Algae Problem?

I have algae growing on the part of my hang on back filter that returns the water to the tank. I was wondering what a safe way of removing this algae is. I was wondering where all the algae in my tank kept coming from and today I noticed the algae growing there so no matter how clean the tank is algae keeps getting in from the filter returning water to the tank. Any help is great. I have a 10 gallon saltwater with 20 lbs of live rock and a 2.5 inch sandbed. Only inhabitants are a Percula Clown, and 2 hermits.

 

Well you can just take the filter off of the tank and scrape or cut it off. If the algae keeps coming back then I would thoroughly clean the filter, scrub it inside and out.
also, you may have high nutrients in your water causing the algae to grow back, try reducing feedings or more water changes.

 

Ok. I will do that today. I'm assuming the things in my tank will be ok without the filter while I clean it. Should I clean it with top off water. I know that tap water is bad for saltwater tanks.

 

hot tap water should be fine. The amount of stuff in your tap water won't affect your tank at all. we just advise filling your tank with tap water. I use it all the time to clean out stuff.

 

ok I have a few gallons of tap water ive had set out for a few days for my freshwater tank water changes. I will use some of that to clean out the filter. i think the algae is only from leaving the lights on too long because theres no direct sunlight to the tank and i had algae in it before i put in my fish so i wasnt feeding anything.

 

just use water out of tap for cleaning. but most likly tank just not cycled fully there might be silicates in water. what water do you normaly use to fill tank. Letting tap water sit out won't get rid of all of the bad stuff in it. I would sugest using R/O water. grocery stores or lfs have it for sale.

 

$0.33 per gallon at Walmart in the awesome machine by the drinks.

If you are not using RO/DI water, that could be the algae problem. Other water has phosphates in it which algae LUUURVE. If you aren't doing it already, switch to RO and see if anything good happens.

Protein skimmers meant for Nanos (like yours) aren't that expensive, and I would highly recommend one. It will keep the Nitrates down (which algae also loves) and will decrease the load on your HOB filter considerably, maybe even make it unnecessary (I'd still keep it though). Christmas is coming up, I say Protein Skimmer.:trampolin