Algae in my over flow

Duddits · Nov 3, 2012

So I recently asked in another forum why my algae just exploded over night. Quick run down. About 3 weeks ago I can home to my front glass covered in green algae. Went through the system an tested the water. All was good. Cut back the feeding, added more hermits and snails and it seems the green algae has subsided. About a week ago brown algae starring forming in my sand bed. Again tested water and all perimeters were good. Phosphates were at .50, low and manageable. After a day or so I ran through the system again to find that my skimmer wasn't working properly. Fixed and running great now. So once again I start picking through my tank and noticed green hair algae in my over flow attached to my intake side and a little in the wall. Is this harmful or beneficial? Should I remove it or leave it? I've attached a picture to show you what my over flow looks like. Please help, my water is crystal clear but my sand is brownish white in areas. My tank use to be so

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1351982937.545963.jpg

clean and this is my first algae break out. Tips are welcome as well

Clearwater · Nov 3, 2012

So lets start with your system. Sump? Fuge?

RalphsReef · Nov 3, 2012

If you are using a RO/DI system, I would look into changing the filters. Another thing to keep in mind is that your nutrients will test low, as the existing algae consumes them. If it is only in your overflow, you could leave it, and just pull chunks out from time to time. Kind of a poor man's refugium in a way. Or you can cover the overflow(s) to keep anything from growing in there.

Duddits · Nov 4, 2012

Sump, uv sterilizer and I only use RO water from my LFS.

Duddits · Nov 4, 2012

Well I scraped all algae out of the overflow and pulled as much as I can out. Also collected any that went through the intake tube and into the collection tray. I think I will slowly remove all the bio balls from my sump and replace that cheer with LR rubble and possibly some sand. My only concern is that the same algae that's in my overflow is the same most try to grow in a fuge correct?

sunshinereefer · Nov 5, 2012

I have always had some algae growth on my intake drain and I normally take out small chunks every month and use a clean toothbrush to clean it is much as possible..not sure if everyone will agree, but as someone said it could act as a refugium and could cover you for a very short duration if you parameters for nitrate/phosphate are going south - the bad part being it will mask the problem as the algae is consuming the nutrients and once you clean it, your water might have higher levels..

From what you described..you seem to be having micro cycles in your tank..and it could be related to skimmer not working, RO/DI water not upto the par or overfeeding (tons of reasons)..but unless you have a huge amount of growth every week after you clean up..i would not worry to much about it..

Duddits · Nov 5, 2012

I don't really have massive amounts of algae. Just the brown algae on the surface of the sand and noticeable green color on my rocks. My water perimeters are and always have been good. I do water changes(20%) every 2 weeks with RO water.