Lots of green algea

[fishbait]

Hey Everyone
I just set up my tank about 2 weeks ago and i have
some live rock about 10 lbs.and live sand. i got the tank from
friend and it was all set up and everything was fine when i got
it he dumped all the water but kept the sand and rock wet
i now have a domino damsel and a yellow tail blue damsel
about 5 small snails and 3 hermit crabs all of my params are
fine PH is about 8.2-8.4 the ammonia,nitrites,and nitrates are
all below 1 ppm they have never risen or fallen drastically
and i havent lost any fish but i do have a lot of green algea on
the rock and brown on the sand do i need to get more
cleaners could it be a water flow problem i have a emporer
bio filter a rio 200 power head and a rio 1100 am i doing
something wrong or just being impatient
thank you for any help,
fishbait

 

[beaslbob]

First of all, your ammonia and nitrItes should read 0.0. nitrAtes will be above 0.0 depending upon your bioload and the amount of plant life. Your green algae and brown on the sand is consuming the nitrAtes and phosphates. The best way of controling the ugly algaes to to add plant life you desire. The desirable plant life will consume the ammonia/nitrAtes/phosphates and starve the uglies.