Returning to a bunch of algae

[gavinc123]

Hi all, I was away for about a month and had my parents watch my 40g tank and they did a 5 gallon water change every weekend but i still have a bunch of algae and was wonderinn for some tips to get rid of it. I dont have any crabs or shrimp i only have snails and 4 fish should i go out and get a shrimp or crab or other suggestions welcomr

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Hi all, I was away for about a month and had my parents watch my 40g tank and they did a 5 gallon water change every weekend but i still have a bunch of algae and was wonderinn for some tips to get rid of it. I dont have any crabs or shrimp i only have snails and 4 fish should i go out and get a shrimp or crab or other suggestions welcomr

Have you tested your parameters since returning? Do you have a build up of nutrients?

 

[gavinc123]

Have you tested your parameters since returning? Do you have a build up of nutrients?

All my parameters are normal and i cleaned out the filter and washed the heater and powerhead myself yesterday

 

[Mike konesky]

What's your phosphate at?

 

[gavinc123]

What's your phosphate at?

I just retested phosphates they're a little high at .5ish

 

[NeedAReef]

Lights on too much while you were gone? Cut the lighting some, maybe try a UV to help kill it off or add some CUC?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

First things first. Manually scrape the glass, then vacuum the sandbed to remove the algae mats. That looks too be the majority of it.

Additional various snail species would help clean up the rock work.

 

[gavinc123]

Lights on too much while you were gone? Cut the lighting some, maybe try a UV to help kill it off or add some CUC?

This is the AI Prime schedule i have them on

 

[gavinc123]

Lights on too much while you were gone? Cut the lighting some, maybe try a UV to help kill it off or add some CUC?

I have a uv thingy next to the heater

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I have a uv thingy next to the heater

Remember that the quartz sleeve within your UV should be cleaned about every 6 months. If it's been a lot longer than that, it may be covered with algae and highly declined in performance.

You could also check the flow speed through it to ensure you are targeting algae per the manufacturer's specs.

 

[gavinc123]

Remember that the quartz sleeve within your UV should be cleaned about every 6 months. If it's been a lot longer than that, it may be covered with algae and highly declined in performance.

You could also check the flow speed through it to ensure you are targeting algae per the manufacturer's specs.

I got it in april i believe so ill take a look