Algae problem

[canadiandude]

I have had my tank set up for 2 months now and am being over run with algae. It started out as a fluorescent green and is now turning into a mostly dark green with some long slimy strands. I have decreased the amount of time my lights (HO) are on from 14 hrs a day to 10 - 12 hrs a day. I tested the phosphate and it came back at 0. Ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites are all at 0. The PH is 8.2 and the temp is 72 F (22 C). I have also added a few snails as well as I have about 35 hermit crabs. I jnow I could use more snails as well as more crabs but are there any other ways I can reduce the amount of algae. I have to clean the glass at least twice a week as it only takes 3 - 4 days for it to be covered. Someone suggested to me that I take out the rocks and scrub off the algae but I don't want to do that quite yet. I started treating my tank for ich about 17 days ago so I can't add anymore fish quite yet. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[salty rick]

You need to beef up your clean up crew and maybe cut back more on your ligting. You tank is still young and you will have this battle for a while. It is recommended to have 1 to 1 1/2 clean-up inverts (snails and crabs) per gallon of your tank.
It seems odd that you are having problems with no PO4 and nitrates. Algae needs something tofeed on in the water as well as light. Also, your temp seems a little low.
Hair algae does not like oxygen so may consider a skimmer to get more oxygen in the water.

 

[thomas712]

This is a fairly new tank and you can expect blooms like this but.
What is the light spectrum of the bulbs?
What test kits are you using?
What do you use for top off water?
How about carbon use?
Thomas

 

[canadiandude]

I'm using a compact fluorescent twin tube aquarium reflector. It's 120 volt, 110watt and 60hz (if that helps). As for the test kit it's a Red Sea, Marine Life test kit. I use tap water with amquel to top off the water and when I do my weekly water changes I use reverse osmosis water. I don't use any type of carbon filters, just a trickle filter.
I'm not fond of snails but I may have to break down and get some more.

 

[jagermeister]

I'm having an algae problem also but mine is due to high phosphates. In my research on this subject I've heard that high silicates can also cause algae blooms. You might try to test for those. Silicates can enter the system through tap water and can also be leached from certain types of sands that might be used for the dsb.
I've also read where it's common to be introducing too many phosphates into the system by overfeeding. If you already have an algae bloom, the algae suck up all this extra phosphate pretty quickly so when the water is tested it reads 0 for phosphates.