Algae problem..would a protein skimmer help?

[jiminbing]

I have a 75 gallon tank with a wet/dry set-up, 2 Koralia 3's on either end for flow. 50lbs of LR, 6 fish, a few corals,some critters and 2 shrimp. The tank has been running for 6 months. All my water parameters are good.(that I have tests for) Phosphate,Nitrate,Nitrite and Ammonia are at zero. Ph is at 8.2. I'm using RO/DI water. From day one the water never looked really clear.Any way.... I've had an algae problem for about a month now. I went to the LFS and picked up a phosphate pad thinking there may still be traces of phosphates causing the outbreak. Would a skimmer help? I'm not sure what to do next. Algae is driving me crazy.

Thanks Jim

 

[mr_x]

that's odd that the water has never been clear. have you tried running carbon?
algae is fueled by excess nutrients. the better methods of exporting nutrients, the better off you will be.
i would say that a skimmer is a good choice, algae or not.

 

[jiminbing]

Thanks for your response. I have never used carbon. Would that clear the water?

 

[mr_x]

yes. carbon would make a difference.
do you feed heavy?

 

[jiminbing]

No I feed once a day. It's ether mysis,brine shrimp or flakes. I also thaw the shrimp in water and strain out just leaving the shrimp.

 

[dplantz]

If you have a sump attatched to your tank, why not incorparate a refugium with some calpura, or chaeto to create a "algae scrubber", as these macroalgaes destroy nitrates, phosphates, and excess nutrients. Also, you might have your water checked for excess iodine, too much causes bad algae growth.

 

[jiminbing]

Thanks dplants. I have a wet/dry filter set-up,one side has the bioballs the other has my pump in it. I guess I'm hung up on getting a skimmer and I should be looking for other methods. I'm open for ideas. Is there a iodine test kit?

 

[tomato clown]

I started running a homemade refugium filled with macroalgae and the hair algae on the back of the tank started decreasing massively. The only thing though is I read you need to add trace elements because the macro depleates them. Since the addition of macro, I've seen the light in fighting hair algae.
Yes there are iodine test kits. Just ask the guy at your LFS because you don't see them like you see the ammonia, ph, etc... tests.

 

[markeo99]

chaeto will help I love it it will at least stunt the growth so you can maybe win and I would maybe take a look at the bio balls I heard they can be a nitrate factory as well