I have a moderate algae problem within my 34 Gallon RSM. It hasn't really sprouted up in new areas, but the areas it already was continue to grow. Mostly on my snails, I cant really get it all off... Also in the back of my tank there is a large build-up. I have researched for hours and have found no real help. Pictures are posted below. If you could please ID the algae as well as give me ideas on how to deal with it would be great! I do weekly water changes of about 5 gallons. And run StevieT's media rack with Chemi-Pure Elite. I can't seem to control the problem and I am beginning to become aggravated. Any suggestions on the rest of my tank would be appreciated as well. I'm not new to the hobby, but consistently have algae problems on all nano tanks I attempt. Please HELP! This is a picture of the type of algae growing on my leather. As well as the back. I will be posting a pic of the substrate algae as well as a picture of the entire tank.
THANKS

This is one type of my substrate algae. This is on the right side. The other type is on the left.

This is the main tank, notice algae on turbo in the back, and mostly on substrate. Any tips on the rest of the tank will be appreciated also.

That picture shows most of the algae issues in the entire tank. Notice the green algae that clumps on the left bottom near the Ricordia and the other types on the turbo and on the right in the substrate. What could all of this be. I'm new to posting so sorry if I broke any rules! I will supply any other info needed. Mainly I need a way to eliminate it! I've heard of using sea hares, but I have my reservations considering I don't know what Im dealing with or whether or not it will work.

BUMP! Really need help!

Looks like a mix of cyano and green hair algae to me. Both due to too much nutrients. What are your parameters? Doesn't look like enough live rock to me. What else do you have for filtration in your system? Fuge? Chemical Filtration? How much are you feeding? What is your light cycle? Cut bakc to 4 hours until you have it under control. Cyano you can knock out with chemi-clean but it will be back if you don't fix the problem.

i had some what of the same problem i just got a bunch of hermit crabs and a Lawnmower blenny All gone now =D hope this helps.

Duderubble - My parameters are zero all around, just checked. For filtration I have a purigen bag, chemi-pure elite, and at one point had sea-gel in there, took it out recently. My light cycle is 1 to 10 PM so like 9 hours. I usually feed brine or flake food every other day. I've had the cyano problem many, many times and then it goes away. What would be the issue with not enough live rock? What else can I do to get rid of the algae? I'm in there every week with a toothbrush.

Bump, still need assistance

If your parameters are all zero, it's likely because all the algae in your tank is using up the nitrates and phosphates. I would suggest utilizing chaeto to impede the growth of unwanted algae. If you don't have a sump, you can put the chaeto directly in the tank. I would give this a shot for a few weeks and see if it solves your problems.

The issue with not enough live rock is not having enough surface area for the beneficial bacteria to grow. The live rock in reality is your primary filtration. The purigen, chem-pure, etc. are chemical filtration to remove contaminates (phosphate, coral warfare, etc) that the bacteria cannot process. The reliance on chemical filtration is what made SW tanks "hard" 20 years ago.

I would add a couple of power heads to provide additional flow in the tank. It looks like a lot of that algae and the cyano is growing in areas where debris has accumulated and become nutrient rich zones. I have a 29g BC and was having issues with cyano until I added 2 power heads to the tank.

The other change I would suggest is to lose the brine shrimp and the flake foods. Change to mysis shrimp. It has more nutrition that adult brine shrimp does. Change the flake food to a frozen food mix like Rods food, or make you own from seafood you purchase at the grocery store. I do have marine spectrum pellets that I feed my tank when I haven't thawed out any of the frozen foods. This keeps my sexy shrimp from deciding to nibble on the corals.

Anyway HTH.

Ok, so change to mysis. Star do you think there is enough live rock? Also would you think that moving the MP10 to the front more would solve the problem?

Bump, since I added SeaGel its getting a tad better. Any other final suggestions?

I think you are probably in need of more live rock. You can try moving the MP10 around in the tank to see if it helps. In my tank I have found that I need the 2 seperate powerheads aimed so that thier flows collides mid tank to keep the debris from building up and cyano forming.

I have thought about getting an MP for my tank and am leaning towards the 20 more than the 10. Rhetorical question right now because of the cost of them. I keep buying more corals.

to combat any nuisance algae:

Long term - get nutrients under control - if they test at zero it is likely b/c the nusiance is absorbing them, making them zero.

to get nutrients lower
- reduce input - (use ro/di instead of tap - use less food, use quality food - that is, food with a good nutritional profile vs. more of whatever)

export - water changes and/or chaeto etc...proper LR amounts...

removal of nuisance algae -

manual removal - in your case tear out GHA and siphon out cyano (if that is what you have)
natural removal - get something that will eat it up in the mean time to make your work less, and to limit competition against your chaeto etc...

Nutrient Reduction (Nutrient limitation + Nutrient Export) + Removal (Manual and natural) = clean tank

Well, after I added the Sea Gel and did another water change, things are picking up. Still not where I'd like it to be but much better! Thanks for all your help!

don't forget to export the nutrients chemicals put back in the tank or you will be back here soon enough...