Need help with algae control

[Michael Gentile]

I have a 50 gallon bow front tank with a currently sick yellow tang and one clown fish. We havencourage had terrible luck with keeping fish alive or stopping gobi especially from disappearing. At the moment we have a hair algea problem as well as an algea problem. We only have 5 turbo snails some blue hermits and possibly 2 emerald crabs if they are still alive. We also have other snails such as Nerites and other ones along those lines but very few are left under 10 for sure. We have live sand and rock in the tank and we were wondering if you guys had any tips to get rid of this algea problem and like the cleaning crew we would need, going for a reef tank. Can provide pictures.

 

[PatW]

Your phosphate levels or nitrate levels are probably high. You need to get the nutrient levels down. There are a number of methods to do this.

1) Large water changes. Be sure to use RODI water. These will reduce the nutrients by dilution.

2) Run granular ferric oxide, GFO, in a reactor. This will reduce phosphate levels.

3) Carbon dose. An example is adding vodka to your aquarium, obviously in very limited amounts. The vodka provides a food source for bacteria. Bacteria reproduce like crazy. In the process, they take up nitrates and some phosphates out of the water. Your skimmer will remove the bacteria, exporting the nutrients. You need a skimmer that is over sized for your tank to do this.

4). Put macro algae in your sump under an LED light. The algae will grow and in the process take up phosphates and nitrates. Every so often, you remove some of the algae which exports the phosphates and nitrates in their tissues. You could use an algae scrubber instead.

Probably the most simple and fool proof approach is just doing a series of large water changes. If you have a good RODI system, this would be the easiest method to implement.

 

[twilliard]

Pull the rock out one by one.
Take 3% peroxide and soak the algae, let stand for 5 minutes.
Put back in tank.
The algae will die but as stated will need to get po4 under control

 

[Michael Gentile]

Your phosphate levels or nitrate levels are probably high. You need to get the nutrient levels down. There are a number of methods to do this.

1) Large water changes. Be sure to use RODI water. These will reduce the nutrients by dilution.

2) Run granular ferric oxide, GFO, in a reactor. This will reduce phosphate levels.

3) Carbon dose. An example is adding vodka to your aquarium, obviously in very limited amounts. The vodka provides a food source for bacteria. Bacteria reproduce like crazy. In the process, they take up nitrates and some phosphates out of the water. Your skimmer will remove the bacteria, exporting the nutrients. You need a skimmer that is over sized for your tank to do this.

4). Put macro algae in your sump under an LED light. The algae will grow and in the process take up phosphates and nitrates. Every so often, you remove some of the algae which exports the phosphates and nitrates in their tissues. You could use an algae scrubber instead.

Probably the most simple and fool proof approach is just doing a series of large water changes. If you have a good RODI system, this would be the easiest method to implement.

As of right now we don't have a sump or skim installed we started out with tap water months ago but the past 8 water changes have been RO water and it was 10 gallons at a time. Do you think we need more cleaners?

 

[Bdog4u2]

Lawnmower blenny will mow through some algae but unless you get nutrients down your will still have issues. If you're not using a sump clean or replace filter Floss weekly if using a canister and if using a hob clean it when you add top off water. Don't use tap water for top off water

 

[Michael Gentile]

Lawnmower blenny will mow through some algae but unless you get nutrients down your will still have issues. If you're not using a sump clean or replace filter Floss weekly if using a canister and if using a hob clean it when you add top off water. Don't use tap water for top off water

Got it thanks you!