Algae Problem?

newbie for life

newbie for life

JD-Boston
Jan 27, 2008
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Boston
Just had a question about Algae. I have a new tank.. started in January. 55 gallon w/ 3 damsel fish, LR, 1 LTA, a couple choc. chip stars. I heard tanks under a year old have algae blooms from time to time... but i am getting massive amouts growing everywhere.. walls, rock, filter ect... Not sure if this is good algae or bad stuff... that is harmful to my stock. I checked my nitrites ok, nitrates around 15-20, Ph good, water hardness good, phosphates good, calcium good... I did use tap water origionally with the buffer. I am going to get some distilled water and start doing some water changes but I dont want to add anything to the tank if this algae is bad. I also have a 48" flourescent hood light that i have been keeping on for like 12 hours and off for 12 hours.. i am going to cut way back on that light being on. But just wanted to see if anyone has had this same problem. Thanks for any input in advance.
Sorry about the bad spelling.

algae growth1.jpg algae growth2.jpg
 
looks like ya need a lawnmower blenny!
 
lol yeah, i dont know its technical name, but just go to any local fish store and tell em ya want a lawnmower blenny..they will have em..
the blenny will just sit on your rock and stuff himself full of algae..you will both be happy!
 
You have to be careful using fish for those purposes. They can often eat it all and then starve.

Alternatively they don't like that specific algae but some other type.

I have about an acre of that same exact stuff growing in my middle tank. I have a fat permanently gorged Yellow Tang. He spends his entire day eating the really beautiful bright green algae I would love having, while meticulously avoiding this stuff.
 
kcress said:
You have to be careful using fish for those purposes. They can often eat it all and then starve.

Alternatively they don't like that specific algae but some other type.

I have about an acre of that same exact stuff growing in my middle tank. I have a fat permanently gorged Yellow Tang. He spends his entire day eating the really beautiful bright green algae I would love having, while meticulously avoiding this stuff.
Click to expand...

That's usually how it works (at least with my luck). It is for reasons like this I prefer other methods to take care of algae (manual removal and nutrient export/adsorption/absorption) before I rely on biological means, which are much more unreliable and unpredictable--albeit more interesting, however.
 
I'd cut down your lighting to 24hrs off and then 5hrs per day. I'd also cut down your feeding if possible. Any chance you can use RO or RO/DI water? I had a similar breakout on my tank and then that's when I realised my RO/DI filters needed changing!!! From my experience a yellow tang and Lawnmower blenny (Salarias fasciatus) won't touch the stuff once it gets to that length. Neither will my Urchin or snails.
 
I've got that in my tank. I just turned my lights off yesterday and will keep them off for a few days. I don't have coral so I can do it. I'll let you know if it works.
 
Ya i dont have a problem turning the lights off for a 24 hour period... not sure how much my long tent. anem. will enjoy that.. Anyone take their Live Rock out of the tank and scrub it with a tooth brush? If i do take the LR out can i just rinse it with tap water and scrub all the algae off? Not sure if there was a special technique to this.
 
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