Help with algae problem

[rimrider19k]

I have a 12 gallon aqua cude with 3 hermit crabs, one turbo snail , one fire fish, and one yellow clown goby. I plan to add one clown percula. I have a very bad algae problem it is brown and on the sand I stir up the sand and it comes right back in 3 days. I have tried to play with the power head but nothing helps. What can I do? Thanks for your help. The tank temp is at a constant 80 degrees

 

[USCavalry19d]

If you are using tap water that is your problem. alot of tap water is high in phophates which add to the growth of algae. if your not using tap water then you might be over feeding the tank or the lighting is on to long. try cutting back a little on the feeding and see if that helps...if not then cut back on the lights for a while and it should kill the slime algae out.

 

[dorkfish]

How long has the tank been up? Please do not get another fish, your tank is stocked as it is, adding more fish will only make your algae (and nutrient) problems worse.

Do you think you can post water parameters and maintenence as well?

 

[mysis]

over feeding the tank or the lighting is on to long.

1) Overfeeding generally only causes nitrates

2) Algae needs 2 things to grow, nutrients and light, removing 1 will stop it. Lowering the photoperiod is not a solution.