I have a 50 Gallon Tank, I am getting so much algae, any suggestions?
I have a 50 gallon bowfront Tank, I have had an enormous infestation of hair, bubble, and slime algae. As well as numerous red and green algaes growing on my glass. I have a protein skimmer, 3 (350gph) powerheads, 300g filter, 35lbs of liverock, 30lbs of baserock, 2 small soft corals, 1 clownfish, 7 hermit crabs, 5 snails. I have tried everything to get rid of this algae. I am doing daily water changes of 1 gallon and adding distilled water, scraping the algae off the glass once a week with a paint scraper, and testing for phosphates and ammonia every other day. My water status is perfect, my lighting cycle is normal. I have 1 metal hydride bulb and a regular saltwater flourescent light. Any suggestions or help would be great as I am new to the whole fishtank thing! Thanks!
I took some pictures with my cameraphone, this will give you more insight.
www.msu.edu/~prasadar/tank1.jpg
www.msu.edu/~prasadar/tank2.jpg
Thanks for all your help!
Do you have the right bulb in your light? Sometimes this is the problem and nothing will help until you get the right bulb. Go to your pet shop and get help in founding the right bulb for the tank you have set-up. You may also be getting to much natural light from in outside source. Like a window or leaving on lights in the room it is in. Try covering the tank with a sheet for a few days and see if the source of the problem is coming in the outside of the tank!
Tell the hermit crabs that the snails said to shut the f**k up! The snails said the hermit crabs need to be more "hermity" and stick to their own side of the damn tank! That clownfish isn’t as funny as he thinks he is either. He’s been bugging the hermits a lot, apparently he has "wigger-fish" syndrome, he’s been referring the the hermit crabs as ‘ homie G, H.C." and he calls the snails "snizzails" - he needs to realize he’s not black.
Test your tank water for nitrates and Phosphates. If you have Green Hair Algae in your tank, your phosphates should read well above .05 mg/L
Use a reverse osmosis, deionization, or a combination RO/DI water filter unit to purify tap water is going to probably be more or at least as effective ad distilled water. These types of filters remove nitrate, phosphate and other chemical elements found in tap water that can lead to algae blooms and other problems. Or try a nitrate filter/denitrator.
Purchase and use Mangrove Plants in your tank or sump.
Check to see if your commercial sea salts contain high levels of ammonia/nitrogen. Purchase and use a good "nitrate sponge". Do not overfeed your tank. Siphon uneaten food and other loose material (detritus) from the substrate
By reducing the nitrate and phosphate levels in your tank, you will soon be healthy and free of the Green Hair Algae. Many of your tank occupants (corals and other invertebrates) will also benefit from the reduced levels.
I got an algae scrubber with a long handle for $3.00 at Wal-mart. It works like a charm!
I had a similar problem a while ago.
My first suggestion is to try and avoid allowing direct contact between your tank water and sunlight, as this promotes algae growth.
And while it may be a simple solution, adding an algae eating fish to your tank will help cut down on the growth. I know it helped my freshwater tank a lot.
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