Help With Algae In 30 Gallon Tank

[korymiller]

Hi,
We've had our tank setup for about 16 months now, we have two clownfish, a coral beauty angel, and a six line wrasse. For about the last 7-8 months we've had something green (we are guessing it is some form of algae) growing on the glass in the tank. We don't notice it immediately after cleaning the tank / doing a water change, but after about 7-8 days, it starts coming back. I'm not exactly sure what it is, or what causes it, but the only way we've found to remove it, is to scrub the glass with an algae scraper, or a toothbrush. This is only a temporary fix. I don't have any strips or test kits currently to test the nitrates, or anything like that with the water, all I can do is give the specific gravity, which currently is at 1.024. We've seen this with other specific gravities as well, so I don't think that it is this that is causing it. So the questions I would like to have answered are:
1.) What is this that is growing?
2.) Is there a way to eliminate it, or slow it down?
3.) Is there another way to remove what has already grown other than scrubbing the glass with an algae scraper or toothbrush?

 

[bang guy]

Looks like Diatoms.
Running a magnet scraper over it every few days will work.
Removing any silicates from the source water will slow them down.

 

[kiefers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/387582/help-with-algae-in-30-gallon-tank#post_3411471
Looks like Diatoms.
Running a magnet scraper over it every few days will work.
Removing any silicates from the source water will slow them down.
+1. How much do you feed the fish? You can do several things to slow it down but in most cases if it is a diatom bloom it will eventually die off.
Don't run your lights as long
cut back on feeding the tank
get yourself a clean up crew (CUC) snails would be good
these are just a few. good luck

 

[redsonya]

Hard to tell from the picture. Could be diatoms but judging from the pic, to me, it appears to be green coralline algae. Algae will grow in your tank regardless of what you do. Some are beneficial while others can be a nuisance. What promotes the growth of algae, in general, is nutrients and lighting. Phosphates is a key inorganic chemical that algae utilizes. Too much phosphates and an algae bloom can occur. To combat or control algae growths in a marine tank you can take several steps. Reduce light cycles and feeding like Kiefers mentioned. Using RO/DI water greatly reduces the introduction of phosphates. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/9/chemistry <-- great link for the chemical.