Algae Problems?

[coltpwrs7]

Hello, I’ve read some other posts on this topic but wanted direct answers on my own pictures and tank.

Seems like every 3 days I’m cleaning the glass with a double sided magnet cleaner. Now it is taking over the back wall and plastic overflows, as well as a decorative ship I added only 3 months ago.

1 - Is the algae in the pictures bad algae? Aka: Do I have to worry about the health of my fish?

2 - How do I combat this? I’ve read light is the main issue, I’ve definitely cut back on the light and even turn it off overnight and majority hours of the day. I really only turn it on when they are eating.

This tank used to be crystal clear I want it back to that.
Sorry for the cloudy water, I just fed and did a bit of front glass cleaning to take pictures of the back. Typical the water is spotless. API test kit is spot on as well.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Reef.]

Looks normal, a good glass cleaning will clear that.

Algae is a part of reef keeping, impossible to run a healthy tank and not grow algae, the key is you need methods in place to remove that algae, such as glass cleaning, po4 controls, clean up crew and the best method if your tank is big enough is fish that eat algae.

 

[coltpwrs7]

Looks normal, a good glass cleaning will clear that.

Algae is a part of reef keeping, impossible to run a healthy tank and not grow algae, the key is you need methods in place to remove that algae, such as glass cleaning, po4 controls, clean up crew and the best method if your tank is big enough is fish that eat than

Looks normal, a good glass cleaning will clear that.

Algae is a part of reef keeping, impossible to run a healthy tank and not grow algae, the key is you need methods in place to remove that algae, such as glass cleaning, po4 controls, clean up crew and the best method if your tank is big enough is fish that eat algae.

Thank you for the input. That makes me feel better.

Tank is 125 gallon with 40 gallon sump tank I built. Also here is a current list of fish, any suggestions on what I can add to help with cleanup?

 

[Waters]

Thank you for the input. That makes me feel better.

Tank is 125 gallon with 40 gallon sump tank I built. Also here is a current list of fish, any suggestions on what I can add to help with cleanup?

You already have a couple of key algae eating fish in the tang and foxface. I would focus more on inverts like snails, hermits, cowries, etc to assist in cleanup. What are your nitrate and phosphate levels? Those are just as important as lighting when it comes to algae growth.

 

[coltpwrs7]

You already have a couple of key algae eating fish in the tang and foxface. I would focus more on inverts like snails, hermits, cowries, etc to assist in cleanup. What are your nitrate and phosphate levels? Those are just as important as lighting when it comes to algae growth.

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5.0 ppm
pH - 8.2
Salinity - 1.025

I don’t have a phosphate test kit ran out like 3 weeks ago. Just grabbed one of Amazon will be here tomorrow and I’ll post results.

 

[unclejed]

Hello, I’ve read some other posts on this topic but wanted direct answers on my own pictures and tank.

Seems like every 3 days I’m cleaning the glass with a double sided magnet cleaner. Now it is taking over the back wall and plastic overflows, as well as a decorative ship I added only 3 months ago.

1 - Is the algae in the pictures bad algae? Aka: Do I have to worry about the health of my fish?

2 - How do I combat this? I’ve read light is the main issue, I’ve definitely cut back on the light and even turn it off overnight and majority hours of the day. I really only turn it on when they are eating.

This tank used to be crystal clear I want it back to that.
Sorry for the cloudy water, I just fed and did a bit of front glass cleaning to take pictures of the back. Typical the water is spotless. API test kit is spot on as well.

Any help is appreciated!

I eliminated the "green film" algae with a UV light. The rest looks like brown diatoms which may resolve themselves.

 

[ScottJ]

You list 2 nems in the fish list. You also said you only have the light on when the fish eat. Did I interpret that correctly?

Nems need light to live. Without it, they will die.

 

[coltpwrs7]

You list 2 nems in the fish list. You also said you only have the light on when the fish eat. Did I interpret that correctly?

Nems need light to live. Without it, they will die.

Yes, the tank is pretty lit in my house during the day time just from the living room lights and natural light. The only time they are in complete darkness is overnight.

 

[coltpwrs7]

Yes, the tank is pretty lit in my house during the day time just from the living room lights and natural light. The only time they are in complete darkness is overnight.