brown/purple algae

i have this browny/purple algae that loves to grow all over my tank. its like skin because when i do weekly cleans it just peals right of but its some how manages to grow back a at quick rate! it forms air bubbles under it and every now and then it will float to the surface
sorry i have no pictures...
could the reason why i have it is because i dont have any sea grass to use the nutrients in the water?

 

Well from your description, it sounds like you have cynobacteria, a very common nuisance that is related more closely to bacteria than plants. A picture would help confirm this, but I'm about 98% sure that's what you have. You need to test your water for nitrates and phosphates to get a base line. Then answer these questions:

How much do you feed?

Do you clean your filters?

Do you use RO/DI water?

Do you do regular water changes?

When you say "sea grass" I'm assuming you are referring to a refugium. I used to have a bad cyno problem, but then got it under control with reduced feedings, siphoning it out with water changes and adding a refugium.

 

I am just getting past a cyano problem.

After alot of research and some money....here are a few things i learned...

While it is important to have good even flow through your tank - you will read things that suggest that this in it self will cause cyano.... this i found from experience AND from more reading to be false.

Your lights - IMO they would need to be REALLY bad in order to cause a cyano problem

Like guitarman said cyano is from bacteria and from DOC. So the questions he asked you are right on. I would also ask what your bioload is like, and what kind of skimmer you have on what size tank.

I read a few articles that suggested that cyano was cause by too many DOC's which could be from over feeding, too high of a bioload for the tank and from poor skimming.

The first and easiest thing that you can do is reduce your feedings. I went to every 2-3 days. My fish arent starving.

Once i get my huge skimmer up and running thats in the mail i will see if im able to go back to daily.

I also used red slime remover. It worked really well and didnt negatively affect my tank at all.

....i also have cut my light cycle for 1-2 weeks down to like 6-8 hours

 

I agree completely. You need to look at what and how much nutrients you are putting into your system. Cyano feeds off nitrates and phosphates which are put in through feeding or using bad water. Your first step will need to be figuring out a good working feeding schedule then try exporting the nutrients through means such more water changes. If none of that works then it will be good to look into other means of getting your algae down such as a refugium.