Help with algae....Please

[star]

I have just put MH lights on my 55 gl tank. They are by Coralife with Moon light. Love the look. I just had standard lights before and WOW the difference.
Myproblem is that the algae is going crazy. There is green hair algae everywhere. The pink spots are fairly large also. Over the coarse of the last year, alot of my cleanup crew have died off, so I have another batch on the way. I have also reduced the time that the lights are on.
Is there anything else that I can do? The tank looks terrible!! :help:

 

[airforceb2]

What kind of water are you using?

 

[star]

I have a filter that my LFS sold me - have to admit though - the last few top ups, have been tap.
Should I hang my head in shame?

 

[monalisa]

Star,
I'm actually in the process of trying to get through a little bit of hair algae in my tank (came in on some base rock). This is my plan of action...first, I'm going to get a phosphate test (hair algea feeds on phosphates, and in a SW tank this should be zero). When I determine where that is at, and I'm sure mine aren't at zero, I plan on getting what they call chaeto algea to put right into my tank. This chaeto is supposed to feed on phosphates and clean the water. I'm pretty new at this hobby too, so I'm hoping that I'm understanding all of this correctly and not giving bad advice. I have heard of a product called phosban, but I really don't want to be adding additives to my tank if I don't have to. I want to take care of things as naturally as I can.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[star]

I appreciate the help. Will some crabs not eat the algae? I ordered a lawnmower blenny as well as the crabs and snails. I was really running low on those.
My lfs sold me all sorts of kits. I will check to see if there is one there and check what you said. Keep me posted on what you find with yours.

 

[jester805]

I'm having the same problem with my glass turning all green. I just recently got some power compact lighting and didn't even think about that being the culprit. I'm going to reduce the length of time my lights are on to see if that helps.
Also, just tonight I cleaned out my Emperor filters really well. I'm hoping that will help with the problem too. I've been buying turbo & astrae snails from my LFS, but they don't really seem to be doing the trick.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Star
I appreciate the help. Will some crabs not eat the algae? I ordered a lawnmower blenny as well as the crabs and snails. I was really running low on those.
My lfs sold me all sorts of kits. I will check to see if there is one there and check what you said. Keep me posted on what you find with yours.

Not in my limited experience...I haven't found anything that will "eat" hair algae. I'm pretty sure that with a phosphate test, and some chaeto that I'll be able to beat it (hopefully). I will definitely let you know how it goes.
:happyfish

 

[star]

Jester,
That stinks that the snails aren't working. I was really hoping that they would.
Do you have alot of bubbles in your algae? My sand bed in some areas is covered in bright green algae and has bubbles stuck all over it.

 

[jester805]

Originally Posted by Star
Jester,
That stinks that the snails aren't working. I was really hoping that they would.
Do you have alot of bubbles in your algae? My sand bed in some areas is covered in bright green algae and has bubbles stuck all over it.

Nope, I don't notice any bubbles at all. Also, my sand bed isn't green at all. It's strictly on the glass. I bought a few of those BIG snails (not sure what they're called), but my hermit crab ended up eating them. :thinking:

 

[star]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
Not in my limited experience...I haven't found anything that will "eat" hair algae. I'm pretty sure that with a phosphate test, and some chaeto that I'll be able to beat it (hopefully). I will definitely let you know how it goes.
:happyfish

Lisa,
Is your algae only on the glass or also on the sandbed?

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Star
Jester,
That stinks that the snails aren't working. I was really hoping that they would.
Do you have alot of bubbles in your algae? My sand bed in some areas is covered in bright green algae and has bubbles stuck all over it.

Star,
How old is your tank? Is it still cycling (sorry if I missed that). I know that while my tank was cycling, I had tons and tons of little bubbles being released from my substrate and I was told that it was normal, gases being released. Once I put in my clean up crew that diminished completely. Hope that's all it is.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[star]

The tank is right at 1 yr old. I don't know of anything that I could have done other than add a couple of new fish, that would have started a cycle. The only thing that changed dramatically are the lights.
The tank does look alot like a new setup at the moment which is what made me think about getting more cleaners. I only have 1 mexican and 3 turbo snails left and 3 tiny hermits. I figured more snails wouldn't hurt.
Chat again tomorrow.
Thanks for the input. :happy:

 

[monalisa]

Star,
The hair algea that I have is mostly on the rock that it came in on, and receding there, but not fast enough.
I actually went with buffing up my cleaner crew too, with some more snails, including 3 turbos, and they didn't even touch it.
I think that I'm going to go with my plan and see what happens...I'll let you know. Good luck with your's.
Lisa :happyfish