Algae issues, help

[jaybk5211]

So algae, specifically hair algae. I am struggling with it in my 180 display and am unsure why, and needing remedies. Current status is:


Lights 8 hours a day.

15 small fish I feed once to twice a day

0 nitrates or phosphates, but may be false reading if algae is obviously thriving.

Heavy skimmer that doesn't really pull much because of light waste

UV sterilizer to hopefully combat algae spores if produced.


Cuc:


3 sand sifting stars

Sea cucumber

2 pencil urchins

150 crabs

150 snails of various kinds

Algae blenny and yellow tang( mentioned because they are supposed to eat algae)

Red starfish

Sea hare( tried numerous ones, and only the first are any algae)


Jut at a loss as to why it is present so badly and what other remedies I could try that won't harm the coral or fish.

 

[brandon429]

can you post a full tank shot, that shows banks of nutrients if any, sometimes, overall eutrophication levels, pics might be more important than params !

 

[jaybk5211]

That's the best one I have.

 

[Tahoe61]

Need a image of the algae to make sure it's not byropsis, please. Sounds like your cuc is adequate, what are you feeding?

 

[jared graves]

So algae, specifically hair algae. I am struggling with it in my 180 display and am unsure why, and needing remedies. Current status is:


Lights 8 hours a day.

15 small fish I feed once to twice a day

0 nitrates or phosphates, but may be false reading if algae is obviously thriving.

Heavy skimmer that doesn't really pull much because of light waste

UV sterilizer to hopefully combat algae spores if produced.


Cuc:


3 sand sifting stars

Sea cucumber

2 pencil urchins

150 crabs

150 snails of various kinds

Algae blenny and yellow tang( mentioned because they are supposed to eat algae)

Red starfish

Sea hare( tried numerous ones, and only the first are any algae)


Jut at a loss as to why it is present so badly and what other remedies I could try that won't harm the coral or fish.

If it really is hair algae the only thing I can think is over/messy feeding. How and what do you feed?

 

[jaybk5211]

It's not bryopsis, I had a tank full of those fern looking buggers when I first set the tank up from leaching rock. My sea hare destroyed it and I had to give him away because he ran out of food.

I feed about half a cube of emerald entree a day, usually over two feedings at 6 and 8 pm when I get home. The next day I use Lrs which is all meat and algae pieces so it's gone very quickly, the next day I use mysis which shouldn't be an issue. I use phyto once a week maybe at night for corals, and either cyclo or powder coral food once a week as well at night.

 

[Tahoe61]

What about some Phosban or another GFO product, it always works for me.

You already know the phos is taken up by the algae and that is the reason for phos value.

Just going to assume you're using RO/DI.

 

[jaybk5211]

I use rodi, 5 stage filtration. I had a Gfo reactor running and the thing malfunctioned and my tank was trashed and orange for a week so I disconnected it. Might be time for some phosguard or something to see if that works, if so add back a reactor for potential permanent maintenance.

 

[Tahoe61]

You can run the Phosban passively, without the reactor, start with a smaller dose. You might try a lights out for a day or two as well.

 

[jaybk5211]

I thought about lights out, how does that affect sps though thy need high light? Alo with the natural sunlight lighting the room even though it doesn't hit the tank directly is that going to be effective?

Why smaller doses on the phosban, I would assume you just use whatever size is instructed for that size tank?

 

[Tahoe61]

I have done lights out for 3 days with clams and sps when dealing with Dino, no significant issue noted.

When it comes to mediums that remove phosphates and DOC I start with smaller doses as to not shock inhabitants, basically error on the side of caution.

 

[jaybk5211]

Makes sense.