Cant see my LR-too much algae-help

[sjk2840]

This is my dilema, I've got a 20L FOWLR tank, it's been up since March. The water params are:
SG .022
PH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrates/nitrites 0
temp. 78-80 degrees
I use Instant Ocean salt and do water changes every 2 weeks. I cannot get rid of the red brown algae thats covering my LR and sand, I cant even see the colors of my rock, it just looks brown. I do use well water and cant afford an RO unit right now. The lights are on 8-10 hours a day and the light bulb is the flurescent tube that came in the light strip. I feed my fish 1 time a day every day. Could this algae problem be from my light or the water I'm using??
I've not tested the water for phosphates. I've got a water pump and power head for circulation and a HOB filter.

 

[nycbob]

probably both ur light and water could be the culprits. r u getting enough flow inside the tank? what r ur cleanup crews?

 

[aztec reef]

Mostlikely due to the well water.

 

[sjk2840]

I have a pretty much non existent clean up crew-2 snails that I never see. Wont my trigger eat them??? Is there anything that I should add to the water to get rid of the algae problem??

 

[steelytom]

Shut the lights down for a couple days. It is probably the water. I live in an apartment and can't hook up a filter so I just buy it from the LFS. It does get expensive, but I find it better than having algae and cyano (I tried tap water at first too). Your trigger will eat any cleaup crew. You can run phosguard in your filter. You probably have high phoshates, and testing won't necessarily tell you anything. The algae is feeding on it and there is probably little free phosphates that will show up on a test. I don't know much about the light you are running, but if you can, replace the bulb with a higher K bulb. As bulbs get old the spectrum changes, which the algae loves.

 

[vonodie1]

My guess is your well water. If you are bent on not getting a RO/DI filter- you should at the very least use a brita filter.
steelytom- if you want an RO/DI filter, but do not want to hook it up through the plumbing- Look into a faucet adapter. I put my RO/DI filter on the counter and hook it up through a faucet adapter, so that it can go with me when I move. I rented when I bought it; now that I own my home- I just keep it in the pantry when not in use. (for the most part it just stays on the counter though).
Either way- you should invest in a TDS meter and maybe test your faucet water for phosphates/nitrates
HTH

 

[aztec reef]

U obviously already said that u can't afford a ro/di nor a tds meter.
However,
Those should still be in your list for future upgrades.
For a faster, as of -now Solution.
Get 5g(or more) of ro water from your local grocery store.
U know? Those glacier drinking water dispensers. For about 2 dollars.