So my tank has been having algae problems for quite some time now.
Here is some info about my tank
36 gallons
45 pounds LR
BAKPAK 2 Skimmer
Flow 25X hour (approximate)
Tank is about 4 and a half years old
Inhabitants: Clownfish and Coral Beauty angel (been in tank for 3 and a half years)
So because I go away to school, I don't really get to maintain the tank very often. I'll make it home maybe once a month and get a good water change and clean up the tank but that is it. Nitrates according to my test kit are undetectable. The fish get fed once to twice a day by my family members.
Phosphates are pretty much the problem here. Since there has been a problem for so long, im pretty much prepared for a long battle.
The thing is I don't know where to start to combat it. I run the skimmer 24/7 now and do weekly water changes but its not going to be enough. The type of algae that grows is green hair algae and what I believe to be cyano (its long, thin and red looking. it will disappear after cleaning but it will come back in a few days).
I am going to try and add filter media into my bak pak skimmer since it has a return chamber I can place it in. Also I need a new clean-up crew, most of the snails I had have died so once I feel i can safely add them again i will. So I could really use any tips, advice or guidance to help solve my problem.
Thanks
Here is some info about my tank
36 gallons
45 pounds LR
BAKPAK 2 Skimmer
Flow 25X hour (approximate)
Tank is about 4 and a half years old
Inhabitants: Clownfish and Coral Beauty angel (been in tank for 3 and a half years)
So because I go away to school, I don't really get to maintain the tank very often. I'll make it home maybe once a month and get a good water change and clean up the tank but that is it. Nitrates according to my test kit are undetectable. The fish get fed once to twice a day by my family members.
Phosphates are pretty much the problem here. Since there has been a problem for so long, im pretty much prepared for a long battle.
The thing is I don't know where to start to combat it. I run the skimmer 24/7 now and do weekly water changes but its not going to be enough. The type of algae that grows is green hair algae and what I believe to be cyano (its long, thin and red looking. it will disappear after cleaning but it will come back in a few days).
I am going to try and add filter media into my bak pak skimmer since it has a return chamber I can place it in. Also I need a new clean-up crew, most of the snails I had have died so once I feel i can safely add them again i will. So I could really use any tips, advice or guidance to help solve my problem.
Thanks