algea out of control again

[Guy W]

I just don't get it. One minute I have no algea problems, the next it's out of control.

I ofcourse went through the new tank algea syndrome over a year ago. First diatoms, then cyno.

But my tank's been up for well over a year, and I can't control the hair algea.

I clean my entire tank and by the end of the month it's all over the rocks and back glass.

I only run my lights for 7 - 8 hours per day. (8 hours actincs, 7 hours with PC 10k's). The bulbs are all changed every 6 to 8 months.

My tank isn't stocked very heavily. Only 5 fish in a 125, all between 2 and 6 inchs each.

I feed once a day (sometimes every other day).

30 gal. water changes once a month.

Water parameters seem to be in line, though I only test once in a while now. But i've never had a gross amount of nitrates and the couple times i've tested phosphates I haven't had any.

All I can think of is the sun light. It's not direct light. but I have a huge sliding glass door about 20 feet away from the tank. But like I said it doesn't get direct sunlight.

Any ideas?

[kreblak]

I have the same issues with my tank. I have found that a combination of turbo, astrea, and trochus snails works well at keeping the glass clean. Also, I got a candy stripe cleaner shrimp who mowed down the green hair algae. Now, I only have to clean the glass once a month, where as before I was cleaning once a week, just to keep the fish visible.

[Guy W]

Just for fun I did the test's on my tank. Things turned out pretty normal. I did have a tiny trace of phosphates and the nitrates were a little higher than I liked. But nothing major.

dKH
10

pH
8.3

Phosphate
.25 or less

Nitrate
20ppm

Calcium
240ppm

Ammonia
0ppm

Nitrite
0ppm

Gravity
1.22

Now my Calcium is way low. But this isn't a reef tank and I don't do anything to suppliment it really. I buffer the tank for pH once every 2 weeks, otherwise I don't add any additives.

Also, the temp runs at 80 to 82 degrees. A little high but I can't find a way to keep it down.

Guy

[Guy W]

Originally posted by kreblak
I have the same issues with my tank. I have found that a combination of turbo, astrea, and trochus snails works well at keeping the glass clean. Also, I got a candy stripe cleaner shrimp who mowed down the green hair algae. Now, I only have to clean the glass once a month, where as before I was cleaning once a week, just to keep the fish visible.

Inverts are out. I have a trigger!

Maybe it's time to take him back to the store.

[mogurnda]

Inverts would help, but before you dump your trigger, here's a thought. How much coralline algae have you got? I find that I only have hair algae where the coralline isn't growing. To get good coralline growth, you usually need a lot more Ca than you have. Maybe it's worth trying to bring up your Ca (with ESV, for example) to see if you can out-compete the hair algae. Just an idea.
Is your tank big enough for a tang?

[Guy W]

Originally posted by mogurnda
Inverts would help, but before you dump your trigger, here's a thought. How much coralline algae have you got? I find that I only have hair algae where the coralline isn't growing. To get good coralline growth, you usually need a lot more Ca than you have. Maybe it's worth trying to bring up your Ca (with ESV, for example) to see if you can out-compete the hair algae. Just an idea.
Is your tank big enough for a tang?

My coraline growth is, sparse. The rocks that are most towards the light have some but the lower rock has none. I'm sure due to my low calcium concentrations. I did use Kalkwasser for a while but I have since stopped. Maybe I should restart that regiment.

My tank is a 125gallons so I have room for a Tang. But if I went that route I'd just sooner get rid of the trigger and move over to a reef tank so I can enjoy some corals and inverts. I wouldn't mind getting a tang as well, provded it was not aggressive and reef safe. I had a yellow tang for a short while, and he would beat the heck out of the trigger (go figure).

Maybe a Kole tang?

Guy

[kreblak]

Yellow tangs are highly territorial. I had one who ruled the roost for a while. He met his match in the form of a pseudochromis. They would spar for days at a time, and finally the tang got sick and died.

[BrianH]

You could also try a foxface. Good algae eaters but they are venemous.

Brian