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Kenya
Mon, 15th Mar 2010, 09:44 PM
Im having some insane algae growth right now. With in 2-3 days their will be green algae growing on my sand bottom and on the glass and within 5-7 days my glass will be completely covered in green algae. Any suggestions to reduce this?
SoLiD
Mon, 15th Mar 2010, 09:56 PM
Reduce the source of food for that the Algae needs to grow. These include:

1. Nitrates
2. Phosphates
3. Silicates
4. Light
SoLiD
Mon, 15th Mar 2010, 09:58 PM
Water Changes would be a good place to start also.
Kenya
Tue, 16th Mar 2010, 11:36 PM
I do not have the right test kit to test for silicates and phosphates but my nitrate and ammonia are both at 0 ph is at 8.4. I just did a 50% water change today. Hopefully my tank wont be covered in algae when i come back from spirng break vacation, like last time :/...
Europhyllia
Tue, 16th Mar 2010, 11:41 PM
how old is your set up?
drunkenclam
Tue, 16th Mar 2010, 11:52 PM
Im having some insane algae growth right now. With in 2-3 days their will be green algae growing on my sand bottom and on the glass and within 5-7 days my glass will be completely covered in green algae. Any suggestions to reduce this?

water source. what is it?
tebstan
Wed, 17th Mar 2010, 12:05 AM
Using tap water? Fess up... ;)

I'm no expert on this kind of thing for saltwater, but I've had multiple customers complain of sudden algae blooms in their freshwater tanks after doing a water change with tap water. I haven't looked up what's going on with the aquifer, but it happens every spring.
Kenya
Wed, 17th Mar 2010, 03:06 AM
Using tap water? Fess up... ;)


Hah yeah i got caught. I had a diatom problem due to tap water but now it has stopped by using different water conditioner and longer mixing time with the salt.

My setup is around 4 months old. Maybe just another part in the tank cycle?
tebstan
Wed, 17th Mar 2010, 11:31 AM
My setup is around 4 months old. Maybe just another part in the tank cycle?

Probably. I've been told these cycles of ugliness go away faster when you use a better water.


...I wouldn't know... I use tap too. :redface:
drunkenclam
Fri, 19th Mar 2010, 01:09 AM
Hah yeah i got caught. I had a diatom problem due to tap water but now it has stopped by using different water conditioner and longer mixing time with the salt.

My setup is around 4 months old. Maybe just another part in the tank cycle?

at 4 months would be hard to say if it's the tap water (with conditioner) or just part of the cycle or a combination of both. ro/di would help narrow the problem.

i won't debate tap vs. ro/di. just too many variables in a closed system.

i will say,imho, limit the variables.