Little help with algae problem.

twokayaks · #1 02/10/2007, 08:48 PM

Hoping someone up there can give me a clue about what's causing a lot of algae growth in my tank. Here are the tank parameters: PO4: .03ppm, PH 8.0, 8.6 to 9.0 dKH, Alk: 3.2 to3.3 meq/L, Ca: 420 ppm, NO3:5ppm, NO2: 0, Ammonia <0.25 to .25. Some of the parameters above have ranges to them because it's kind of difficult to tell the color changes with some of these Salifert test kits. My photo period is:

8 am 220W of Actinics turn on.
4 pm two 250w Hamilton Reefstar HQI pendents turn on.
9 pm Reefstar pendents turn off.
9:45 pm Actinics turn off.

All bulbs are approx 5 months old. Originally changed out bulbs hoping to cure this algae problem. New bulbs didn't change anything.
Tank is bare bottom. 30 gallon sump with cheato and ETTS Reef Devil skimmer. In the tank I've got 2 MJ 1200s. This algae problem has been around for about 6 months now. Two weeks ago a changed out 60 gallons of water. In December I also did a 60 gallon water change. These water changes did nothing to slow down the algae growth. Below are pictures of the algae.
[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...45IMGP8443.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...45IMGP8444.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...f_IMGP8446.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...f_IMGP8447.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...f_IMGP8448.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG] http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...f_IMGP8449.JPG[/IMG]

Let me know if there is any other info you need to help solve this problem.

Any suggestions guys/gals?

JMBoehling · #2 02/10/2007, 08:55 PM

Gil,

What do you have as far as a clean up crew.. Snails, Crabs, Starfish. etc...

Jim

twokayaks · #3 02/10/2007, 09:03 PM

I've got 1 large blue leg hermit, approx 8 small blue legged hermits, 30 cerith snails, 20 or so astra snails. Bio load: sailfin tang, purple tang, 3 lyretail anthias, and 1 six-line. I've also got one 5-6 inch derasa clam and one 3-4 inch maxima.

JMBoehling · #4 02/10/2007, 09:05 PM

Do you make your own water of purchase from LFS.. If you make it, have you checked your TDS recently on your RO/DI?

angelscrx · #5 02/11/2007, 08:00 AM

I don't think your clean up crew is big enough for your tank size either. But check your top off water TDS and get your LFS to test your water to get a second reading (your test kit may be bad).

Hopeful Reefer · #6 02/11/2007, 09:24 AM

I have to agree with angelscrx...here is the Standard Algae Attack Pack from Live Aquaria just as a reference...tons of places around on the net where you can get clean-up crews prepackaged...

15 Scarlet Hermit Crabs, 30 Mexican Turbo Snails or
Margarita Snails and 50 Dwarf Red Tip Hermit or
Dwarf Zebra Hawaiian Hermit

Like I said, tons of places to get cleaners...good luck...

giantxtc · #7 02/11/2007, 08:48 PM

With all those little bubbles it looks like there might be some dinoflagellates going on too.When I had a big algae problem one time,I used a Sea Hare.He took out the stuff in no time.And,I think Fish Safari has one or two now.

twokayaks · #8 02/12/2007, 10:27 AM

Checked my TDS readings with 2 different meters, both read 0.

About 4 months ago I put in 75 astreas and 50 ceriths. Still didn't do the trick. No matter how much I cleaned the glass, the snails would always hang out on the glass and not the rocks (where all the algae is located). Go figure? Two months ago i noticed that a bunch of astreas were getting eaten up by 5 or 6 big blue legged hermits. I quickly removed many of the hermits and banished them to solitary confinement (the sump).

don't know if this helps but I'm also topping off with kalk and I swap out my filter bags every 3 weeks.

I'd rather hold off on the sea hare for now. I'm not exactly sure what type of algae this is and I don't want to put in a sea hare if I'm not sure that I can provide the correct food source for it.

giantxtc · #9 02/12/2007, 10:57 AM

Gil,

are you still using vho lights.You bought a retro setup,with an icecap ballast, from me way back in 2004 when I lived in the Port Norfolk section of Portsmouth.Sorry to hear about your algae woes.When I first set up my current tank I had a filimint type stuff that looked like hair algae engulf my entire rockwork.It was bright green and felt like fishing line.The sea hare ate it all in less than 2 weeks.I just had to keep siphoning all the poo out because it would in turn feed the algea.The stuff has to be feeding on something,you just need to find the source.Maybe try manual removal of some of it for a bit.If it has not been in too long,it might run its course.

My big problem is trying to keep my calcium level up.Good luck,and I hope it works out!

-Rich

ranceego · #10 02/12/2007, 12:04 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by twokayaks
[B]Hoping someone up there can give me a clue about what's causing a lot of algae growth in my tank. Here are the tank parameters: PO4: .03ppm, PH 8.0, 8.6 to 9.0 dKH, Alk: 3.2 to3.3 meq/L, Ca: 420 ppm, NO3:5ppm, NO2: 0, Ammonia <0.25 to .25.
if you have 5ppm no3 and slight ammonia, you have silica and phos conversion in the tank, i does not take much, do you run any rowa, or phos ban, should help

ranceego · #11 02/12/2007, 12:04 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by twokayaks
[B]Hoping someone up there can give me a clue about what's causing a lot of algae growth in my tank. Here are the tank parameters: PO4: .03ppm, PH 8.0, 8.6 to 9.0 dKH, Alk: 3.2 to3.3 meq/L, Ca: 420 ppm, NO3:5ppm, NO2: 0, Ammonia <0.25 to .25.
if you have 5ppm no3 and slight ammonia, you have silica and phos conversion in the tank, i does not take much, do you run any rowa, or phos ban, should help

ranceego · #12 02/12/2007, 12:04 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by twokayaks
[B]Hoping someone up there can give me a clue about what's causing a lot of algae growth in my tank. Here are the tank parameters: PO4: .03ppm, PH 8.0, 8.6 to 9.0 dKH, Alk: 3.2 to3.3 meq/L, Ca: 420 ppm, NO3:5ppm, NO2: 0, Ammonia <0.25 to .25.
if you have 5ppm no3 and slight ammonia, you have silica and phos conversion in the tank, i does not take much, do you run any rowa, or phos ban, should help

twokayaks · #13 02/12/2007, 03:46 PM

tommy - i'll look into rowa or phos ban. i'm not using either of these products right now. just doing a quick google and these products might be the ticket. Thanks.

Rich - yeah i'm still using the icecap to run 2 110w actinics. right now i use a turkey baster to blast the algae off of my rockwork and coral tips. it's definitely not hair algae.

Can anyone out there id the type of algae I've got?

jacob30 · #14 02/19/2007, 05:21 PM

The ID on the algae is green cyano bacteria. I had a little on my sandbed and conchs love the stuff. Running rowa should help.

Be thankful it is not dinos. Those things are evil!

Jacob

Charlie Davidson · #15 02/19/2007, 05:59 PM

I really don't know for sure what it is.. but I have a bigger problem in the winter time.... (too me) Rowa is a must.. (alittle more during the winter)
Also, flow, flow, and then more flow..

just when you think you have enought--- think about the tidal surge on a reef beach, (surfing beach) in Hawaii (Bet you need to double your flow)