Algae going mad

  • Thread starter Thread starter welshgazz
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

welshgazz

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 28, 2019
Messages
66
Reaction score
34
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Tank is still settling in so I'm not overly worried however algae is getting a bit out of hand. I have a solid layer of green algae on rocks now and I have to wipe dusty brown from the glass daily. The algae releases loads of bubbles I'm not. I have incl some pics with the white lights on as otherwise they come out too blue.
The parameters are:
Salinity 1.025
Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0.15
Lights are on from 1045 ramp up until 1315 then ramp down at 2030.
I have popbloom rl90 light which is set to maximum of 75 percent blue and purple but 33 percent white and cyan

The tank was established and was moved to my house, the fish in it are healthy as are the few corals I have added.
I am doing a 25 litre water change his weekend when I was going to scrape the back wall and whatever rocks I can and siphon out anything floating. Thank you for any advice.

IMG_20251016_175800298_HDR_PCT.jpg IMG_20251016_175805699_HDR_PCT.jpg IMG_20251016_175814723_HDR_PCT.jpg IMG_20251016_175824980_HDR_PCT.jpg
 
Tank is still settling in so I'm not overly worried however algae is getting a bit out of hand. I have a solid layer of green algae on rocks now and I have to wipe dusty brown from the glass daily. The algae releases loads of bubbles I'm not. I have incl some pics with the white lights on as otherwise they come out too blue.
The parameters are:
Salinity 1.025
Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0.15
Lights are on from 1045 ramp up until 1315 then ramp down at 2030.
I have popbloom rl90 light which is set to maximum of 75 percent blue and purple but 33 percent white and cyan

The tank was established and was moved to my house, the fish in it are healthy as are the few corals I have added.
I am doing a 25 litre water change his weekend when I was going to scrape the back wall and whatever rocks I can and siphon out anything floating. Thank you for any advice.

IMG_20251016_175800298_HDR_PCT.jpg IMG_20251016_175805699_HDR_PCT.jpg IMG_20251016_175814723_HDR_PCT.jpg IMG_20251016_175824980_HDR_PCT.jpg
What sort of cleanup crew do you have? How old is the tank?
 
What sort of cleanup crew do you have? How old is the tank?
I have hermit crabs, a Halloween hermit, nassarius snails and trochus. I did have 3 turbo snails but they all died. The tank was up for couple of years before transporting it to my place. Been up a couple of months now. The sand was the only "new thing" oh and the water.
 
I have hermit crabs, a Halloween hermit, nassarius snails and trochus. I did have 3 turbo snails but they all died. The tank was up for couple of years before transporting it to my place. Been up a couple of months now. The sand was the only "new thing" oh and the water.
The number depends on the size of your tank, but you likely can add quite a few more snails: trochus, some more turbo snails, conch, colonista snails, etc. I would always recommend adding some copepods since they are really important for the tank ecosystem in general.

Since your nutrients are in normal ranges (and assuming you are doing frequent and consistent water changes, which you should definitely be doing), I would adjust your lighting schedule, such as lowering the intensity and/or timing. Start small and go slow—patience is important so as not to throw everything into whack. You'll have to experiment to see what the best range is for the tank.

This algae likely could just be an extended part of your ugly stages as your tank's parameters work themselves out, and just something you will patiently have to work through while always keeping a consistent and proper maintenance program.
 
The number depends on the size of your tank, but you likely can add quite a few more snails: trochus, some more turbo snails, conch, colonista snails, etc. I would always recommend adding some copepods since they are really important for the tank ecosystem in general.

Since your nutrients are in normal ranges (and assuming you are doing frequent and consistent water changes, which you should definitely be doing), I would adjust your lighting schedule, such as lowering the intensity and/or timing. Start small and go slow—patience is important so as not to throw everything into whack. You'll have to experiment to see what the best range is for the tank.

This algae likely could just be an extended part of your ugly stages as your tank's parameters work themselves out, and just something you will patiently have to work through while always keeping a consistent and proper maintenance program.
Tank is 40 gallon or 153 litres. Will get some new snails tomorrow.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

ARE YOU READY TO CONFESS TO CRAZIEST, DUMBEST, FUNNIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE IN REEFING?

  • Yeah, I'll confess! (Share your story in the comments!)

    Votes: 66 56.4%
  • Nah, I'll keep mine a secret...(Don't be like that, share with the class!)

    Votes: 51 43.6%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new