Algae still growing EVERYWHERE

[Reffetsevla]

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

You're skimming a little wet. What it collects should be a bit thicker and darker. Wetter = Lighter color skimmate, Pulling out more nutrients. Dryer = Darker Skimmate and leaves in more nutrients

 

[Garf]

So don’t feed more ?

Feed as much as your fish need to keep them healthy.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

You're skimming a little wet. What it collects should be a bit thicker and darker. Wetter = Lighter color skimmate, Pulling out more nutrients. Dryer = Darker Skimmate and leaves in more nutrients

It’s on the lowest setting I been trying to get it darker it won’t go any lower

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Feed as much as your fish need to keep them healthy.

That would be every hour if I let them

 

[Reffetsevla]

So don’t feed more ?

What they're saying is if you remove the algae, then the nitrates will naturally balance as they are consuming them. CUC would eat them and you should see your NO3 tick up. If not, then perhaps increase feeding, skim dryer, dose, etc. Something else to help increase.

 

[Reffetsevla]

It’s on the lowest setting I been trying to get it darker it won’t go any lower

It's a HOB you said? I was going to say adjust the water level in the chamber but that kind of throws that out the window lol

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

You're skimming a little wet. What it collects should be a bit thicker and darker. Wetter = Lighter color skimmate, Pulling out more nutrients. Dryer = Darker Skimmate and leaves in more nutrients

But I’ll tell you one thing when you clean this cup it STINKS the whole house smells it

 

[Reffetsevla]

But I’ll tell you one thing when you clean this cup it STINKS the whole house smells it

haha definitely working at least

 

[Garf]

That would be every hour if I let them

Lol, healthy, not a fat slob

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

It's a HOB you said? I was going to say adjust the water level in the chamber but that kind of throws that out the window lol

Yea it’s on the lowest setting it goes sadly ….so you think that’s dry skim or whatever I’ll Google the difference but does that mean my skimmers taking out the good stuff also ? Don’t know much about skimmers my 100 gallon was set up professionally I just empty a cup every 2-3 weeks but it never was so stinky compared to this hob skimmer like it smelt like something died

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

What they're saying is if you remove the algae, then the nitrates will naturally balance as they are consuming them. CUC would eat them and you should see your NO3 tick up. If not, then perhaps increase feeding, skim dryer, dose, etc. Something else to help increase.

Ty ! I’ll buy more cuc today what’s the best algae killa the turbo snails? I want something that lives off this long algae lol

 

[fishface NJ]

Nothing will eat the long hair. Buy your turbos and get all the hair out as possible. The snails will eat as the algae grows

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Nothing will eat the long hair. Buy your turbos and get all the hair out as possible. The snails will eat as the algae grows

Nothing will eat the long hair. Buy your turbos and get all the hair out as possible. The snails will eat as the algae grows

Ty so cut the hair with scissors? I ordered a uv light but I read it won’t really help with the type of algae I have

 

[fishface NJ]

Ty so cut the hair with scissors? I ordered a uv light but I read it won’t really help with the type of algae I have

Two ways to do it: remove the rocks one by one. Take a brush (clean toothbrush or go to the dollar store and buy a stiff kitchen bottle/pot brush) and remove the algae. Take a little tank water to rinse the rock. You could try pulling the algae off by hand while the rocks are in the tank. But I find that some hairs will get loose from your grip and float around in the tank.

 

[Reffetsevla]

Ty ! I’ll buy more cuc today what’s the best algae killa the turbo snails? I want something that lives off this long algae lol

Use scissors to cut the algae as short as you can, then they Mexican Turbo's will eat it. If it's super long sometimes they won't. I had 2 that didn't and 1 that did.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Use scissors to cut the algae as short as you can, then they Mexican Turbo's will eat it. If it's super long sometimes they won't. I had 2 that didn't and 1 that did.

Ty

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Two ways to do it: remove the rocks one by one. Take a brush (clean toothbrush or go to the dollar store and buy a stiff kitchen bottle/pot brush) and remove the algae. Take a little tank water to rinse the rock. You could try pulling the algae off by hand while the rocks are in the tank. But I find that some hairs will get loose from your grip and float around in the tank.

What if I blackout the tank for 3 days ? Anyways that should work right

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Like algae can’t live without light right so what if I just left the lights off for a couple days wouldn’t it just die off ?

 

[Reffetsevla]

Like algae can’t live without light right so what if I just left the lights off for a couple days wouldn’t it just die off ?

It would likely take longer than you'd like to do that. If you have the ability, turn off the whites only. The blues won't cause it to grow as much. You can shorten your photo periods though, that definitely won't hurt.

 

[fishface NJ]

It's better to try to remove as much as possible by hand. You wouldn't want it all to die in the tank. As @Reffetsevla said it would take more take longer than that to kill it. Plus don't you have some coral in the tank?