Green Film Algae **Updated 5/9/14**

Discussion in 'Algae' started by flynhawaiianz28, Apr 21, 2014.

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  1. flynhawaiianz28

    flynhawaiianz28 Purple Spiny Lobster

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    Hey fellow reefers! Seems like on a consistent basis I am battling algae in my 20 gallon nano. As for a little background info, the tank has been up for over 5 years so it is plenty mature. I took care of the green hair algae problem recently. The tank has an aquaclear filter that I modded into a fuge so it's a fuge/filter combo (still need chaeto) and I have not been running any GFO or phosguard or anything similar. There is no skimmer either, just a pretty basic setup. I do 5 gallon water changes every week now and have been the past few months since I decided to really get back into the hobby. There is probably about 15-20 lbs of sand as well as 15-20 lbs of live rock as well. My bio-load was relatively low but has been increasing as of late with the addition of a few new fish and corals. I have a Hydor Koralia powerhead that is somewhat older but the flow is decent just not the 40-50x turnover that I would like to see. The lighting is a Kessil A350W tuna blue and it is on for about 10-12 hours a day. I can't seem to figure out what I can do to get rid of the green film algae on the walls. I'm not too super concerned about the backwall but more of the front and sides since I look through those the most. Even today I used a magfloat to clear the walls around noon or so and by 10 o'clock tonight the film algae was back. Anyone got any ideas on how I can remedy this issue?:-/
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2014
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  3. Billme

    Billme Eyelash Blennie

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    What are your test parameters?
     
  4. flynhawaiianz28

    flynhawaiianz28 Purple Spiny Lobster

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    That's the one thing I need to do. Since I have been out of the hobby in so long and I just started back up I need a whole new line of test kits. I don't want to break the bank but I am looking into the Salifert line or maybe a few of the Hannah tests. I know my phosphates can not be zero but in the mean time I can take my water to my local reef store and he will test it for free.
     
  5. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

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    Do you use rodi water? How often and how much do you feed?
     
  6. flynhawaiianz28

    flynhawaiianz28 Purple Spiny Lobster

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    I change the water once a week and I use RO/DI water to mix the salt and RO/DI water for top offs as well. I feed about twice to three times a day but the feedings are small since i do it more frequently. I do have flakes that I used but lately I have stopped since the algae.
     
  7. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    How many and what size fish do you have? Do you have any mechanical filtration, and if so, how often do you clean or change the media?
     
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  9. flynhawaiianz28

    flynhawaiianz28 Purple Spiny Lobster

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    i have about 5 fish which i know it is pushing it. I have one yellow clown goby that is about 1", One watchman goby that is about 1.5" (really super small for a watchman compared to the adult size), a percula clown about 2.5", one purple firefish about 3", and a mandarin dragonet about 2.5". Oh and i almost forgot the pistol shrimp but he is probably about 1" as well if that. As for filtration I have that AquaClear 70 filter that I modded that I used a premade carbon floss filter (fit for a penguin filter). I also use the PURA filtration pad (cut to size) and white floss filter (cut to size) as a buffer before the PURA pad. I clean those at least once a week but closer to 2-3 times a week. I just started using those but when they get closer to the end of their life I will stop rinsing them out and replace with new ones.
     
  10. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Is your snail population adequate? Do you have the right types of snails and inverts?
    Film algae is commonly a chronic issue and not necessarily a bad thing. You probably do have too many fish for the size of tank. Lower nutrients should be of assist but without the proper inverts to eat the film algae it will always be present.

    Looks to Certh, Astraea, Stomattella, some urchins and some limpets. Abalone are great algae eaters but I do not think the tank is big enough.
     
  11. flynhawaiianz28

    flynhawaiianz28 Purple Spiny Lobster

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    yeah I was looking into a CUC earlier today and sent in the form for the custom CUC at reefcleaners.org so I will see what they say when I get an email back. I don't believe the CUC is adequate either at the moment. I have about 7 or 8 astraea snails in there cause I have purchased those within the past few weeks and other than that I know there is a mix of red and blue leg crabs, probably about 10 or so.
     
  12. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    With that many fish, you might also want to add a skimmer. That would reduce Nitrate production, which in turn, will slow algae growth.