Algae Explosion in Tank

[acura rsx star]

Hey there!
I have a huge problem in my tank. I've got long haired-green algae and this red algae that looks like bubbles ALL over. I took out EVERYTHING about 2 months ago and scrubbed all my rocks as an attempt to take everything off. Now, the algae is blooming all over the place and killing my corals. I have no idea what to do!
Here's some info on the tank:
-55 gallon
- 1 percula, 1 tang
- Nitrates are always around 25, 50 and i have NO IDEA how to lower it, i've tried everything
- about 15 corals
Please help.. I want to save the tank before everything dies!!

Thanks!

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by AcUrA rSx StAr
http:///forum/post/3216071
Hey there!
I have a huge problem in my tank. I've got long haired-green algae and this red algae that looks like bubbles ALL over. I took out EVERYTHING about 2 months ago and scrubbed all my rocks as an attempt to take everything off. Now, the algae is blooming all over the place and killing my corals. I have no idea what to do!
Here's some info on the tank:
-55 gallon
- 1 percula, 1 tang
- Nitrates are always around 25, 50 and i have NO IDEA how to lower it, i've tried everything
- about 15 corals
Please help.. I want to save the tank before everything dies!!

Thanks!

Sounds like hair algae and maybe the red is red slime (cyanobacteria)
Are you using RO (Reverse Osmoss) water?
Also most likely you have phosphates and low water flow.
Use only good RO water, do water changes and maybe use something to lower phosphates there is plenty of stuff on the market.

 

[shrimpy brains]

Nitrates are high! What kind of filtration?
Lighting? What kind and how long do you leave them on?
When was the last time you changed your bulbs?
What is your feeding schedule?
Any direct sunlight?
What are your other parameters?
Water change schedule?
Do you have any clean up crew?
How old is your tank?
Do you have a phosphate test kit, if so what results?
Have to find the source of what's feeding these algaes and stop it, then work on removal!

 

[acura rsx star]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3216080

Sounds like hair algae and maybe the red is red slime (cyanobacteria)
Are you using RO (Reverse Osmoss) water?
Also most likely you have phosphates and low water flow.
Use only good RO water, do water changes and maybe use something to lower phosphates there is plenty of stuff on the market.
Yeah I use RO water that I buy at the fish store I've been using the same people for the last two years. I've also got 3 different pumps moving water around because I thought it was low flow as well.. still not working. I'd have to check the phosphates!

 

[acura rsx star]

Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3216083
Nitrates are high! What kind of filtration?
Lighting? What kind and how long do you leave them on?
When was the last time you changed your bulbs?
What is your feeding schedule?
Any direct sunlight?
What are your other parameters?
Water change schedule?
Do you have any clean up crew?
How old is your tank?
Do you have a phosphate test kit, if so what results?
Have to find the source of what's feeding these algaes and stop it, then work on removal!
- nitrates are really really high, I've tried a bunch of stuff and nothing works! I have a wet/dry filter and a protein skimmer
- i bought a brand new set of lights and they're on only from 4:30-9:30
- i only feed the clown once a week and very little food, and the tang eats the algae off the rocks
- water changes about once a month, not very good about those.. I always just add fresh water
- no clean up crew, every time i buy snails, the nitrates kill them, or so the store tells me
-tank is about 2 and a half years old, and I've never had such a bad algae problem, it's spreading all over!
- i haven't tested the phosphates yet... I need to go ahead and test that... hopefully that'll give me a solution????

 

[wfd1008]

RUN and HIDE!!!!! The tang police will be coming for you. Say nothing, admit to nothing.

 

[wfd1008]

get a clean up crew. when you do water changes, do you clean your substrate and what kind do you have?

 

[nycbob]

try running rowaphos or chemipure elite for 2-3 months, while pulling out the hair lage during water change.

 

[shrimpy brains]

For starters, I would recommend you step up the water changes!
When you do them, pull and siphon out as much algae as possible.
Also, ask the place you get water from how long since they changed filters.
Freshwater topoffs don't help with waste, the best way to get rid of nitrates, etc. is to remove dirty water and add clean.
Do you think you could change your wet/dry over to a refugium? You could add some chaeto to help cut the nitrates!
If your tank is 2-1/2 years old, why do you only have 2 fish? Is that what you wanted in there or have you had problems keeping fish?
I bet your phosphates are high, too. But that won't tell us why. How much live rock do you have? Are there bioballs in your refuge? How often do you clean them? Can you see detritous/debris in there?