algea problem dont know why

newreef06 · #1 10/10/2007, 03:41 PM

Im dealing with cyano algea for the last couple of months. I cant figure out why im getting it. I use RO/DI water only. I do not over feed my fish. I run my lights 6-8 hrs a day. I m getting green algea every where. I even bought a sea hare. It cleaned some of it. I have a 55 g tank. I can not get rid of it. The only thing i did before I started getting it was. I change my MH bulbs. That was about 3 months ago. Im going to put the old ones back in. To see If the new ones are fueling the algea. Please help

Carlos · #2 10/10/2007, 03:45 PM

What kind of skimmer are you using? Cyano is usually do to:

high nutrients (feeding too much)
poor skimmer (skimmer not big enough)
low water current (not enough water movement)
low oxygen level (read #2 and #3)

Take care of all those things and cyano will start to fade away.

Toddrtrex · #3 10/10/2007, 04:34 PM

You say that you are using RO/DI water, but what is the TDS of that water?

(( reason I ask is I finally got around to testing mine and was shocked ))
been having some algae issues myself.

MR PALM BEACH · #4 10/10/2007, 04:36 PM

Did you try some big water changes?

newreef06 · #5 10/10/2007, 05:08 PM

No i dont know the tds. I used to use distilled water. I had no algea baak when I used it. I have not did a big water change. If so how many gallons. I have a 55G tank

wds21921 · #6 10/10/2007, 05:12 PM

Try over feeding your tank. Yes I said overfeeding it.
increase your feedings over a period of 3 weeks and watch what happens

.
Trust me it works.

Jump start nitrogen cycle.

MR PALM BEACH · #7 10/10/2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by newreef06
No i dont know the tds. I used to use distilled water. I had no algea baak when I used it. I have not did a big water change. If so how many gallons. I have a 55G tank

I think a 5g or a 10g at the most would be good start.

newreef06 · #8 10/10/2007, 05:38 PM

I do a 10G every 2 weeks

MR PALM BEACH · #9 10/10/2007, 05:53 PM

That should be more than sufficient for a 55. And every 2 weeks thats pretty good with staying on top of water changes.

rhythmicfire · #10 10/10/2007, 05:57 PM

Macro alages = nutrient export

bertoni · #11 10/10/2007, 06:04 PM

I suspect there's too much food going into the tank. The fish might not be overfed, but the tank probably is not capable of keeping up with the fish "output". Growing and harvesting a macroalga might help. A PhosBan reactor or similar GFO setup is another common approach.