[sweet74012]

My tank is about 4 years old. It was my parent's tank and we moved it to my house when my parent didn't have the time to take care of more than 1 tank at a time. It is 29 gallons. I have 1 clown, 2 striped dominos, 1 yellow damsel and 1 royal gramma (sp?). I also have 2 or 3 hermits (can't find them to count them, but most have expired), 2 bumble bee snails, 1 turbo snail and 2 unknown small snails. I had a green emerald crab that expired awhile back. He was cleaning the algae pretty good, but still having trouble keeping up with it. The snails and crabs don't seem to be making a dent in it. I have dropped my feeding down to about 2-3 times per week as advised by our local tropical fish store, however the problem persists. I don't have any extra money to buy any extra equipment to put on my tank. I am only running a dual filter system (Penquin I believe) and an air stone. No coral or sand in the tank. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get this under control? This has been going on for at least 6 months now. I am hoping the pictures come through so you can see what the problem is.

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

I would make the following suggestions. I have not indicated the 'why' for each suggestion, so if that isn't clear, then ask about it. Okay?

1. Find and remove the hermit crabs (they sometimes kill snails)
2. Find all and remove the Bumble Bee Snails (they kill other snails)
3. Do not starve the fishes just because of the algae growth concern. Algae will grow with very little nutrients and very little light.
4. Test water for phosphates and nitrates.
5. Although you indicated you would not buy extra equipment, you should consider a protein skimmer to remove excess proteins. You want one rated for about 100 gallon tank. Maybe you can find one used? Algae likes phosphates, nitrates, and organic matter. A skimmer will help reduce organics AND phosphates.
6. Get a proper clean up crew that will eat algae.
7. After the proper crew is 'on board' then clean the tank of excess algae. The new crew will keep it cropped, but not likely chew it down from its current growth.

You don't mention water maintenance (changes) nor lighting. However, both are a factor in success regarding the algae. You don't mention putting any additives into the aquarium. If you are, stop them for now. You don't mention the kinds of foods you feed. If you feed prepared foods, make sure you feed foods that list very little phosphates and/or phosphorus in the ingredients. For feeding guidelines, you should take the extra time to read this thread:
Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition

Wondering about a better clean-up crew? You'll have to do some reading to get a good background in just the kind of snails (and that is what you want, snails) you need. These are detailed articles about snails and clean up crews:
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0305/medprod3.php

3 articles on snails:
The Grazing Snails, Part I - Turbo, Trochus, Astraea, and Kin by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com
The Grazing Snails, Part II - Abalones, Limpets and Nerites by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com
The Grazing Snails, Part III: Conchs, Ceriths, Cowries, and Columbellids by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

Nassarius Snails are carnivores and will eat uneaten fish foods:
Aquarium Frontiers Library

Ask here if you specific questions about the reading. You have a lot of 'free' reading to do.

Many of these lifeforms are available through the sponsors of Reefland.com, online sources, and your LFS (if they know what they're doing, which by the advice they've given you so far doesn't sound like they do ).

[Reefland]

I would also ask what your water change schedule is, and if you use tap water?

[CSeaSee]

I notice that your substrate looks like crushed coral. When you do water changes, is the substrate throughly vacuumed (siphoned) every time, all the way down to the glass? If not, and it's been a while, I'll bet it's a huge nutrient sink by now.

[Ogdenenator]

You sure do have an algae problem. I got my algae under control by using RO water to do my changes, I only have a 20 gal so no sense in buying a RO filter. My local grocery store has RO water for $.49 a gal which isnt too bad.
Also my LFS has already made RO saltwater made for like 1.50 something.
This really helped my problem. I also started weekly water changes and siphoned 1/4 of my crushed coral every week.