Water too clean for algae

[FoxyFace]

I'm having issues with turf algae in the display (240 gallon) I have a fuge that's 65 gallons with a bunch of chaeto lit by a kessil grow light. My No3 is under 5 and the PO4 was very low on the triton lab report. Nothing in the tank eats the stuff. I'm looking for ideas.

I had an algae scrubber awhile back but it's not my idea of a good time. I prefer the fuge. When I first put it online a few months ago, I had absolutely no algae in the display. I'm wondering what is happening...Thanks!!!

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Many varieties of algae are successful in low nutrient water. Another possibility is that the algae is consuming the nutrients fast enough to make it seem like there aren't any, I don't know how far the infestation has gotten. My basic formula to combat any algae is the following
1. Prevention (always do the following)
- keep at least 1 emerald crab in any tank
- maintain a good clean up crew of hermits, snails, and creatures to go in the sand and rockwork
- keep up with water changes (big one)
- make sure to change out filter media
- keep a good light cycle
- always dip coral
2. Attack (if it does happen) (in order)
- Physically remove all algae you can, scrub, spray, and tear it off the rocks (the hardest part but most important, you don't want it to just rot away in the tank, otherwise nutrients are going to skyrocket)
- wash/replace all filter media
- turn off lights for two-three days (depending on corals and other photosynthetic livestock) (refugium lights too, otherwise it'll just move down there)
- at least a 25% water change
- supplement clean up crew

Prevention should keep it from occurring and for the times when something goes wrong (it happens to the best) use that attack method. I've used it on cyano and bubble algae (both are very annoying to get rid of, it was before I dipped everything that went into the tank and got some bad stuff from a shady dealer). Best of luck

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

I'd personally recommend for your clean up crew:
- starfish (several for your size of a tank)
- turbo snails (maybe 3)
- nassarius snails (loads, they'll keep the fecal matter/decaying matter/etc from building up in the sand)
- a variety of hermits (you may want someone else to give you a good opinion on which, I just kinda throw them in)
- magarita snails
- emerald crabs
- a peppermint shrimp (they can always keep the aiptaisa down)

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

I'd personally recommend for your clean up crew:
- starfish (several for your size of a tank)
- turbo snails (maybe 3)
- nassarius snails (loads, they'll keep the fecal matter/decaying matter/etc from building up in the sand)
- a variety of hermits (you may want someone else to give you a good opinion on which, I just kinda throw them in)
- magarita snails
- emerald crabs
- a peppermint shrimp (they can always keep the aiptaisa down)

 

[FoxyFace]

Thanks for your thoughts. As far as a clean up crew, I have serpent stars, a few giant emeralds that are NOT model citizens, snails, limpets, four tangs, blennies, and a partridge in a pear tree. I'll post a picture in the morning. I must be missing something. Peppermints are in the fuge as well. The display tank group is a rough bunch so I only have one fire shrimp in there hiding for his life.

I'm really wondering if it could be a flow issue? The algae seems to enjoy one side of the tank much more.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

No, my emerald isn't either, you have to replace them about every two-three months or they get too big. A lawnmower blenny can be useful. In a tank of your size, I'm sure flow can be very hard to distribute, yes flow can be a factor, but usually its not the cause. I'd try my hardest to remove the algae with your hands, then add your supplemented clean up crew and turn the lights off.