Algea/Diatom Problem

[ovrmyhdagn]

I have been having problems with a brown/reddish algea and diatoms covering my LR and CC. I tried 20% weekly water changes for 5 weeks or so. Additionally, I have what appears to be hair algea, but it is brown popping out of three areas on my rock.
75 gallon tank with sump
juvi emperor, flame angel, foxface, 2 black and white clowns
Is there a clean-up crew that might help?
What other suggestions does anyone have?

 

[jcarroll]

are you using RO water?

 

[mopar9012]

how old is your tank? a lot older than 5 weeks or no? did you change lights recently?

 

[ovrmyhdagn]

The tank is over 2 years old.
I use RO water from Wal-Mart or another local place. ANd I have read about how that water can be poor quality, but it is a culligan dispenser I get it from.
No light changes either. PC lights with 2 10 55 wat bulbs and 2 55 watt blue lights. I have been running only the blue lights hoping to starve the algea, with no luck.
I know I need to get an RO unit and was going to, but we night move in the next couple of months, so Ididn;t want to get one until I figured that out.
Other ideas?

 

[jcarroll]

you may want to post your water parameters and what all you have in there as far as a cleanup crew goes and you'll probably get more answers.

 

[ovrmyhdagn]

SG 1.023
PH 8.3
Nitrates 5
Nitrites 0
Ammonia 0-.25
That is all I can test for.
One blue leg hermit crab is all I have for a clean-up crew currently.

 

[jcarroll]

Well, you basically don't have a cleanup crew right now. Here's an idea for one, or you can look at the reef packages on this site and order one.
20 Mexican Turbos
10 Nassarius Snails
20-30 blue legged hermits
4-5 scarlet hermits
1 fighting conch
1 queen conch
1 diamond goby
2 or 3 emerald crabs
You could probably get a few more than this too because this is just for my 55 gallon
Hope that helps!

 

[ovrmyhdagn]

Anyone else with suggestions?
Does the fact that I have crushed coral a problem with the above suggestions?

 

[jcarroll]

I hear that crushed coral can be a trap for nitrates. I've also heard of people who have it and don't have problems with it. In my opinion, I think it causes problems. Uneaten food, just for one example, can get caught below and cause nitrates. I started with cc and switched to ls after only a couple of months.