can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong?

[Switch Blade]

it may be your lights at 50% turn it up to around 80-100

[Nano]

Originally Posted by Switch Blade

it may be your lights at 50% turn it up to around 80-100

Keep in mind, my tanks 15" deep and 24x24" wide the light sits about 8" from the water. Also this problem didn't start til after moving the tank, I am leaning towards a nutrient issue, as the algae is feeding off of something.

[Nano]

Also I should add, cause I know someone will give me the "nothing good happens fast" bit lol, I know this, I'm just seeing if there's anything I can do to get this under control..

[marie]

Algae does need nutrients to grow but if you have seen how plants can grow on bare rock, you realize that once established it needs very little nutrients to stay (in fact hair algae needs less nutrients then your corals do to thrive). GHA are very efficient nutrient uptakers and even a little fish poop in the water will be grabbed before the skimmer can remove it.
You are going to have to physically remove it, yourself or some kind of grazer (keep in mind if you get something to graze on it the resulting poop will fuel the algae)

[Nano]

Thanks Marie, my skimmer was on the fritz for a few weeks as well after the move, nothing seemed to go right. I have pretty low stock in my tank, 2 clowns, a bengai cardinal, and a 6 line wrasse. And cuc obviously. I thought of using a seahare, but didnt want to have to find a home for him after all was done. I can seem to find Mexican turbos anywhere and I hear they are good for eating gha.

Like I said its at the point where I'm not even enjoying it anymore. I remove as much as I can daily but it comes back so fast. I am being told that the prodibio will solve all my problems in this department, and hope that's the case, cause I'd love for my corals to get their color back and start growing again...

[marie]

Originally Posted by Nano

.....
Like I said its at the point where I'm not even enjoying it anymore. I remove as much as I can daily but it comes back so fast.....

I know what you mean, I have fought just about every pest algae out there. I have covered my tank up with a towel before now so I wouldn't have to look at it

Everyone telling you to lower your phosphates only goes so far. It sounds like your nutrient levels are already too low for your corals. Taking the rocks out and scrubbing during water changes helps (rinse the rock off in the old change water before placing back in the tank)

[Coralgurl]

Have you tried turning the lights completely off for a few days? I've done this and it does help. Turbo snails are also helpful but are like bulldozers in the tank.

[MrTreat]

if you have a grazer and limit your light time, it might get everything under control... a friend used a couple emerald crabs

[Nano]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

Have you tried turning the lights completely off for a few days? I've done this and it does help. Turbo snails are also helpful but are like bulldozers in the tank.

No I haven't I'm a bit nervous about it.

[reefwars]

Ken, marie is dead right, your ha needs to be manually removed or the eying algae produces its own pollution.


Pull it all out even if it takes all day, refresh your gfo and clean your Skimmer. It will dossapear soon.

Hanna for phosphate to get a real reading.

Go blackout for 3 days minimum...no ambiant light.

Prodibio works but it wont harvest your algae you need to do that yourself, if you don't it takes ten times longer just waiting for it to die off