I have a bit of algae

Fishko · Mar 12, 2021

How would you aproach this. My phos and nitrate are .09 and 3-5 ppm nitrate. I have a refugium but the main tank is being overrun. I am currently physically removing the algae by hand and its very difficult. Should i consider removing all coral and scrubbing it in saltwater.

Tank is about two years old. It recently in the last few months became overrun. But my sps are growing really well. Im getting .2 dkh per day. I dont want to mess with the tank too much but take it slow.

But the algae has a strong foot. I have about 13 astrea and 4 mexican turbo. But i think the algae is too long for them to start eating in my 29g. Probably need more herbavioures.

rhostam · Mar 12, 2021

I had no problems with my turbos or astraea eating long GHA. I didn’t wait too long to introduce them after I reached that stage, though. For really long stuff I took a pipe cleaning brush bent into an L at the bottom and scrubbed it loose with power heads on high and filter socks in. That helped with that since picking it or sucking it up was nearly impossible. The snails did the rest and after a week or so they ate it all and went after my pom poms. That made me sad as I quite like that macro. I have to place seaweed clips to make sure they get enough food, though. I’ve also cut back on feeding.

zukihara · Mar 12, 2021

Tang and dose phyto?

mermaid_life · Mar 12, 2021

you can veeeeerrrry slowly try vibrant. I'm talking like 1/3 of the recommended dose. If you didn't have SPS, I would say no problem, use vibrant, but sps doesn't like big changes like that.