help!!!!!!!!!

[clintvalian]

i have 2 questions for you guys....
1. i have a thick marroon colored algea that is blanketing my live rock. along with that i have this thick brightly colored algea also growing along the surface of my live sand bottom. my aquarium is about 2 yrs old and it seems i'm always fighting this stuff. is this good? bad? if it's bad how do i get rid of it?? i have live sand and my protein skimmer is working great and i have a live sand bed and a wet dry system installed. if my natrates are high what can i do to lower them besides water changes because this doesn't seem to make a dent in my readings....
2. do you guys recommend a cleaning crew? snails, sand sifter, hermit crab? even though i have a live sand bed??
i know this is alot to read so i appreciate everyones patience and i'd really appreciate all the info you guys can provide me....thanks!

 

[kris]

Who is is your tank?? define high nitrates??? how high are they exactly, and have you checked your phosphate levels?? Clea-up-crews are great but it depends on what other creatures are already in your tank.
Good Luck

 

[jacksonpt]

I agree with Kris... get your phosphates and nitrates down first, then consider a clean-up crew, and possibly a tang.

 

[dirtybilge]

My sailfin tang, and algea blenny eat algea all day long no joke, buy a cleanup crew, there worth it. Also are you useing RO water or RO/DI if not buy a filter, and slowly start taking out bio balls so in a few months you have none, make sure you have plenty of live rock!

 

[clintvalian]

what can u do to lower phosphates???

 

[rhonda f.]

I have a 125g and we have always got a problem w/ algae. We got a coulpe of shrimp, emerald crabs and snails for the rocks, and a sandsifting starfish, and a couple of blennies for the sand and we got a magnet scapper. That combination works pretty good. Keep the curtains closed if your tank is near the window. We have also lessened how long our lights are on. Good luck, it's seems like an endless battle!