Green algae on live sand

likwid · #1 08-02-2007, 01:32 AM

Hey guys,

I am running a 10g tank with a rio nano skimmer, AC HOB filter, and two powerheads in the tank. I have one clownfish and one Bicolor Pseudochromis. The tank has been active for 7 months now and I am having a hell of a time trying to eliminate the algae on my live sand. I have sugar sized live sand, and I keep getting a fine, bright green algae on it, which appear in clumps on the sand. I dont think it is hair algae, since it is very fine and sourrounds each grain of sand, making it green. I only feed 2-3 times a week with either flakes or mysis shrimp, and my light cycle is only around 8 hours a day. The sand bed is about an inch to an inch and a half deep, and I have tried stirring it, but the algae just reappears a few hours later. I have also tried syphoning during water changes, but it comes back a day or two later as well. I have tested for phosphates, and they are at 0. Currently I have 3 Astrea snails, 2 Cerith snails, 3 blue legged hermits, and 2 scarlet hermits. The Astreas stay buried in the sand and are useless on the surface of it, and the Ceriths just stay on the glass and rock. What can I do?

Redrover · #2 08-02-2007, 01:50 AM

I would cut back time on lighting to 5 / 6hrs
Over feeding...Myself I would feed daily, but a very tiny amount
Weekly water change
Like dogboy said check your parameters...esp.nitrares

dogboy · #3 08-02-2007, 01:57 AM

Are you sure your phos. test is working properly? The algae is feeding on something in your water... just a matter of figuring out what it is....

what are your other parameters?

likwid · #4 08-02-2007, 02:02 AM

As far as I know the tests are accurate. The algae grows lightly on the glass, which I usually scrape off once or twice a week, but aside from that it only grows on the sand.