BIG ALGAE Problem

Title says it all I clean the sand, glass, and rocks
15 minutes later the algae in the sand comes back

 

Pics or description of the algae?

 

Hair

 

what's your current clean up crew? If its a great amount of hair try some hermits and perhaps an algae blenny if you have enough food so it won't starve.

 

Two shrimp

 

Here's an older response, below it says about the same thing.


1. Use only RO/DI water. A lot of other water sources contain phosphates and nitrates.
2. Use a phos reactor. Get rid of the phosphates you have.
3. Make sure you have lots of good quality LR to help get rid of nitrates.
4. Remove all the algae you can by hand, and keep up on this task. Eventually you'll win the battle. If you allow the dying algae to remain in the tank, it will release all the phosphates and nutrients that made it grow, and start the cycle all over again.
5. Consider a fuge with some macroalgae, lit opposite the tank lighting. This will compete for the nutrients that the nuisance algae is looking for. If you keep the fuge lit, it will help the macroalgae (chaetomorpha, caulerpa) win out, instead of the hair algae in your tank.
6. Don't overfeed.
7. Get a good cleanup crew. Consult with ReefCleaners.org, tell John what your issue is, and he'll custom tailor you a CUC.
8. Keep up on tank maintenance. If your sump has 1/2" of detritus that has accumulated in it, this must be taken care of.
9. If you're using crushed coral as a substrate, consider using sand instead.
10. If you're using a wet/dry with bioballs, make certain those bioballs are kept clean, better yet, lose the bioballs and cram more LR in your DT.
11. Have a good quality protein skimmer that will remove a lot of garbage before that garbage becomes nitrates--food for nuisance algae.
12. Make sure your lights are up to date. Old bulbs shift phase color, becoming the type of light that's perfect for nuisance algae. If they're old, replace the bulbs.
13. Perform at least a 10% water change every week using RO/DI water until the problem abates.

Good luck. This is a battle that's easily won, despite what you may currently feel! You must rob the algae of their source of food and a hospitable environment. I'll bet you a Big Mac that if you follow the 13 steps above religiously--you WILL win the war.

 

I didnt see you mention flow in this thread.
Do you have any powerheads?
I also have a 55, I have never had an algea problem. Knock on wood. I just get little Diatoms.
IMO, Do your best to scrape it all off and catch it with a net.
Hermits and snails should do the rest to keep it under control.
Also, another thing. Alot of people make the mistake of setting there system next to a window where direct sunlight can hit it.
This is a big mistake and your algea will always stay/overrun your system.
Hope this helps

 

3 kordellas
my tanks in the basement