Green algae and phosphate

[narcosis]

I have a two week old 29g cube. I started it with cured LR and my levels are as follows:

pH: 8.2
Nitrate- 0.0
Ammonia- 0.0
Salinity- 1.025

I have this massive outbreak of green algae on every surface of the tank. I got some black turbo snails and hermit crabs to help cut it down, but the sand and sides of the tank are covered. I bought a phosphate test kit, but it's indicating a 0.0 level and I also had it tested at my LFS a few days ago and it was 0.2.

I started this tank out with DI Cherokee county tap water. Should I do an RO/DI water exchange? I've read the hairlike green algae I have is a sign of a healthy aquarium. Maybe I just didn't add the eaters quick enough. Will a peppermint shrimp clean up the algae in the gravel? The hermits and turbo's are just sticking to the LR.
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[skriz]

At 2 weeks you haven't seen the begining of the algae blooms yet!

Nassarius snails will help with the sand. Peppermints will not. Manual removal is going to be your best option right now.; it shouldn't take you long. Or, just wait for the cleanup crew to do it...make them earn their cost

Keep up with the water changes and make sure your skimmer is cranking out the gunk and you'll be just fine.

Welcome to the ARC!

 

[drnecropolis]

Green hair algae is in no way a good sign.. Its a very bad sign.. Something is off.. I imagine using tap water you have introduced alot of Phosphate into the water fueling the algae growth.. The Nitrate prolly isnt 0 either.. The algae is consuming it leading to a false test result..

Might want to look into a RODI unit.......

 

[scrilla]

DrNecropolis;358178 wrote: Green hair algae is in no way a good sign.. Its a very bad sign.. Something is off.. I imagine using tap water you have introduced alot of Phosphate into the water fueling the algae growth.. The Nitrate prolly isnt 0 either.. The algae is consuming it leading to a false test result..

Might want to look into a RODI unit.......

X2...

 

[narcosis]

Well I got a really good solution to the hair algae problem. A Sailfin Tang.

Matt at Creation Reef suggested it because my phosphate and nitrate levels are 0, but still have algae issues. He said this tang would clear out the algae in two to three days and man was he right. This thing is an algae eating machine. Once he gets too big for my tank he will be available for the next algae victim! In the meantime, I got a phosban reactor and a skimmer to help keep the water clean.

 

[jennm]

Sailfin tang in a 29g?

 

[jonboyb]

I too recently fought HA in a cube with 0 readings on Phosphate and Nitrate. In a nutshell, if your PO test kit didn't cost upwards of $100+, it's not low range enough for what HA requires. Offhand, I believe PO of 0.025 is enough for HA.

In addition, the test kit's only test dissolved elements in the water column. I discovered most of my HA was growing on patches of dust/buildup on the rock and sand itself. My problems weren't with the water, it was the buildup on the roack and sand itself.

Out of curiosity, did you Aragalive sand? I used it and eventually siphoned most of it out due to continuous algae and diatom production even after 8 months. IMO it has tons of dead matter, silica, and phosphates from dye-off of the "live" critters that gets trapped in there. Removal of the Aragalive sand and replacement with plain old arogonite based sand, along with religous cleaning of my live rock with basters and PH's to remove settled junk, cured my problems finally.

Get ready for cyano likely too (just what you wanted to hear)

 

[jennm]

It can also be silicates.

 

[jonboyb]

And an RO/DI exchange is a must IMO. Possibly after your cycle is complete though (may already be with cured LR)

 

[narcosis]

I did the water exchanges, Phosguard bag, siphoned out sand and algae, scrubbed the walls and had the water tested at LFS's. The growth of new algae has subsided, but the existing algae kept growing. We put in several burrowing conch snails and they have really helped clean up the sand.

I was informed this Sailfin would eventually get to big for my tank before I got him, but he is taking care of the algae and quickly. We've really enjoyed watching him get cleaned by the cleaner shrimp at night. Quite a duo.