A little help please

[Curve50880]

I am starting to develop a blue green algae on my sandbed and also a purple algae on my sand as well. Its a 20 gallon with 20 lbs of sand and 25 lbs of live rock. My tank is about 3 months old. Just did a water change and siphoned it up. What else could I do? Could it be cyano?

After my water change, these are the readings:

salinity 1.023
ph 8.1
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
alk 10.5
calcium 400

[ghostrida3]

sounds like corraline to me. its ranges from green to purple to red. corralline is great it means ur tank is healthy

[Curve50880]

yea but its on the sandbed...doesnt look like coraline to me. Its like a film (probably not how you spell it but you get the picture) Grows pretty fast too. I removed some yesturday and some came back today. Also some of it moves with the flow if you know what I mean. I dont know how else to word it. Thanks in advance guys!

[Curve50880]

Here is a picture but its not great quality

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u24/curve50880/algaeproblem.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u24/curve50880/Picture005.jpg

[ghostrida3]

the pics it looks like corraline, but coralline doesnt move w/ the current so if i had to guess i would say cyano, how much flow do u have in the tank? is the spot its in getting alot of flow?

[Curve50880]

I have about 30x turnover. The spot is right below my power head. Maybe a bad batch of water?

[erbio]

definitely cyano, reduce phosphates to cure it. That's your long term solution - get rid of phos

[Curve50880]

ok long term solution is get rid of phosphates...whats the best way?

Any short term solution? My LFS has red slime remover? Does it work any good?

[davidryder]

Cyano - which is actually a form of bacteria. If the tank is new (<6 months old) then it isn't out of the ordinary for it to show up. Just give it time and keep removing it. Cutting back on the lighting schedule will slow it's growth...

[Curve50880]

Any other ideas on cyano control and how to remove phosphate effectively from water

[bues0022]

doing a water change?

[Trigeek]

Maybe get a refugium (HOB if you don't have a sump or plumb an overflow and make a sump) and grow some algae to take up excess nutrients in the water. It's normal to have these "outbreaks." Make sure you have good flow throughout the tank, aren't overfeeding, have good water source, lights are not too old.

[Curve50880]

I did the waterchange and I am thinking about setting up a refugium. You dont think I need to use any chemicals to treat this?

[k3vi17ma1]

one thing to keep in mind about phosphate, is that you're always putting it in your tank, whether its feeding your fish or decaying species, or you have carbon in your filtration. a good way to control your problem is to get a tiger cucumber, or some type of sand swifting goby.

[bgiles11]

Try going two or three days with no lights. IT WORKS! But a refugium will definetely help tremendousley. If you are crafty you can make your own phophate reactor. All you need is PVC pipe, caps, and a powerhead. Fill the pvc pipe with carbon, and phos ban. Cap both ends (with threaded caps so you can remove media) Insert drain valves on both ends. Run a small powrhead to one drain and let water return from other. It is simple. Just use a small power head. you want the water to get some exposure time through the carbon.

[davidryder]

Try a google search for "marine aquarium algae control"... or even do a search here on RC... you will find a plethora of info

[Curve50880]

For a HOB refugium do you need an additional light?

[ihopss]

Give it time, cleanout all you can, skimm hard, lots of flow,do not add or subtract anything too fast (at one time).Food, Pets,rock. I have tried the red slime remover with minimal success, so to me it is a waste of money, your tank well balance out and it will go away..

[Curve50880]

Alright I will be patient I guess and wait it out. I would like a HOB refugium though. Do I need an additional light for the fuge since it is HOB?

[Trigeek]

Your lights from the display may be enough, but if not you can add some inexpensie supplemental lighting with a clip on type shop light.