Algae keeps returning

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

Hey guys! My 29gal tank keeps getting algae so quick! We just did a 85-90% water change because we did have live sand and it was taken over by red slime that we could not get rid of. We now have crushed coral and within a week we had algae growing. We clean the glass everyday and algae returns (each day). We do a 10-20% water change each week. BUT We need some help on how to treat this and go about making our tank cleaner. ( we only have 3 snails & 3 hermit crabs) we think we might need a better clean up crew, but are not sure. PLEASE HELP !

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

Also how can we clean these crushed corals properly? We can’t seem to remove the algae off of them

 

[SDK]

How long has the tank been set up?

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

How long has the tank been set up?

It will be 1 year Feb 9

 

[leepink23]

Does it go away with lights off? Kinda looks like Dinos looked on my sand.

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

Does it go away with lights off? Kinda looks like Dinos looked on my sand.

Not 100% but definitely Does lessen. When we first turn them on in the am it looks good then when we go to bed it’s like it grew 10x it’s size

 

[leepink23]

Not 100% but definitely Does lessen. When we first turn them on in the am it looks good then when we go to bed it’s like it grew 10x it’s size

This was my sand, put it under microscope and confirmed it was Dinos, once I treated for correct thing it was gone in a month.

 

[W1ngz]

From the pics I can't tell if its green cyano or dinoflagellates. Do you have some nitrate and phosphate tests?

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

From the pics I can't tell if its green cyano or dinoflagellates. Do you have some nitrate and phosphate tests?

We have nitrate and it always tests right. But we do not have phosphate. I looked at some photos of green cyano and it looked very slimy and ours doesn’t looked slimy like that (yet I guess it could get out of hand)

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

I can take better pictures of it

 

[W1ngz]

You'll need a low range phosphate tester to test properly under 1.

What is the number for nitrate? Claiming it's 'Right' doesn't help anyone help you.

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

‘Right’ as in 0ppm. According to color card

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

From the pics I can't tell if its green cyano or dinoflagellates. Do you have some nitrate and phosphate tests?

Hope this pictures help. This is right now after being on since 9am

 

[W1ngz]

0 nitrates and 0 phosphates often results in dinoflagellates. 'Right' for a reef tank should be 5ish nitrate and under 0.1 phosphates.

Feed more, clean less and consider more accurate tests than API.

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

We also get slime in our filter that I clean every other water change

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

0 nitrates and 0 phosphates often results in dinoflagellates. 'Right' for a reef tank should be 5ish nitrate and under 0.1 phosphates.

Feed more, clean less and consider more accurate tests than API.

Will do but WOW we were told wrong. We were told we need to be in the 0 for everything. So I will try to increase the nitrate and that should help?

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

Will do but WOW we were told wrong. We were told we need to be in the 0 for everything. So I will try to increase the nitrate and that should help?

how long should I go without cleaning & feeding them more? I don’t want the algae to get too awfully out of hand. I’m hoping it improves SOON.

 

[W1ngz]

It will help clear it up. You'll want to vacuum the sand clean and it will improve in a few weeks. You can clean out the slimy stuff, but stop with the water changes for now.

0 levels isn't wrong if you have no corals, but if what you have is dinos letting those numbers increase feeds other competing things that are more beneficial and less... ugly.

 

[Amanda_Thomasz27]

It will help clear it up. You'll want to vacuum the sand clean and it will improve in a few weeks.

0 levels isn't wrong if you have no corals, but if what you have is dinos letting those numbers increase feeds other competing things that are more beneficial and less... ugly.

Okay! We were told that when we had no corals. But now we have some and didn’t know to increase. I noticed with the Dino my zoanthids do not want to open. But my Kenya tree and green star polyp is doing fine

 

[ozborn99]

Also how can we clean these crushed corals properly? We can’t seem to remove the algae off of them

I thought You should lower your lighting period, or cut down the amount of white light you're using. White contributes to algae growth.