Can't get rid of this "algae".

[jstew600]

I have this green film on the sand. It will blow off in chunky sheets with a turkey Baster. I try storing it up and siphoning what I can. I am running BRS GFO and carbon. My salifert kits tell me PO4 NO3 are both zero. This is a 40 breeder with 2clowns and a tail spot blenny. I tried using Algaefix about a month ago because I was fed up. It did nothing. I have also tried chemiclean thinking it was a green bacteria. Didn't change. Any tips??

 

[Rob Lion]

excess detritus / uneaten food is collecting at that low water flow area and is in light. Increase what flow in that area it will go away (probably to the next worse water flow area).

Dr Tims waste Away is good for using bacteria to break down waste like that and giving your tank a healthier feel too.

You can also siphon the substrate too when you do water changes to remove the build up of detritus, you can also do it at any time, not just on water changes if you have a sump with a filter sock, just siphon the sand (without removing the sand) to remove the detritus to collect in the sock.

 

[jstew600]

excess detritus / uneaten food is collecting at that low water flow area and is in light. Increase what flow in that area it will go away (probably to the next worse water flow area).

Dr Tims waste Away is good for using bacteria to break down waste like that and giving your tank a healthier feel too.

You can also siphon the substrate too when you do water changes to remove the build up of detritus, you can also do it at any time, not just on water changes if you have a sump with a filter sock, just siphon the sand (without removing the sand) to remove the detritus to collect in the sock.

I do siphon about once a week. I did start dosing Vibrant about 3 week ago hoping for the same results as Dr. Tims. But nothing so far. It's really bumming me out.

 

[Rob Lion]

then your options are;

1. increase water flow in that area
2. add more algae eating clean up crew
3. siphon more often or even just stir it up with a stick every day
4. wait to see if vibrant stops it

 

[BlueCursor]

When my nitrate and phosphate get to 0 I often have algae problems. I dose KNO3 to get and keep nitrates up around 1 ppm and in a few weeks the algae goes away. Having a nitrate limited tank is usually bad . . . unless you have a lot of fish producing lots of urea in the tank.