Algae question

[JayTea]

My fish only tank has always grown a good crop of algaes for my various nibblers but recently there had been a proliferation of a red/brown sludgy algae that gleefully covers all it can and has caused an annoying increase in clean-ups and water changes.

The fish are in the pink, and the only thing I have changed of late is an additional quantity of food to match the rapatious appetite of my new wrasse - could this blooming be due to too much food perhaps?

Any thoughts would be most welcome - cheers in advance.

JT.

A wee bit on the rocks is attractive as you can see - but it covers the glass quickly and clogs my equipment up etc

[Reefland]

Hi JayTea, Welcome to Reefland!

Yes the algae could be blooming from increased feedings. It's important to make sure your fish are getting a complete diet and at the same time, not over doing it. It's a difficult balance. Best bet would be to try to reduce the feedings to see if the amount of algae reduces.

[charlie]

Welcome. To add a little, are you running a skimmer on this tank?

[The R/C Man]

Yes, tank nutrients are a big factor in the proliferation of algae. Proper feeding habits, (not to much) addaquate skimming, and regular water changes are a few ways to keep it at bay. Certain lighting (spectrum of 6500K) will also incourage it's growth. My tank has also had a small bloom of green cyno on just the left side of the tank. Just so happens the sun is now hitting that portion of the tank during the day. It happens every year at this time. You know the earth's orbit and all...... I just need to keep the shade down for a few weeks.... Just some thoughts....

[The R/C Man]

Oh, there are numerous critters that eat algae such as snails, lettuce nudibranchs, emerald crabs, hermit crabs and certain fish. Do some research to find out what each individual likes and think about adding some to your tank. Remember though, these scavengers will need a supplimental food source such as nori to ensure their well being.....

[JayTea]

Thanks for the input, and the welcome, though i've been here since 2000 - just lurking mind, I have been remarkabley trouble free with my tank and what problems i've had have always been solvable by reading other threads - excellent, knowledgable board ;)

I am running a skimer and it's quite efficient, so I might look into finding something than might co-habit with my fish and help with this bloom.

R/C Man

Could you tell me how I can measure the lighting in my tank - will it tell me on the lamps themselves for example?

Thanks again...

[patandreba]

Choose the critters carefully, as some algae eaters won't eat slime algae. I am pretty sure some people consider it a kind of bacteria, others algae, and some say it's kind of both. Either way, I have had an outbreak in my tank when it was first set up a couple of years ago, with the cycling, new fish populations, getting used to how much food everybody needs to get by, etc. Kind of weird, as the first salt water tank I set up in the early 90's never had a problem, and nothing to eat it if it did show up. I just had to have a panther grouper, and he didn't play well with others. Was the only thing in the tang under 4 inches after a few weeks, and had an incredible growth rate. I think my urchin did eat most of the stuff that was growing in my tank this time, but the algae blenny, tang, snails, and other herbivoris fish turned their nose at it. Are your nitrates in order? Maybee phosphates? The one thing most people do agree on is that it's presence is a sign of deteriorating water conditions. Do you do your changes with R.O. water? Some tap water is kind of high in nitrates, phosphates, and silicates before the nitrogen cycle in your tank even gets started on it. Good water changes, clean filter media, and reduced feeding, or sustained constant feeding, so your bio filter can keep up. Other wise you will have the "feast and famon" syndrome going on and your bio filter will be changing constantly, and just in a big propetual cycle, and nitrates up the whazoo. Good luck with whatever you decide, as this has been a thorn in the side of most people at one time or other.