Green algae problem

[korgull]

I have been having problems with the green hairy algae in my tank. I keep both the actenic and power compacts on for about 15 hours a day, is that too much? I just did a water change and I took my water in to the LFS and they said my water is perfect except for a little bit of ammonia. Is there anything you can put in the water to take care of the green algae like there is for the red kind? Or is there any kind of fish or crab that eats the stuff?

 

[kev]

What kind of water are you using? Conditioned tap water contains tons of unwanted minerals and heavy metals, which is likely your problem. How long has your tank been running, there shouldn't be any ammonia at all? There are lots of fish and crabs that will eat your algae, lawnmower blennies(are VERY good for this), blue leg hermit crabs, scarlet hermits, etc... I highly reccomend you get a lawnmower, I used to have one till it jumped out of the tank, they have lots of personality and you would enjoy one alot!

 

[korgull]

i use the r/o water (new to the abbreviations) from the LFS. as far as the ammonia goes, im not sure why its there, i just did a water change and added the tree coral right before that. ill look into the lawnmower blenny...thanks!

 

[jim672]

korgull,
I have a number of thoughts on possible causes of your algea. Kev asked you how long your tank has been set up? How long?
Hair algea is a normal part of a tanks cycle. Is your tank pretty new?
If your tank is established, the elevated ammonia reading may be because it looks to me that you're pushing your stocking limit. What kind of filtration are you using? How much Live rock? Live Sand? Your fish may be causing more ammonia than your filtration can handle. How much do you feed? How often? Left over fish food also contributes to ammonia levels.
Have you ever tested your phosphates? Phosphates feed algea.
If neither of those first three gives us a clue to your algea problem, it's my opinion that you are running your lights too long. Try cuting back to 12 hours a day and see if that makes a difference.
Jim

 

[korgull]

sorry about that, my tank has been up for about 7 months now. i feed the fish once a day and i just put a little pinch in there. i also use the Oceans Blend ph/alkalinity and calcium daily. i have a wet dry and i am using a protein skimmer as well. i have about 20 lbs of live rock and about 10 lbs of base rock, and 1 bag of live sand over a bag of crushed coral. i dont believe i have ever had my phosphates checked, unless they do it at the LFS. im not sure. is my tank overstocked? i only have 4 fish in there. thanks for the help
Rich

 

[jonthefb]

i would definately cut back your lightign to 10-12 hrs. this may not be the source of the prob, but could definately be helping it. Where do you get your ro water from? have you ever tested your ro water? i would reccommend doing so if you havent. how often do you feed, what do you feed, how much. with those 4 fish i would reccommend feedign every other day. also about the sand over the cc. is this correct? if so your hair algae could be the result of the cc trapping nutrients.
good luck
jon

 

[jim672]

korgull,
Well.......I don't want to sound like the "Tang Police" but.......your hippo tang is going to get too big for your tank, if it isn't already. Hippo's need a lot of room to swim. Prevailing opinion is hippos shouldn't be in anything smaller than 80 to 100 gallon tank. I don't know what kind of fish your "yellow angel" is but I'd guess it's one of the pigmy (centropyge) variety.....I hope.
If it's a full size angel, it too will soon be too big for your tank.
Having these fish on your tank, though, probably isn't the direct, or only, cause of your algea problems. You can buy a Phosphate test kit or your LFS may test it for you. I'd do that soon.
How old are the bulbs you're burning? If the actinic is a Normal Flourescent, it shoud be replaced. The PC's are nearing their replacement point as well. Algea can be caused by an "old" bulb.
So.....in addition to reducing your photo period, I'd consider replacing your bulbs; at least your actinic. If your phosphates test high, try a good phosphate sponge....also available at your LFS.
Jim

 

[korgull]

no, ive never tested the ro water, how do you go about doing that? the water i get is from a respected LFS, and i would think they are making it right, but i am still new at this so i could be wrong. ill start feeding them every other day, and yes my live sand is over the crushed coral. when i first started out, i didnt know the "rules", so i just bought the crushed coral and then i bought the live sand a week or so later and i dumped it on top of that. i think its crushed coral any way, it may be the other stuff (argonite or somthing).
but i should mention that my fish are fine, and ive never had a problem with anything dying, ive had the 4 fish in there now from the get go, i havent added a fish in about 5 months now. i even have the red crystalline algae growing on things, which i guess is good, so im not do too bad i dont think, just that green algae thing. and now that i think of it, i never had the algae problem until i put the power compacts in, which was about a 2 months ago.
thanks again

 

[jonthefb]

what type of lighhts did you run before the pc's? im guessing that the new growth is a result o fthe lighting upgrade, and possibly overfeeding, if you water is showing ammonia. TEst your RO water and see whats up, and it wouldnt hurt to run soem kind of poly-filter(name brand) to bring down phosphates, ammonia, etc!
good luck
jon

 

[korgull]

ok thanks, ill look into the poly filter. the light i had before was just the plain ole 40 watter that came with the hood. i ran that about 4 or 5 months til i got the GE Power compacts

 

[jim672]

korgull,
Sounds like you've isolated the problem......too much light. As jon and I suggested, cut back on your light time.
I'd check your phosphates just to be safe.
The stuff I mentioned about your stock, particularly the hippo tang, is an issue you'll need to face. I know. I had one in my 45 for 8 months or so. He was very happy.....I thought......he died soon after from ich and the ich killed all my other fish as well.
Jon mentioned the sand over cc issue. Again, from experience, cc tends to trap phosphates, then leach them back into your water column, causing algea growth. With just cc, it can be "vacuumed" and kept relatively clean. Putting sand over it prevents the vacuum cleaning.....wouldn't want to suckup your sand! Just something to be aware of.......
Jim

 

[korgull]

ok thanks. ill remember that. i had an ich outbreak when i first started too. it was bad but nothing died, i was lucky. even the tang who was covered in it came thru in the end. and i hear they are notorious for getting it and dying.