Algae just keeps coming fast

[saltwaterlover]

Isn't that a bit too big for my tank?

Also, would adding a protein skimmer to the setup help get rid of algae outbreaks by removing the things that will eventually fuel it? Wasn't sure if one would be worth it in a tank this size with weekly 20% water changes

How many gallons is your tank?

 

[Aquaman6410]

It's a 32 gallon biocube

 

[saltwaterlover]

It's a 32 gallon biocube

Yeah that is too small lol sorry I didn’t see the picture of your tank my phone isn’t working[emoji88]

 

[robert a millen]

Isn't that a bit too big for my tank?

Also, would adding a protein skimmer to the setup help get rid of algae outbreaks by removing the things that will eventually fuel it? Wasn't sure if one would be worth it in a tank this size with weekly 20% water changes

A skimmer could certainly help, but If I were you, I would use an Algae Turf Scrubber instead. Your tank wants to grow algae, So let it - in the correct way.

 

[Aquaman6410]

A skimmer could certainly help, but If I were you, I would use an Algae Turf Scrubber instead. Your tank wants to grow algae, So let it - in the correct way.

Interesting. Any recommendations on one for a nano tank or can easily work with AIO tank my biocube?

 

[robert a millen]

There are numerous diy options but I would consider the Santa Monica Drop model. This one is rated for over half a cube of food a day and would probably fit in the back near your return pump. They are self contained and grow algae like crazy, you just need to harvest it once a week and your tank will clear up. Algae growth is a positive thing in nature.. you just dont want it inside your display tank.

http://www.santa-monica.cc/DROP6x-d...-surfaces--06-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_68.html

 

[Paul B]

This is easy. Stop changing water. I realize that changing water is the first thing people will tell you to cure all problems but how is that working out for you?

Algae is self limiting and can only grow until it exhausts whatever it is feeding on. In your case, it is your water changes. It uses up the nutrients be it iron, phosphorous or hamburger helper, then you change water and replenish it.
Does water changes ever help eliminate algae? Almost never unless you are growing a sewer. Leave the tank along, don't add or remove anything except algae if you can scrape/blow it off.

I just moved my old reef and replaced all the water with NSW. I got an algae bloom like I was starting a produce stand. I stopped changing water, it is now almost gone and the rest is dying..

Or you can go by the inside the box thinking and keep changing water and going nuts.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[Aquaman6410]

Lol that's the part of reefing I'm trying to understand. Half the people say export nutrients harder and others say do less water changes. Its so confusing! If I stop doing water changes, am I going to have to dose alk, calcium, and mg? How about traces? My water changes are what keep those numbers up.

So I tested my water again today, a well since my last water change. All tested using red sea pro kits. Nitrate still 0. Alkalinity dropped to 6.4 dKH. Mg at 1500. Calcium at 425ppm. My fritz usually mixes pretty accurately with calcium around 440ppm, alkalinity around 8.5, and mg should mix around 1400 so not sure how my mg is reading high. Might be the red sea kit is just not accurate. My alkalinity was around 7.8-8.0 around Tuesday so that seems to be being taken up quickly. Should I be dosing alk between water changes? Could that be a side effect of the algae or a cause to the algae?

 

[Paul B]

If I stop doing water changes, am I going to have to dose alk, calcium, and mg? How about traces? My water changes are what keep those numbers up.

No, forget that for now. You want to eliminate algae, stop dosing and stop doing water changes. Otherwise, just keep the algae. It's simple. I almost never dose anything.

All tested using red sea pro kits. Nitrate still 0.

If your nitrates are zero, why are you changing water? You are removing good water, all the nutrients are locked up in the algae.

 

[Aquaman6410]

No, forget that for now. You want to eliminate algae, stop dosing and stop doing water changes. Otherwise, just keep the algae. It's simple. I almost never dose anything.



If your nitrates are zero, why are you changing water? You are removing good water, all the nutrients are locked up in the algae.

I change water because I figured I'm replenishing trace elements, alk, calcium for my corals to grow. If I stop changing water, are my corals going to suffer or will my ph/kh crash over time? How often should I do a water change? I'm sure I'd eventually need to change some.

