Gosh darn algae

[Albeez]

Will someone please share the gosh darn secret to getting rid of green algae. If I do a water change every week it's gone, no problems. But I don't have the time. My tank is only thirty gallons with no sump. Hob skimmer that skims okay but not great. I run chemipure elite or phosban sometimes in the hob filter to try to alleviate the algae but it doesn't help. Each water change I'll scrub the algae off and do a water change and it'll stay gone for like a week and a half and come back. Is carbon in a media reactor, hob, the way to get rid of it for good? To answer your first question, My parameters are normal but yes my phosphate are high, and would be even higher if the algae wasn't using it to grow. Please fill me in.

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

1. nice tank!
2. cut back on feeding will help.

 

[Elchicano]

What is your water source ? Tap/rodi/local LFS?

 

[NanaReefer]

What is your water source ? Tap/rodi/local LFS?

I'm wondering the same thing. Also any windows near by? Big television maybe?

 

[Albeez]

1. nice tank!
2. cut back on feeding will help.

Thanks bud- it's been a lot of fun. I have two clowns a wrasse and hasha yasa gobi. I don't think I feed to much as they eat up what I put in in a matter of 30 seconds or so. Sometimes I wonder if the food is too crushed up though. I'll feed different types of frozen shrimp and sometimes the shrimp is real
small pieces. It looks like they still eat the small pieces and is guess the cuc gets the rest.

 

[Albeez]

I'm wondering the same thing. Also any windows near by? Big television maybe?

Rodi from the lfs and salt is premixed at the lfs as well. Never tested it with a tds meter. Maybe it's worth getting one?

I do have some windows nearby and big TV. I keep the windows closed for the most part but I have a big jade plants that I keep one window open to give it light. See attached pictures of the set up.

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

Yeah bro those windows might be some of the cause. But i would try feeding dried cyclopeeze, between me switching to feeding the cyclopeeze, protien skimmer and picking of as much as i could. IBEAT IT! Yupp no more algea!If you have a qustion lmk!

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

Nice house btw lol

 

[Albeez]

Haha thanks - maybe I'll get some drapes for the windows. Does TV really impact it at all?

 

[Elchicano]

I have a 70 inch tv near mine and have no issues. Unfortunately, its seem like you have found your solution. Constant Water changes. Have you though about adding a sump ? This would allow you to add some macro algae and possibly a better/bigger skimmer.

 

[Albeez]

I have a 70 inch tv near mine and have no issues. Unfortunately, its seem like you have found your solution. Constant Water changes. Have you though about adding a sump ? This would allow you to add some macro algae and possibly a better/bigger skimmer.

Bummer - yeah i don't want to invest in a sump as the tank isn't pre drilled, and I hope at some point I'll upgrade to a bigger tank with a sump. Don't want to dump too much more money into equipment on this one (livestock is a different story). Just trying to find a temp solutions to this algae until I can upgrade.

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

No the tv wont impact it. if you put some drapes up that will help alot!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Its not the light getting into the tank, I've got direct sunlight in my tank all morning, I don't have any algae growing in my tank. You need a bigger clean up crew that will mow it down, and you need to run more GFO all the time to keep the system clean of phosphates, or run a Lanthanum to remove it, thats up to you, but running it sometimes won't keep it out of the tank.

 

[Albeez]

Its not the light getting into the tank, I've got direct sunlight in my tank all morning, I don't have any algae growing in my tank. You need a bigger clean up crew that will mow it down, and you need to run more GFO all the time to keep the system clean of phosphates, or run a Lanthanum to remove it, thats up to you, but running it sometimes won't keep it out of the tank.

My clean up crew could use a few extra characters - any suggestions on guys that'll help this specific issue??

 

[Reefing Madness]

Margarita Snail
Astraea Turbo Snail
Banded Trochus Snail

Additionally, if your not afraid of critters
Sea Hare
Lettuce Sea Slug
Hairy Pincushion Urchin

 

[Bradsreeeftank]

lettuce nudi will eat it, lawnmower bleenie fish will help alot,

 

[wangspeed]

I would try dosing small amounts of vinegar. Since you have a HOB, watch your skimmer as it may increase production of skimmate.

 

[Dog Boy Dave]

Cut back on your feeding. I mean way back. Maybe stop all together, not sure what fish you got. Add some snails or a tang and be patient. A tang wont stave to death in a tank full of algae. Algae is your friend. If you didn't have active nutrient transport it wouldn't be growing. It grows fast, cycles lots of nutrients. Takes around four months to cycle algae out of dirty tank. Up to a year if its real bad or "crashed".

 

[Elchicano]

I would try the snails as well. Sea hare or slug will work great. Only issue with them is, they will go hungry once they eat all the algae. You will have to add more food to the tank just to keep them fed.

 

[Dog Boy Dave]

Florida Fighting Conchs or any other allowable Strombus snails, (Live Queen Conchs, Strombus gigas are forbidden in Fl and maybe other places) are very good sand cleaners.