Stringy Algae in my tank

[shanelyn]

Help, I have had an outbreak of stringy algae (red/brown in colour) over the last few days. Its in patches on the sand bed and increasing quite quickly. Did a 20% water change last weekend and tested my water today - Ph = 8.2, Ammonia = 0 ppm, Nitrite = 0 ppm and Nitrates are 5.0 ppm. Lights on for approx. 10 hrs a day. Have in the tank loads of live rock, 2 clowns, 2 blue legged hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp and 5 snails. Tank has been up and running for about 4 months now and this has happened over the last few days.

Please advise as to how to control it - a couple of algae eating blennies maybe? A product to resolve it a bit quicker?

I was planning on adding some Chromis fish today and maybe a couple of turbo snails.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you in anticipion.

 

[tcoyle]

sounds like cyanobacteria… do a google search on it. There is lots of information on it, but basically you have a nutrient export issue. Check your phosphates and if you have old t5 or MH bulbs, you might need to change them. I would not add any fish to the system right now until you figure out the cause of the issue. I have used Mircrolift Special Blend to help boost my beneficial bacteria to out compete the cyano. It helps, but you still need to syphon the cyano out and find the root cause of it.. It won't cause any issues with livestock, but might bother any corals you have in the sand bed if it starts to cover them.

best of luck!

 

[BigMike81]

I had this in my tank about the same time frame and used a lot like 20 hermit crabs and a product called chemiclean and it worked great. If you are skimming though it will make your skimmer go crazy so keep and eye on it. You have to add lots of flow as well and make sure there is plenty of oxygen like breaking the surface tension in the water to sustain your fish as it depletes oxygen levels slightly. My clowns had no problems at all with it.