Why all this algea

[fatcats]

Ive been at this for a while and i still have algea in my tank. IT has a skimmer and a mechanical filtration. But i cant get rid of this brown algae taht just sits on the rocks. Ive been doing 5gal changes with Ro/di water for about a month and a half now and it goes away for a day or two but after that is right back .It looks terriable

i have nice lights and all but everytime i turn on the MH there is a bloom. I dont have many snails or hermits, problem?
Thanks for the help
ps i really want to get corals and all but i dont want them to die

 

[mr.clownfish]

hermits and snails can help but not a lot. what kind of lights do u have? how old is ur tank? what are ur water parameters?

 

[fatcats]

4x54 t5 with 2 150w mh 10-12hr/day
all my parameters are close to or at zero
ph around 8.1
temp 78f

 

[mr.clownfish]

wow u have some real good lighting there.
i think 10-12 hours is a little too much i leave mine on for 7 hours and my lfs says that's a little much, i don't know how long to keep them on exactly, but 10-12 is a bit too much.
i have pc and i get a load of algae

 

[alabama reefer]

I run my vho's for 10 hrs but only run my halides for 4hrs. If you are running your halides 10-12hrs then I think that is a little long, IMO. I don't know what corals you may or may not have but cutting back on some lighting hours will help your bloom if that is what is causing it.

 

[bang guy]

Tell me about your feeding habits and then explain the progression of your cycle in excruciating detail.

 

[fatcats]

2 chromis
1 yellow tang
1 clown fish
( i know my tank isnt over stocked)
twice a day feedings with dried seaweed once every 2 days