[Drigo72]

Hello, I have a 65Gal FOWL tank and it is 3 months old, I already have fixed my hair algae problem with some emerald crab and some hermit crabs.
I have 2 yellow tail damsels,2 4stripe damsels, 2 clown fish and a coral beauty. 1 emerald crab, 1 cleaner shrimp, one seabea anemone and some dove snails and assorted hermit crabs the small ones..

I do 10% water change every week and all parameters of my water are ok.. recently I found brown to greenish algae all over my substrate

i feed my fish once a day, my question is , what is making this algae bloom? am I over stocked?

[fsa]

Well, you've got quite a few small fish in there (overstocked? I don't know), but your tank is still only 3 months old. It is still maturing. I don't know if you ever really get rid of that stuff completely. Try a fighting conch. See if he will help with that any. And, give the tank 2 or 3 more months.

good luck, Frank

[Mini_Reef]

a friendly point of advice... I have a thirty gallon reef tank, but I was also doig weekly water changes, and I was having some algae problems.
My local Fish Guy told me that doing a weekly water change was getting rid of all the beneficial bacteria along with the bad stuff, and that I wasn't giving my tank enough time to build up the good stuff.
Just a suggestion, but you might try doing your water changes every two weeks for a bit. It has done WONDERS with my tank.....no more algae, AND, my coraline algae growth has realy blossomed.
Good Luck, whatever route you choose.

[fsa]

My opinion only, but I don't think doing fewer water changes is the answer to getting rid of your algae. I have always read that your beneficial bacteria (I am assuming the cycling bacteria) does not "live" in the water column, but on something, i.e., the reason for "live rock" and "live sand" or bioballs, etc.

I guess it could be a possiblity that, if you are using only tap water for water changes, then you might be adding more nitrates and unwanted minerals, etc. back into the water than you are taking out with the water changes. Also, water changes do add the minerals, etc, that is depleted by the inhabitants over time.

My opinion only, but I think I would continue to do the weekly water changes. I do know that they do get fewer and fewer over time (at least with me).

good luck, Frank