[RockynGran]

We FINALLY got our brown algea problem under control and the last couple of days we have had a very light film of green algea on the glass after the MH light is on. What are we doing wrong? Additionally, one of our live rocks has some green growing on it.

Our MH is 150 watts, 10k KV. We have a 33 gallon cube tank. We are running a Actenic 15w flourescent 2 hours, then MH for 11 hours, then 2 more hours of Actenic.

Our corals are on again off again as far as their exposure.

Tank Population is...

2 Juvinile Clowns

1 Firefish

1 Goby

1 Watermellon Wrasse

1 Purple Tipped Anenome

1 Coral Banded Shrimp

3 TINY Hermit Crabs

2 Turbo Snails

2 ? Snails

11# of Live Rock

Live Sand

Water check this weekend told us that our Salinity was very barely high. No Nitrates, No Nitrites, PH and everything else GREAT....

I think too many hours of MH but Hubby isn't sure. Can you help?

[mtfabel]

I personally would go 2 hours atinic, then MH on for 8 hours, then after MH go off leave atinics on for 2 more hours.

[glampka]

Cutting back on the MH should help. Couple of questions - what kind of water did you use - tap or RO/DI? Sounds like this tank hasn't been set up too long - you may be rushing it with your stocking. I'm guessing this will be a reef tank - if so, you should get more LR - you want 1-2 lbs/gal. You also might want to get some more snails to help remove the algae.

[rlcline76]

I don't know. I am treating a hair algae problem in my hospital/QT tank. It has been on RO/DI for awhile and since it is my QT/hospital tank, it gets the most water changes! I like snails for algae, but since this tank gets the occasional copper treatment it won't work out so hot. Since there is no fish in there right now, I have the lights off and I am treating it with some phosphate treatment.

[Six-line Wrasse]

That green film you're getting on the glass is common. Get yourself a Mag-float Magnet Scrubber and use a little elbow grease. I run a pretty tight ship and even I still get those green patches if I don't scrub my glass at least once every other day.

[RockynGran]

It is a reef tank. It has been set up for about 3 months. Initially, we set it up with tap water. We realized what we did wrong and have been doing 5 gallon water changes every week for about 4 weeks. The green is a brand new problem that started over the weekend. Our LFS recommended that we only do a 2.5 gallon change weekly so we made that change last Saturday. We got our water checked and other that a VERY SLIGHTLY elevated salinity it was perfect.

We have the scrubber and I use it religiously. It is just that the green started after we did the last change. The only real change is that we have been using phytoplancton to feed the 2 corals we have. Maybe we are using too much???

33 Gallon Cube
1 Fire Fish
1 Goby
2 Clowns
1 Anenome
1 Watermellon Wrasse

[glampka]

Could be. How much & how many times do you feed them? Remember that food not eaten = eventual fertilizer for problems.

[PalmDesert]

You are feeding the corals too much. Cut back and write down the amounts you feed and when so that you can know how much to adjust for future feedings. It takes patience and alot of trials to know the right mixture for healthy, growing corals without blooming the tank with algae.

[rlcline76]

Well, wait a minute. We do not know how much or how often the corals are being fed. Let's wait until we find that info out before we jump into a solution.

[kolokefalo]

Feeding how much and how often?

Also stop srubbing the algae for a week or so you are just creating an all over problem which may hinder you seeing a dead spot in the tank circulation.

Also you have 6 watts per gallon on a tank I am assuming is no higher than 24". Thats alot of light for a 3 month old tank. Cut it back to 8 hours.

Is the tank getting ANY indirect sunlight?

[RockynGran]

We are feeding the fish a tiny pinch of flake every other day. On the other day we are feeding a half cube of Mysis Shrimp.

We are feeding a 1/2 tsp. of DT's Phytoplankton every other day for 2 slingshot size Star Polyps.....( Now that I think of it I did my MOMMY thing and fed them 2 days in a row over the weekend too as 1 of them isn't doing as well as it was.)

[Six-line Wrasse]

Green star polyps don't need phytoplankton to thrive, just sufficient lighting, which you have at roughly 6 Watts per gallon. Stop feeding all together.