Algae!!!

[enriquerivas]

In the last two weeks my tank has suddenly started growing hair algae and this bright green algae on the sand. The one on the sand is beginning to collect bubbles inside and lifting up. Im adding 3 gallons of water to my tank due to evaporation per day and im not using RODI water. Is this the cause. What am I doing wrong. Someone please help. I plan on seting up my RODI filter this weekend.

[Ram_Puppy]

enrique? where are you located? San Antonio tap water is not condusive to an algae free aquarium, I tested my own tap and it has nitrates in it. I would use RO water or buy ro or distilled if you can. How old is your tank? every tank has an algae phase it goes through.

If you don't allready have it, you should get a few detrivours and sand sifters, the fact that you say the algae is growing on the gravel tells me it's not getting turned by a sand sifter, grab some nassarius snails, and maybe get a live sand culture from folks that have mini-stars and pods and what not...

Hope that helps, any more info you can give us on your tank will help.

[RobertG]

Im adding 3 gallons of water to my tank due to evaporation per day and im not using RODI water.

I would check the parameters of this water. I would imagine it is the cause, phosphates are high I'm sure.

I would invest in a RODI unit soon, especially if you are serious about this hobby. It was one of the best things I did. My algae blooms stopped very shortly after this addition.

Good Luck !

[dan]

i started my tank with RO/DI water and have never had the algae problem. also have lots of snails two sand sifting stars. 5 tang don't hurt either. plus i have a 40 gal fuge to help in export and a 70gal zenia tank also for export.