Algae out of control!!!

+1. Like seriously. Some people post things like this and still question the idea of using tap water. At least you can see that you have a problem and are open to making the changes necessary to solve it.

If I were you here is what I would do:

- Immediately switch to RO/DI
- Invest in a GFO or phosban reactor
- Invest in a good skimmer (if you havent already)
- Manually remove as much as humanly possible
- Setup a refugium with macroalgae such as chaeto. This algae will compete with the algae in your DT for the nutrients in the water.
- If you are using T5's with bulbs that are more than 9 months old, replace the bulbs.
- Decrease the # of hours per day you have your lights on.
- Feed less. Every other day maximum.
- Rethink anything you are adding to your tank. If chemicals do not provide an ingredient list, then they probably contain nutrients that feed algae growth. This includes food. As far as food goes, I have had good experience with this:
New Life Spectrum Thera-A Formula, Sinking Pellet Fish Food

If you do these things, you will eventually solve the problem.

On the other hand, this is what I (personally) would do. I don't intend to sound mean when I say this, but it is going to be your fastest and easiest solution... I would start over. I would use new rock and employ all of the methods listed above. Re-cycling your tank and starting over will be a faster solution than waiting for this problem to go away in your current setup. I know it is a lot of work to setup a new tank, but it may be less work than manually removing all of that algae.

Lol one day you will look back at these pictures and laugh.

 

Hey gabby how fast do they sink? I have the Reef Nutrition Formula One pellets and the sink to fast for me.

 

Lol I literally throw them down at the water (vs. sprinkling them over the water) so most of them sink immediately. A couple sometimes get sucked into the overflow though.

 

Done, I had to do a partial water change today, and I can get Distilled water cheap... atleast compared to my time to deal with algae.

Phosban reactor was ordered yesterday. I do know I have a good skimmer rated for a larger tank then what I have and I replaced all my bulbs less then 3 months ago. I did a partial manual removal of some of the algae today. I hate to do too much disruption, So I grabbed what I could in the water, and removed three of the worst rocks and scrubbed them with clean metal scratch pad in the sink.

Currently I cant do a refugium... I wish I could.
What are recomendations on how long lights should be on? I havent changed it since I got it.. but I know it is simple to change.

I will look into the food. I definately dont mind feeding less.

Oh I am already laughing. I cant believe I let it get to that point... LOL, you never notice slow changes.

I really hate to start over... Here is the progress from a water change and manual removal today. It has room for improvement, but it was all I dared to do in a single day.

 

My 46 was like that for a year. You'll turn it around in a couple months with due diligence.

 

If you are gonna do the manual removal, you can take the equipment out and soak it in vinagar for a few hours. Some people do 50/50 vinegar/water mixture, I usually do straight vinegar in a bucket outside so it doesn't stink up my apartment. Scrub everything off of it, rinse well with RO/DI, and they will be as clean as the day you got them ;D

Looking better already! Glad you can see the humor of it lol

 

Years ago before i knew what i was doing,me and my wife torn my tank down and scrubbed a 100 lbs. of liverock covered in HA with tooth brushes.I have always been faithful with water changes,haven't missed by one day in over 6 years(honestly).Invested in a reactor and phosban,in 2 months you wouldn't know it was the same tank.Had another problem a few yrs. ago with Lobophora algae and followed steve wrights excellent documented treatment with algae fix and won that battle as well.You have to find the underlining problem(s) and fix them or it will return.I'm dead set against using chemicals to fix a problem.But i exhausted all the other possible causes before going that route.

 

Hi, I also think it could be due to source of water used. I had that problem before because I used tap water. It was a horrible mistake. After a year it finally got better.