Algae

[frostiex]

Hi all my tank is 33 gal @ about 4 weeks old..last week it started to develop this ugly dark brown / purple algae on my substrates. ( I have crush coral)

I used to have some angel hair algae a piece of my rock...but those have been cleaned up by my snails.

I have changed the water twice so far. on the second week and 3rd week and planning on doing it again tomorrow.

on my last water change I have also added some phosguard to the filter.
but this brownish algae is ugly how do I get rid of it?....an suggestions?

[Doug]

Sounds like normal algae growth in new tanks. If your using a crushed coral substrate then its best to keep it clean by siphoning it during a wtare change.

[frostiex]

so there is nothing i could do for it? I did syphon it. but it is not bad though right? What are soem algae that is bad?

[PeterW]

I had this problem with algae too.

Tried alot of different things. Better skimming. More water changes. Bought more snails and crabs. All things will have benefits to your system.

Saw big improvements when I stopped dousing my new water with extra additives. I was using Essential Elements and adding it to my water that I was using for my water change.

Now, I just use plain old tap water and Instant Ocean. That's all you really need. Let the water sit for a couple days before you it. Keep it simple.

Since I done this. My LR and tank has been really clean.

The other thing is stop overfeeding. Algae need all the trace elements found in additives and food to thrive. Stop that and they will go away.


Peter

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Also, get some macro to outcompete the bad algae for the available nutrients. I put in 2 handfuls of prolifera and 3 small bunches of red halimenia into my 100g when I first started & I never had an algae problem, unless you call having a 4' by 2' carpet of macro a problem

I also had hair algae like nuts in my 33g seahorse tank (the SH are breeding right now) but after I added more macro & got a two spot tang & turbo snails, no more hair algae.


Anthony