Lots of algae on rocks, how to remove?

[sorgrum]

I've had a huge buildup of green hair algae on the back glass of my tank. I scraped all of it off, and added some snails to keep it in check. I've noticed that the algae growth on my live rock and sand has gotten a lot worse, and the snails/hermit crabs don't seem to be helping. Any ideas how I can get this algae in check?

 

[blecki]

You need to control the nutrients causing it to grow first. Once that's taken care of, manual removal. Peroxide can be used to spot-treat or to treat rocks outside the tank.

 

[kyleinpdx]

What parameters do you test for, and what are their current readings?

 

[paragrouper]

Start with manual removal and beef up your clean up crew. Does your tank receive direct sunlight?

 

[sorgrum]

What parameters do you test for, and what are their current readings?

I've been testing for nitrate/salinity normally. Last test I did

Ammonia: 0.00
Nitrate: 1
Nitrite: 0.05
Phosphate: 0.03
Salinity: 1.025

I've been having issues where my nitrate has been nearly 0 for a long time so I've been feeding extra.

 

[sorgrum]

Start with manual removal and beef up your clean up crew. Does your tank receive direct sunlight?

So I can vacuum out the algae covered sand? No. Indirect sunlight only.

 

[paragrouper]

So I can vacuum out the algae covered sand? No. Indirect sunlight only.

Yes. I’ve also used a brush on the rocks as well.

 

[blecki]

FYI your nitrates are low because of the algae. It's eating the nitrate.

 

[jda]

If you want snails and crabs to help, you need a lot of them. Chitons, turbo snails, asteas, ceriths, urchins all help.

 

[cdemoss01]

I've had a huge buildup of green hair algae on the back glass of my tank. I scraped all of it off, and added some snails to keep it in check. I've noticed that the algae growth on my live rock and sand has gotten a lot worse, and the snails/hermit crabs don't seem to be helping. Any ideas how I can get this algae in check?

Snails and crabs are not good with removing hair algae, every once and a while they really work. Id recommend manual removal if possible, I know that it can get really small so its hard to remove, if that's the case use Blue life RX to take care of it. Make sure to take your carbon filter out before use or it will NOT work.