Algae still growing EVERYWHERE

[frizzayyyyreef]

Happy Sunday y’all ! I have a 40 gallon it’s been up about a year but no matter what this algae keeps growing I have no nitrates I have .25 phosphates I thought the spike in the nitrate problem was the issue so I bought a aqua max hob filter (that I love btw) and my nitrate went to 0 in a week….why is this algae still growing ? Maybe I’m just leaving the lights on really long and need more nighttime ?

 

[fishface NJ]

Was the rock dry when you bought it? Do you have sunlight hitting the tank? Algae is eating your nitrates

 

[Chrisv.]

The phosphate is a bit high, and I'm sure some people will be eager to suggest you increase your nitrates. The problem is that as long as you have this much algae, nitrate and phosphate will be consumed and therefore you will not have an accurate snapshot of any nutrient issues.

What's your cleanup crew situation? In a40, four Mexican turbo snails (I mention this species specifically) will probably make a huge difference with hair algae

Ultimately corals may be best off if you have nitrates around 3-5 ppm and phosphates at or below .1.

People who read this thread will no doubt ask what test kit you have, and suggest that you avoid API.

 

[Chrisv.]

You mentioned your photoperiod but don't mention what it is...what is it?

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

You mentioned your photoperiod but don't mention what it is...what is it?

I leave the lights on from 3 when I get home from work till 12am then cut it off…I do have natural sunlight in the living room that hits the tank directly for one hour in the morning …

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

The phosphate is a bit high, and I'm sure some people will be eager to suggest you increase your nitrates. The problem is that as long as you have this much algae, nitrate and phosphate will be consumed and therefore you will not have an accurate snapshot of any nutrient issues.

What's your cleanup crew situation? In a40, four Mexican turbo snails (I mention this species specifically) will probably make a huge difference with hair algae

Ultimately corals may be best off if you have nitrates around 3-5 ppm and phosphates at or below .1.

People who read this thread will no doubt ask what test kit you have, and suggest that you avoid API.

Ty this was the readings from my lfs they use all Hanna products …I know salinity alil high but I’ve always kept it at 1.027 and never had issues but maybe I’ll lower it and see if they’re benefits ….are these parameters acceptable or not really ? Keep in mind a week ago my nitrates was at 40!! The aquamax took that out in a week…I did notice a few lps corals not happy for a day or 2 but they seem ok now

 

[Reffetsevla]

I leave the lights on from 3 when I get home from work till 12am then cut it off…I do have natural sunlight in the living room that hits the tank directly for one hour in the morning …

Direct sunlight will definitely cause algae growth, albeit 1hr shouldn't be too much. But if the ambient light in the room itself is enough, it could impact.

What type of lighting are you using? LED, T5, MH?
What's your clean up crew look like? As stated before, Mexican Turbo Snails are great. My tank was COVERED in GHA. Got a refugium going to help with nutrient consumption and Mexican Turbo's for the DT, gone in weeks. Has never come back. If you can add a fuge, even a HOB for awhile, that would help consume the excess while your snails eat it.

 

[Garf]

Ty this was the readings from my lfs they use all Hanna products …I know salinity alil high but I’ve always kept it at 1.027 and never had issues but maybe I’ll lower it and see if they’re benefits ….are these parameters acceptable or not really ? Keep in mind a week ago my nitrates was at 40!! The aquamax took that out in a week…I did notice a few lps corals not happy for a day or 2 but they seem ok now

Should of grabbed a bunch of algae eaters, whist you were there.

 

[Reffetsevla]

0 N03 with 0.25 PO4 is likely why. My GHA only presented itself (before being eaten) when my PO4 spiked, whether my NO3 did or not, it was tied more to phosphates than nitrates. If you have the ability, pop in a little bag of GFO and feed a little heavier IMO. Should absorb some of that PO4 while adding some NO3 from the food.

Plenty of other ways to tackle too, from my experience that worked for me.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Direct sunlight will definitely cause algae growth, albeit 1hr shouldn't be too much. But if the ambient light in the room itself is enough, it could impact.

