Having a little Algae problem.

[Reefaholic]

This just started a few days ago, what would be causing this outbreak of hair and red algae? Everything is at its normal level, I don't have a phos. test kit but one is on the way. Could the problem be Phosphates?

[marinelover]

Good chance that it could be. How long has it been set up and if for awhile do you have a skimmer. ALso what scavengers too.
Good luck
shawn

[Reefaholic]

Its been up for about 7 months. Ya I got a skimmer, everything looks good, its a 36 gallon tank with about 8 or 9 marg. snails 1 mex turbo 1 trochus. Most of it is on the sand, the snails keep the rocks pretty clean and the glass. The past few days though the rock has had an outburst of hair alg. thats why I thought it could be a boost in phos. not sure though b/c I don't have a test kit yet. I just ordered some Rowaphos and a Tonga fighting conch that I hope will take care of the sand. Any other things to consider?

[Gina]

Have you been doing your water changes with RO/DI water?
When you feed if it's frozen do you soak it in RO/DI water or tap?
Sounds like a Phos problem but, I would be looking into getting a test kit to check for it. Rowaphos will help but, you need to correct the problem that is causing it.

[cheeks69]

How many fish do you have and how often do you feed ? How often do you do water changes ? Do you feed Flake ? What are your nitrate levels ?

As Gina mentioned tap water could be a source of elevated phosphates. The test kit may not show a reading because the algea is taking up the nutrients. IMO you have a real thin Cleanup crew and would consider adding more snails and some fighting conchs.

[Reefaholic]

Tonga fighting conch has been ordered. I only have 3 fish in 36 gal. I don't think thats the prob. I feed flake most of the time and on occasion feed mysis, I have yet to get a RO unit but I use conditioner on well water. NO3 is near 0 , Rowaphos is on the way I may buy another mex turbo, I don't want to many cause I'm affraid some might starve and die, b/c until now I have never had an issue with algae at least nothing to really have concerns. Could it be the flake? I only feed once every 36 to 48 hrs. Should I cut back on feeding? Or is it the tapwater that is causing this?

[big tanner]

I've already told you to cut that light off for about four straight days!!! The longer you leave that light banging down on all that algae, the more it's gonna grow. Now Matt, you know I think of you like a son......start listening to your old man every once in a while. Just Joking!! But seriously, dude just stop all lighting on the tank for about four solid days and see if the algae on the sand and the rocks isn't dented drastically...possibly even gone! Tanner

[angnak]

I think the lights off fixes it for the short term. I think the water is a cause and the flakes. Here is a quote from advanced aquarium mag:

"Organic phosphorus compounds, as well as orthophosphate, are so prevalent that any natural food will contain significant concentrations of phosphorus. Flake fish food is typically about 1% phosphorus (3% phosphate equivalent) by weight. Consequently, if 5 grams of flake food is added to a 100 gallon tank, there is the potential for the inorganic orthophosphate level to be raised by 0.4 ppm in that SINGLE FEEDING. That fact can be a significant issue for reef keepers: what to do with all of that phosphorus? "

Here is the link.

Is the red algae cyano? If so, to keep it in check while you fix the problem get red slime remover. works good. I went through this prob a while back. I did a lot of water changes, every other week, a guy at the LFS also said to keep my alk around 12. He said algae hates high alk. I kept it around 10. Someone else might need to chime in on the alk thing. Does your LFS sell ro/di water? OR check this special out ro/di unit

I just ordered one and Joe at inreef took care of me pretty good. (Thanks Joe) I have heard they are easy to install. I have a 30gpd for drinking water, but did not install it and it doesn't look complicated. Woodstock has this unit. PM her about it. Try frozen foods and thaw them in RO/DI water to help "wash" out the PO4

[mopecula]

Reefaholic,
i would say like so many said tap water is not good for the tank. some water treatment plants add phosphate to the water. first i would say check your levels and keep them at 450-500calcium,3.5-5 mg/l alk, and 1300 mag. have someone else test your nitrates also, you could have a bad test kit which could give a false reading. as for a phospate test kit it only reads organic phospate so if it reads zero you may still have inorganic phospates which could cause the problem. try to get r/o water for your water changes or distilled water. running the phospate remover would be a good idea. also check your salinity it should be at 1.025 which helps to rid algae. hope this helps.
Mo

[gussy]

I have more problem on the tanks with fishes as I used flakes on those tanks.

[Brucey]

Originally Posted by big tanner

dude just stop all lighting on the tank for about four solid days and see if the algae on the sand and the rocks isn't dented drastically...possibly even gone! Tanner

BT. . . . gotto disagree with you buddy. In a well managed system, phosphates and nitrates kept to a minimum with ca held high, hair algae should not be a problem. Turning the lights off for a few days is only going to cure the immediate problem, it is not the long term answer to the problems. Also look at it this way, if there is a PO4 or Nitrate problem, harvesting the algae is a good way of exporting it out of the system until the imbalance is fixed. It may be unsightly in the short term, but it's natures way of exporting the nutrients out of the system. If you turn the lights off, the problem factor is still in the water just waiting for them to be turned on again.

I'd invest in a good RO unit, run rowaphos (or equiv) and do water changes until the problem goes away. We're all been there I'm afriad, I speak from painful experience.

Brucey