PLZ help with my algae problem in my 29G (pics inside)

[2ntha925]

Hello, I got some "donor" rock from a friends friend that he works with since he didnt want his tank anymore. It was okay, then I decided to upgrade my light for more growth. I got a 65x2 power compact, 1 10k daylight and 1 20k atinic. Mounted them on the top of my canopy and looked amazing compared to the reg fluorscent! I've had it setup for a month now, and on the last water change I had a mad algae problem on the back wall and on my protein skimmer, powerhead, filter tubes n all ;( . I was thinkin' maybe too much light so I turned my lights from 7 hours down to 5 hours with the timer and switched my 20k atinic for a 10k to see if it helped. 1-2 weeks after the water change I could see it slowly coming back. Its now on my thermometer and creeping around. I only have 1 yellow tang, 1 clown, and a blenny. I have prob about 5 crabs and a few snails. Im wondering if this rock isnt cured, and thats why its getting crazy algae? There is dark red algae on the rocks. All my fish are happy and healthy luckily. I just wanna figure this out so I dont have to gut the tank every 2 weeks to throughly scrub it.........Any ideas? I will post some pics or try to post the quick pics I just took......any help would be appreciated! Sorry pics dont show it that well...... BTW the tank was set up for a year with just fake plants n rocks and stuff.....decided to go live finally! Help appreciated!

[Guido]

Well. I wish I could help, but this isn't what I'm posting about. I just wanted to say that I think you have a very nice looking tank. I like the way you have it all set up, looks very neat!! Sorry I can't help, but your guess is as good as mine lol.

[dakar]

The green is typical nuisance algae, scrape the glass and/or find something that will eat it for you. The red, though I can't see for sure is likely cyano (best syphoned out by hand until it doesn't reappear)


Likely causes;
newly established tank (if so, this is just gonna happen)
increased lighting,
die off from the new LR you added (have you tested the water parameters?),
phosphates/silicates in your make up water (tap, RO/DO ?)

Lots of variables to play with here.

BTW is that a chocolate chip star in the back? Mmmmm coral munchers.

[2ntha925]

ya know I thought it was a CC starfish but my friend said no. He got it for me, but damn looks like chocolate chips to me on his back LOL! Thanx! Yea I heard the brownish on the glass is caused prob by over feeding.

[graphixx]

you can do several things, number one you can increase your flow, and cut back on the feeding, and shorten your light cycle. this is a pretty easy fix, but like dakar said, get out as much as you can manually, I also did not notice any snails in the pics, you might want to pic some of those up

[2ntha925]

I gotta penguin 170 on the tank now, and had a powerhead but it died the other day. Time for a PH upgrade then! I gotta cheap skimmer well $150 from petco but I didnt pay that much for it LOL. It pulls dirty dark water out.

[graphixx]

yeah increase your flow and see what happens

[davejnz]

What kind of media are you using in you penguin filter?Sponges,filter floss,etc. will all go "biological" on you and lead to excess Nitrate.Nitrate is a nutrient for many types of algae.The problem could be with your filter.
IMO,you will need at least 3 PH's in a tank that size.Proper water flow in a reef tank is one of the most important things you can provide.With proper current,the natural "bio-filter" of the LR and LS becomes more efficient.

[KG]

Sounds like what the others have stated and high phosphates as well. What kind of skimmer are youusing? You can turn it up so it produces a wet skimmate instead of a dry foam. Honestly, it's not that bad. Just my O2.

[2ntha925]

I bought some crabs, snails and some chemi-clean that kills the red slime.......Control it and get more fish/rock