Algae on Substrate

Hey, I seem to be having an algae bloom on my substrate and am looking at increasing flow and maybe any other suggestions to help with its removal. Its mainly on my substrate and not on my rocks which makes me think its flow related. Its kinda a slimy green algae mostly mixed with some brown, which I assume the brown are some new Diatoms from adding my Phosban reactor.

My Params are decent, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate 5ppm. Now my question is how do you increase flow in the lower portion of the tank without blowing the skin slap off of your softies? I have 2 koralia 4's in my 90 gallon tank and they are mostly pointed towards the top to help with oxygen levels. If I point them towards the sand more to try and increase the flow there it looks like my frog spawn is in a hurricane.

Are the 4's to much for a 90 and should I look at maybe putting in 3's or some 2's ?

Steps taken so far to help with algae. Installed phosban reactor, Decreased light period from 8 to 6 hours, cut out all frozen food and now feed pellet food soaked in garlic to entice sailfin to eat. I'm also increasing my dkh from 8 to around 10 or so through dosing as it seems I have heard this can help with algae. Also have my cuc which I added about a month ago and are doing a fantastic job on the rocks. Any suggestions or Input is greatly appreciated as always. Thanks!

 

I refuse to believe with all of the intelligent people I have met on these forums that no one has a response

 

What type of algae is it? Brown dusty stuff, does it look like snot with bubbles?

As for tips to remove it, a refugium would help or an algae turf scrubber. Make sure you dont have detritus collecting in low flow areas. Your test may not register nitrate or phosphate but that could be because the algae is consuming it as it is released.

What type of top off water do you use?

 

I see the type of algae. The phosban reactor shouldnt cause diatoms, it is going to soak p phosphate is all. It shouldnt release anything the diatoms would want to eat.

 

Its a snotty green algae with some bubbles in it. Also I have a refugium with mangroves and cheato in it. I top off daily with ro/di water. Thanks for a reply!

 

Hi Ultraner

I dont think the 4s are to much in a 90 - but you probably have majority of your flow in the upper half of your tank

a couple of smaller power heads lower down would help IMO I have 1 x 250 gallon per hour power head behind my rock rock about 3rd of the way up and another the same size, low down and pointed to the front of my rock work (circulating the flow but its not powerful) I also have 1 x 1250 GPH K clone and 1 x 950 GPH wavemaker at the top of my tank for same reasons you have

in addition what CUC have you got - snails ? Cerith snail species are good at cleaning the sand bed (there may be others) but Turbo and Astra snails which are typical in the hobby are most productive on rock work and glass so the sand bed gets overlooked by these species IME

Steve

 

Thanks Steve, My cuc is made up of 75 cerith snails, 10 large nerites and 20 other snails the name I cannot remember. They have some sort of snorkel and come out of the sand when you feed. I will def look into maybe a few smaller power heads lower in the tank as well. Thanks again.

 

Nassarius (sp) are the sand living snorkeling snails.