 

[Paul B]

Your corals won't even notice. I never replenished my trace elements and my tank is very old as are some of my corals. You can change water after you eliminate your algae. Your dosing and changing water is growing your algae.
I tested my pH probably 15 years ago.

 

[Aquaman6410]

Your corals won't even notice. I never replenished my trace elements and my tank is very old as are some of my corals. You can change water after you eliminate your algae. Your dosing and changing water is growing your algae.
I tested my pH probably 15 years ago.

Just a question. How will the algae every go away if I don't export any nutrients besides removing algae manually? Isn't it going to just be an endless cycle of the algae growing as the fish make waste, etc? Should I be using a skimmer or macro algae to help? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to understand the overall plan on how it all works.

 

[Paul B]

The nutrients that the algae need are locked up in the algae. When there is no more nutrients the algae will start to die and be easy to detatch from the rocks and walls. Then you can blow it off and suck it out.
It will be an endless cycle if you keep changing water because then you are adding iodine, iron, manganese etc that is in your new water. Algae needs more than nitrates.
You have been changing loads of water, did your algae go away?

Then you can change water, the algae may again grow, but it will be less and you can do the same thing. Remember algae almost always grows in very new tanks with all new water. Think about that. It almost never grows in old, dirty systems. Think about that too.

 

[Aquaman6410]

The nutrients that the algae need are locked up in the algae. When there is no more nutrients the algae will start to die and be easy to detatch from the rocks and walls. Then you can blow it off and suck it out.
It will be an endless cycle if you keep changing water because then you are adding iodine, iron, manganese etc that is in your new water. Algae needs more than nitrates.
You have been changing loads of water, did your algae go away?

Then you can change water, the algae may again grow, but it will be less and you can do the same thing. Remember algae almost always grows in very new tanks with all new water. Think about that. It almost never grows in old, dirty systems. Think about that too.

This makes sense. I think it's worth a shot. My last concern is the alkalinity. Its keeps going down each day or so. Its now down to 6 dKH. Is this going to crash? The other parameters like calcium, etc seem to be more than fine. The alkalinity is my main concern as it seems to be getting used fast. I just don't want the ph to swing low once the alkalinity gets too low. Unless I'm wrong and the alkalinity will never go below a certain point naturally.

 

[Paul B]

I don't test for it. You are trying to eliminate algae. Just worry about that for now. You can add calcium and alk if you like as that shouldn't do anything for the algae. But don't add anything else.

 

[Aquaman6410]

I don't test for it. You are trying to eliminate algae. Just worry about that for now. You can add calcium and alk if you like as that shouldn't do anything for the algae. But don't add anything else.

Okay, sounds good! I'm going to try this method out and see what happens. I'll try to remove the algae I can easily grab and pull out. I'll hold off water changes and I'll see where this goes. I'll try to keep updating here to help others who may be going through something similar.

 

[smoothmove]

I had a bryopsis outbreak which was killing my fun. I did the Hydrogen Peroxide treatment by taking the rocks out and spraying the troubled areas. Algae was gone in three minutes. Rinsed off the rock and put it back into the tank.

 

[hawkeye792001]

I just used fluconazole. I had the same issue. It's been exactly 2 weeks and I have 0 hair algea.

I only lost a few snails and my emerald crab died. They were all 6 months old. It could have been coincidental. My blood shrimp, fish and all corals look great.

I just did the recommended 30% water change.

I'm adding GFO next weekend as a preventative for future outbreaks.

 

[Aquaman6410]

Removing rocks would really hard as there are many stacked on top of each other. I'll never get them back in the same lol.

I could use fluconazole but I'd rather try to get to the root cause first. I don't want to keep using these different cures only for it to come back or bring in a new algae. I need to get this tank at a healthy balance.

 

[Alexx17]

I don't test for it. You are trying to eliminate algae. Just worry about that for now. You can add calcium and alk if you like as that shouldn't do anything for the algae. But don't add anything else.

I’m confused by the don’t do water changes. I didn’t do water changes and my hair algae never stopped growing for 2-3 months and also grew bubble algae during that period. Now I have setup awc and the algae has stopped growing.
Sorry not trying to steal the post.