Algae out of Control!

Beausoleiljacob · Jan 25, 2016

Hey everyone,
Just today I have realized how much worst my algae problem has gotten. I reduced my photoperiod and decreased the intensity. What else could I do. I'm running GFO and Carbon.

JMMJ13902 · Jan 25, 2016

It looks like your tank is pretty new. How long has it been up and running? It's perhaps because you are still in a cycling stages so halving algae is expected.

Jenaleigh1 · Jan 25, 2016

Agree with the above. Let it do its thing, and then throw in some blue leg hermits and they'll go to work on it. The red stuff is normal for a new tank. You can get some nassarius snails to sift the sand bed and keep the algae away

Aaron hacking · Jan 25, 2016

Get an emerald crab. Even just one of them will work harder than my dad did when he had to walk to work 15 miles up hill both ways! Lol I know they are not the cutest critter to put in the tank, but they blend in pretty dang good and won't bother future corals!

Beausoleiljacob · Jan 25, 2016

JMMJ13902 said:
It looks like your tank is pretty new. How long has it been up and running? It's perhaps because you are still in a cycling stages so halving algae is expected.

It has been set up for a little over a month. Rock was previously cycled/cured. I currently have 2 dartfish and or fire fish and a relatively small CUC. So is my course of action just biweekly water changes and wait it out? Would I still be able to get my corals. Or would it be best to wait?

kevindo123 · Jan 25, 2016

Completely normal. The green algae will be replacde with coraline algae.

I'm in my six week now and I have green rocks like yours and tiny spec of coraline algae on them as well. We are in the same boat.

Beausoleiljacob · Jan 25, 2016

kevindo123 said:
Completely normal. The green algae will be replacde with coraline algae.

I'm in my six week now and I have green rocks like yours and tiny spec of coraline algae on them as well. We are in the same boat.

How is it possible for me to have coralline algae? I have yet to add any corals. Well I guess it is possible that it came on the snails. But how could it start growing so fast? If it really is coraline, should I not reduce the photoperiod?

do_0b · Jan 25, 2016

coraline algae is a good thing

Aaron hacking · Jan 26, 2016

Coralline starts out light purple, the green algae is cyano bacteria. As long as you keep nitrates and phosphates in check you need only time to let nature take its course so to speak. And coralline, when you first notice it, it will look like just a little speck on the glass. The green algae just fills everything in all at once. Coralline is a small colony that grows from a single point. That's what I have picked up in my reading at least.

pondman · Jan 26, 2016

That's just the start of it all it will get better.it's just a sign of maturity in your tank. Good luck to you in your tank.

Beausoleiljacob · Jan 26, 2016

so just let it run its course?

hopperjl16 · Jan 26, 2016

Aaron hacking said:
Get an emerald crab. Even just one of them will work harder than my dad did when he had to walk to work 15 miles up hill both ways! Lol I know they are not the cutest critter to put in the tank, but they blend in pretty dang good and won't bother future corals!

Awww, poor little emerald crab! [emoji6]. I love mine and love watching her. And yes she (I've been told to be sure u get a "she") does a number on algae. Between her and 5 astrea snails my algae is controlled. She's my favorite invertebrate [emoji16]

kendavjac · Jan 27, 2016

Let it run it's course. You are going through the new tank uglies. Keep your phosphates and nitrates in check and in a couple of weeks your tank will get past this.