Algae build up

[drsteve2001]

So I am having a algae outbreak and don't know why...check my phosphate levels..0... Nitrate...5. Everything else is good also....any ideas...my clean up crew is pretty low, getting a bunch 50 snails and things Thursday ....will they clean it up...any other ideas?

 

[mr. limpid]

Will a little more info. how long has this tank been running, size, filtration, inhabitants, feeding: how much and how often, lighting: type, how long left on?

 

[drsteve2001]

3 years, 54 gallon, 2 clowns, angel, Sally, peppermint, and not enough snails, lights on 8 hrs, 250 watt metal halide! Ro/di water, water change one time per week 10 gallons each time! Protein skimmer, fluval 305

 

[mr. limpid]

What type of food do you feed? When was last time you changed or flushed the filter media in your canister filter. Clogged media will actual release impurities back into the tank. Your bio load is low , so your fine there. When was the last time you changed the bulb in your light?

 

[drsteve2001]

That was the first thing I changed the bulb 1 month ago...i feed frozen brine,and mysis one cube per day! I clean the media one set evey water change(2 of he 4 pads) just in the last 2 water changes all new....Is one of the cubes too much?

 

[mr. limpid]

One cube is to much for 3 fish, I would cut that back to 1/4 to 1/2 cube. Brine is like feeding potato chips not much nutrition. you have a angel they need sponge in there diet, try feeding Ocean Nutrition's Angel/Butterfly formula. Also all fish need greens try some Formula II. To help keep algae down rinse your misis in RO water B4 feeding. For now I would cut back on the time you leave your lights on down to 5 or 6 hours.

 

[drsteve2001]

Ok...I will cut down on food, and I do give some greens, seaweed by ocean nutrition...i think i got it thru swf. Can I cut the lights down, if I have a open brain and green bubble anemones? So with regards to other food should I get something else besides the greens, sponge and mysis? Or is that enough variety? I have a a lot of snails on the way..50 Plus a Mexican turbo(2).. So I am hoping they clean it up too

 

[mr. limpid]

Sorry you didn't say you had corals, so no on the cutting back on lights, they need it. Yes on food, formula 1, plankton, squid, cycop-eeze, variety is best that way they get a well balanced diet. I also soak there food twice a week in fresh garlic (don't buy the stuff from LFS) just use a garlic press put all the garlic in a little RO water, let sit while you chop up the food, strain water threw a brine shrimp net, let food soak for 5 to 10 min in garlic water, then strain food threw net, ready to feed to your fish.