

[JammyBirch]

no room for the ats

No Sump?

 

[Chibils]

I think a black out is in order too. Turn the lights off and cover the tank with blankets, sheets, old towels, anything you've got to make sure the algae isn't getting light. Then wait a few days until the algae starts looking like crap. Take off the covers, and scrub each rock with a good brush as well as you can until all the algae is floating in the water. This is a good time to do a big water change, like 50%. In a few days, change another 50%. Hopefully this will remove most of the algae, nitrates, and phosphates from your tank.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[moneymm]

No Sump?

i have a sump. but its small and the skimmer and 3 pumps take up alot of room.

 

[moneymm]

my fish tend to fight when they are not fed often, i think im gonna run into some problems when reducing the feedings again.

 

[moneymm]

also my tank runs at about 80 to 82 degrees, is this an issue?

 

[bat21]

also my tank runs at about 80 to 82 degrees, is this an issue?

76-78 would be better.

 

[moneymm]

76-78 would be better.

you think this has a play in the algae?

so i should invest in a chiller?

 

[firefly73]

high temps often help algae grow .

like alot have said if you have minimum export of phosphate and nitrate algae is gunna happen. i use water changes ,good flow, biopellet reactor,macro algaes, tangs and rabbitfish, stromb snails (diatom control), most of these require the algae to be eaten and the skimmer to remove the waste from the water. balanced feeding of fish (tip rinse mysis and brine shrimp to remove the liquid around them before adding to your tank)