Algae problem!

I am having a real problem with a sort of green algae covering my live rock,
is this bad?

My levels of phosphate and nitrate are all showing zero, is there anything else that can cause algae to grow so rapidly??
I feed my fish twice a week only and ammonia nitrite nitrate phosphate levels all show zero.
Can i just use a brush to scrub the algae off the rocks?? so long as i keep the rocks in the water.
will doing this damage the rocks??

by the way its a fish only tank and is the red sea max 130 d.

i use sera phosvec granules to remove the phosphates.

any advice would be great!!! thanks

 

Algae isn't bad per se, but it is aesthetically rather unappealing...

Your PO4 and NO3 levels may be reading '0' because the phosphates/nitrates are being consumed by the algae as soon as they enter the system. What is your filtration? Protein skimmer?

Brushing off the algae wouldn't be a bad idea, you can try to siphon it out with a hose afterward. You can also remove them, place them in a bucket of tankwater, and scrub them off there. Might be an easier way.

As of right now, I suspect your filtration isn't enough to keep up with your bioload. Two time a week feedings is a good number and probably isn't the problem. If your bulbs are really old they may be feeding the algae as well. How big is the tank? 130 gallons? How many fish are in there?

 

+1 on above advice

also like to add that this is a RSM - reef ready tank , and you have fish only
you have a light unit in there capable of sustaining corals, you dont have corals or any other plants? therefore no higher life forms to utilise this light, so algae benefits from it

In a fish only set up, Id look at reducing the light , are you using a timer? as extended day light periods, to maximise viewing pleasure, can also lead to overly green rock work and daily glass scraping
(people who work/ school/ college etc may turn lights on before they leave home and then keep them on until bed time, giving 16 plus hours of light and algae nuisance)

Steve

 

you using tapwater or RO/DI water?

 

Hey steve thanks for your reply,
my lights are on for around 9 hours a day, in your opinion should i reduce??
also the tank has twin T5s do you think for the time being i should remove one till i start putting in corals??
I got a pair of common clowns, a banggai cardinal a chalk goby and a small regal tang (which i know will get too big for tank so am planning of removing him once he does!) is this too much of a bioload for this tank??
All the test i am doing show good if not great results. I keep feeding to a minimum (twice weekly) and do a 15-20% water change with ro/water fortnightly.

col

 

Colcol,

Since you're running fish only - if you really want to get rid of the algae simply turn the lights on when you're home. No point in keeping them on during the day if no one is watching them. If you've got fish that aren't herbivores (tangs/angels/ some butterflies etc) then macro-algae might be worth a look as well.

 

Thanks Arc Katana,

I might even turn them off altogether for a few days, the room the tank is in is well lit anyway so they wont be in darkness.

You mention macro-algae?? excuse my ignorance but in new to this, can you explain what you mean and what it does, where i can get it etc...

Many thanks,
colcol

 

Macro Algae is well - algae Think of it as "plants" for the fish tank. There are several different kinds and colors. Some grow like weeds, others are much slower. As an example, I've got four kinds in my tanks at the moment: Maiden's Hair, Shaving Brush, Halimeda, and Red Kelp. They grow fairly slow (for algae), and shouldn't take over the tank like Calupera or Chaeto can (These last two are very fast growing macro algaes). The work by taking the nutrients out of the water before the micro algae's (the usually annoying stuff) can get to it. Best part of all is they look pretty nice too (And usually fairly inexpensive). Once yours gets too big just trim it up.

Hope it helps! Check out Aquarium Fish: Tropical Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish for Home Aquariums for some different kinds (under marine plants).

Cheers

 

IMO macro algie will work allthough last time i added macro algie into my tank with my tang the macro was gone in hours, atleast my tang beefed up though. if your gonna add macro algie into the tank you want to put it somewhere the fish cant into it

i found carbon got rid of my algie bloom when it happend