NEED HELP!!!!

[JUSTIN1028]

 

[Tahoe61]

Complete water test to include phos and nitrates as well as Ca/Mag/Alk.

Lighting type please?
Have you tried more flow?

 

[JUSTIN1028]

I have the original hood that came with the tank and just replace the lights about a month ago. The lights where old when i bought it. I have moved my powerhead but also thought about a bigger one. Im going to my LFS tomorrow and getting a complete water test done. I cut the lights back to 8hrs a day, should i cut them back more?

 

[Tahoe61]

Are the lights LED, T5 or Compact fluorescent, Metal Halide?

Do you have any snails or hermits?

 

[JUSTIN1028]

Compact fluorescent blue and white and it has the moonlight in it

 

[Tahoe61]

Ok, well get your water tested.

Add some flow.

See if you can bulk up your clean up crew with appropriate snails and hermits.

You can do some smaller water change with RO/DI water and a saltmix to tide you over. The algae issue can be resolved.

 

[JUSTIN1028]

Ok i do have 10 small turbo snails and 4 nassarius snails

 

[Tahoe61]

Well your rocks are pretty green so there is available food. You might try some Astraea and Certh as well.

 

[Shep]

That looks like cyanobacteria which is typically caused by low flow from my understanding. I would try and get more flow going in the tank, that would be the main thing. Water tests are always good to do when a problem creeps up.

 

[JUSTIN1028]

Where would you recommend I put my powerhead. Right now it is at the right side of my tank towards the front. Just moved it there yesterday

 

[Shep]

I might get a second smaller one, how big is the tank?

 

[JUSTIN1028]

29 gallon biocube

 

[Shep]

How big is the powerhead you have in there now?

 

[_Conway]

I've had success with vacuuming it out as well as reduced lighting and altering flow direction

 

[Shep]

I've had success with vacuuming it out as well as reduced lighting and altering flow direction

Manually removing it can help a lot and speed up getting rid of it.

 

[JUSTIN1028]

Shep, the powerhead is a 425gph flow rate.

 

[Shep]

i would suggest picking up a small like 240gph one and have both going

 

[scardall]

idea: Your sand has become nutrient rich. There is a water change aid you should have. It looks like a large plastic tube connected to a hose.
It agitates the sand while draining the water into a 5 gallon bucket. Use this every time you do a water change. Sand is mostly cosmetic and causes more issues if not properly maintained. Hinze a contributor to your red algae bloom. I have both a bare bottom and a sand bed tank. I have your issue from time to time only in the tank with sand in it. My fault yes,but sand issues will always remain. Shep has some great idea's too. Good Luck