What type of lighting are you using? LED, T5, MH?
What's your clean up crew look like? As stated before, Mexican Turbo Snails are great. My tank was COVERED in GHA. Got a refugium going to help with nutrient consumption and Mexican Turbo's for the DT, gone in weeks. Has never come back. If you can add a fuge, even a HOB for awhile, that would help consume the excess while your snails eat it.

Ty I added a hob skimmer I just don’t have room on this baby tank like my 100 gallon where I have a sump n haven’t had issues in 4 years ….I’ll buy turbo snails today they’re in my other tank ….but as far as cuc I have like 5 hermit crabs if that 4 snails that chill on the glass n rocks 2 fighting counch or however you spell it …maybe more cuc will fix this ?

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Should of grabbed a bunch of algae eaters, whist you were there.

0 N03 with 0.25 PO4 is likely why. My GHA only presented itself (before being eaten) when my PO4 spiked, whether my NO3 did or not, it was tied more to phosphates than nitrates. If you have the ability, pop in a little bag of GFO and feed a little heavier IMO. Should absorb some of that PO4 while adding some NO3 from the food.

Plenty of other ways to tackle too, from my experience that worked for me.

Ok ty! So feed more I love feeding np lol

 

[Reffetsevla]

Ty I added a hob skimmer I just don’t have room on this baby tank like my 100 gallon where I have a sump n haven’t had issues in 4 years ….I’ll buy turbo snails today they’re in my other tank ….but as far as cuc I have like 5 hermit crabs if that 4 snails that chill on the glass n rocks 2 fighting counch or however you spell it …maybe more cuc will fix this ?

More CUC would definitely help but I think you need to balance your PO4 and NO3 a bit. Raise NO3 some and try to lower your PO4 to <0.15.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Direct sunlight will definitely cause algae growth, albeit 1hr shouldn't be too much. But if the ambient light in the room itself is enough, it could impact.

What type of lighting are you using? LED, T5, MH?
What's your clean up crew look like? As stated before, Mexican Turbo Snails are great. My tank was COVERED in GHA. Got a refugium going to help with nutrient consumption and Mexican Turbo's for the DT, gone in weeks. Has never come back. If you can add a fuge, even a HOB for awhile, that would help consume the excess while your snails eat it.

I’m using a kessil led the new one I forget the name 360 something but I miss my old one I’ll tell you that …,

 

[Reffetsevla]

I’m using a kessil led the new one I forget the name 360 something but I miss my old one I’ll tell you that …,

Okay good, the concern was going to be the age of the bulbs in MH or T5. Old bulbs can cause insane algae growth as the spectrum waivers. The Kessil LEDs shouldn't be affected by that.

 

[Chrisv.]

I would go for the Mexican turbos first, and have gfo on hand to deal with the phosphate...but add it well below the recommendation. You don't want to zero your phosphate out as fast as you zeroed your nitrate out. This should happen over the course of weeks not days. If you need to up your nitrates dose sodium nitrate from Brightwell, or similar. Simply feeding more dumps a while ton of phosphate into the tank.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

This will be the 2nd time I empty my cup in less then a week…I’m wondering if this protein skimmer is just too strong for a 40 gallon ? Can it possibly taking out the good nutrients ? I’m about to give up on tiny tanks as I found my larger tanks give me way less trouble lol

 

[Garf]

Ok ty! So feed more I love feeding np lol

Algae don’t need nitrates, they can assimilate ammonia. Remove the algae and nitrates will increase.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Okay good, the concern was going to be the age of the bulbs in MH or T5. Old bulbs can cause insane algae growth as the spectrum waivers. The Kessil LEDs shouldn't be affected by that.

Just fwi my bulb has a few water drops hit it. Here and there can that be it? I called the company the lady said it’s fine as long as it doesn’t get soaked ….your talking a few drops

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Algae don’t need nitrates, they can assimilate ammonia. Remove the algae and nitrates will increase.

So don’t feed more ?

 

[Duncan62]

Happy Sunday y’all ! I have a 40 gallon it’s been up about a year but no matter what this algae keeps growing I have no nitrates I have .25 phosphates I thought the spike in the nitrate problem was the issue so I bought a aqua max hob filter (that I love btw) and my nitrate went to 0 in a week….why is this algae still growing ? Maybe I’m just leaving the lights on really long and need more nighttime ?

Urchin. Maybe no white or red for a while.