High Tide Aquatics

algae problem. Please advise.

iamborg

iamborg

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My tank is set up for 7 months now. It is only 12G.
Last couple of weeks, the tank started to have a algae bloom.
Not sure what, but looks hair algae. I tried to put it out, but then it spread to other parts of the LR.
I also have brown spots on the glass that I have to scrape out.
I used to have brown film only, now it is spotten.

I added an emerald crab, no use. It like coraline more than the algae.
I added a blue leg hermit, hid under a rock doing nothing.
Cerith snail, always eating, but I dont think it is eating the algae.

My sand bed is about 1.5 inch, and from the glass, I can see "red, green" stuff under than sand.

I use RO water from machine.
I have only 1 rbta, 2 perc, 3 cerith, 2 nassari snail, 1 blue leg, 1 emerald in the back sump.
I even use chaeto. I also use carbon.
I do 2G water change every 2 weeks.
My light cycle is only about 5 hours each day.

Should I
1) add chemi-pure elite.
2) go bare bottom.
3) reduce live stock.

Update :
Pics attached.

1) Dirty sand + hair algae on the inner left bottom of LR. Hairy.
2) brown spots on glass.


Attached files /attachments/sites/default/files/IMGP3746.JPG /attachments/sites/default/files/IMGP3750.JPG
 
pics added.

Light cycle is from 6pm to 11pm.
I am using LED lights. (changed 2 weeks ago. Algae already there then)
Feeding 1X per day. I spot feed my clowns. And throw 3-4 pellets for my nassarius snail.
I did not move my tank at all. Some natural sunlight during the day to save on electric bill.
I dont feed my rbta.
 
Bioload may be part of it.

knowing N-P will help.
Do you run GFO or a skimmer?

2 gallons every 2 weeks isn't much with a small volume tank especially if you go skimmerless.
I have a 14g, and do 4g weekly and still fight algae (but my bioload is a bit up there).
 
Bioload is "relative".

Example, to clean up, we need CUC, but then CUC also produce waste.
So it is a never ending cycle then....

I used to have only 2 clown, 2 nass, 1 cerith.
Then I see algae started to grow, so I added 2 more cerith.
More algae growth, so I got a emerald to help out.
No help, so I added another blue leg to help out....

So now what or who should I remove ?
 
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