High bio load needs algae management

[richard b king]

Hi all, long time reefer that decided they didn't have the time to manage a reef tank anymore and went with a 55 gallon setup with live rock and three snowflake eels. While very different than my reefing days, I have to admit the eels are a bunch of hams and eat like nothing I've ever seen! So, now they've grown fairly big and stout thanks to my local Asian fish market.... Filtration can't keep up with the bio load. Running a skimmer, sock, BRS dual cannister with cut-up poly filters. Lighting is Kestrel spots.
I manually remove algae with the feeding tongs every two weeks. While the eels don't care, I would like to keep the algae under better control given the bio load is very high. Any suggestions?

 

[blaxsun]

Fleece roller?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Algea scrubber. Control nutrients, stabilize ph, and out compete display algae in one move.

 

[JC1977]

If it’s a 55 gallon tank and being small doing large weekly water changes would go a long way too. Like 25% weekly and it wouldn’t cost you that much. It’s a nice option to have that’s not as affordable on larger tanks.

 

[richard b king]

I could go with weekly water changes. Good point vs. every two now. A fleece roller won't fit in the limited space under the thank. I may be able to get a scrubber. Will have to check the space.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I'm usually not a big fan of fleece rollers, but in your case, one would help. Additionally, changing the socks often, water changes, and carbon dosing could provide nitrogen reduction. The poly filters probably aren't helping much and may in fact just be trapping organics that end up adding additional nutrients. I might suggest replacing it with GAC & GFO.

 

[richard b king]

I'm usually not a big fan of fleece rollers, but in your case, one would help. Additionally, changing the socks often, water changes, and carbon dosing could provide nitrogen reduction. The poly filters probably aren't helping much and may in fact just be trapping organics that end up adding additional nutrients. I might suggest replacing it with GAC & GFO.

I used to run GFO and GAC in the BRS dual canister when it was a reef tank. Better than the polys you say? I can certainly give that a try seeing that I still have a bunch.... Thanks again! I know the bio load of just one of these monsters (at least that's how they identify) is probably max, but the trio is a lot of fun - just not all the algae they produce.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I used to run GFO and GAC in the BRS dual canister when it was a reef tank. Better than the polys you say? I can certainly give that a try seeing that I still have a bunch.... Thanks again! I know the bio load of just one of these monsters (at least that's how they identify) is probably max, but the trio is a lot of fun - just not all the algae they produce.

If you have a decent skimmer, carbon dosing is another good way to address the problem.