Algae Problems

[Triggerfish31]

I am having a lot of trouble with my algae in my 75 saltwater fish tank. I would like to show you what it looks like but for some reason I am having trouble uploading a pic. I am using a macintosh computer. Is there anyone that can help me out with uploading a pic, that way you can see the type of algae I am having problems with.

 

Aaron

[dcreefer]

With most algae problems you usually have an abundance of one thing or another. I would test my water and see where I am currently against where I should be. Algae requires nutrients to prosper, as do all living things. The major nutrients that concern the aquarist are phosphate (PO4) and nitrate (NO3). A reef aquarium should have a nitrate level of 10 ppm (parts per million) or less, best as undetectable. Phosphate should be 0.03 ppm or less, preferably undetectable. How much light does your tank receive? Is it getting sunlight through a window or anything like that?

 

What does your algae look like?

dark purple reddish on rocks coral and/or sand = cyanobacteria (get some Caulerpa and it will absorb the access nitrate that this needs to grow)

dark green, brown or black looking like hair growing on your rocks= hair algae (start using RO water, get some hermit crabs and snails) Don't over feed your tank

light green film on glass and rocks = green algae (check how much light you are giving the tank, again snails and hermit crabs)

light red brown on glass and rocks = diatom algae (check your PH, this algae grows in low pH, if your tank is new this may go away after a few months by doing water changes and cleaning)

 

Overfeeding and having an overstocked aquarium can cause strain to your filtration and aid in producing algae outbreaks!

 

Just my .02

[DDiver]

water parameters?

[Triggerfish31]

The algae looks light green with hair growing from the base of it. I will do my water tests tomorrow and report my findings. I am also waiting for my new protein skimmer to arrive. The tank has not had a working protein skimmer in three weeks. I got an Aqua C Remora, I think that is what its called. As soon as it arrives I plan on getting it into action.

[dcreefer]

Thats sounds good! Keep us in the loop. Post Pictures! I use a Mac, what type of troubles are you experiencing with posting pics?

[jnguyen4007]

I'm having a similar problem with my 30 gal tank right now. It started couple of weeks before I went on vacation and got worse by the time I came back. It looks like it will take some serious work to get rid of it. In this month reefkeeping online magazine article, they talked about green hair algae and what the author did to get rid of it. Take a look and see if this will help you.

 

http://reefkeeping.com/

 

Looks like I will try something similar to it as well.

[treesprite]

I haven't seen a single green tuft since I got a little 2" yellow tang in December.

[Triggerfish31]

The lighting I am using for my 75tank has four T-5 bulbs and a moonlight. I was using all the bulbs for 12hours so it may be too much light. I have not had a chance to test my water but I should be able to provide the results over the weekend. As for taking pics and putting them on here. I tried clicking both insert image. When I click on the one that looks like a tree nothing happens. When I clikc on the other image I get a window that opens up but nothing is displayed in the window. Maybe I am doing something wrong on my Mac. The 75 tank has just the Tomato Clownfish at the moment. When I first got him I did purchase three snails but all three died a few days later. I would like to get a clean up crew but not sure how to keep them well fed. I do plan on adding more fish to the tank and two inverts. I plan on getting two cleaner shrimp but only once I have more fish in there.

[Coral Hind]

Maybe this will help. Here is a thread which details how to post pictures.

[gmubeach]

My guess is lack of cleaners and too many nutreints are you running a refugium or a protien skimmer?

[Triggerfish31]

I am sorry it took so long to get back to this thread. I changed my ISP and now just getting everything back to normal. I hope you can see the two pics I have uploaded. Both of them are of my 75g saltwater tank that is covered in algae. I will do my water testing tomorrow night and have it on here then. I have been a little lax but now I have my protein skimmer (Aqua C Remora Pro), and more time to dedicate to my saltwater tank. I only have two T-5's running now compared with four T-5's that were running for several months. If you have any suggestions let me know. I will have the test results on here by tomorrow night so you can get a clearer picture of what is going on. I am still not sure if you will be able to see the pics, still having trouble.

 

Aaron

[Triggerfish31]

Here is the latest water testing results.

 

Temp: 82F

pH: 8.1

Ammonia: 0

Nitrate: 0

Nitrite: 0

GH: 80

Salinity: 1.019

Iron: 0

Oxygen: 8.0g

 

At the moment I do not have a test for calcium. What is the best way to raise my Salinity? Since my pic did not work before what would be the best clean up crew for my tank in this condition?

 

Aaron

[sheac12]

Here is the latest water testing results.

 

Temp: 82F

pH: 8.1

Ammonia: 0

Nitrate: 0

Nitrite: 0

GH: 80

Salinity: 1.019

Iron: 0

Oxygen: 8.0g

 

At the moment I do not have a test for calcium. What is the best way to raise my Salinity? Since my pic did not work before what would be the best clean up crew for my tank in this condition?

 

Aaron

 

 

Ah, wow that is a low Salinity. What I usually do to raise salinity is water changes with higher salinity then my target, or adding salt to my top off water. Both have worked very well for me. Normally, I will aim my water changes .02 to .03 higher then my target to get the total tank salinity up.

Edited August 7, 2008 by sheac12