Persistent Algae Problems!!!

[hurrifan]

I have a 180 AGA that has 2 400W MH, a 3 inch sandbed and about 200 of LR. I have a continuing problem with red and green algae. It is growing and completely covering my glass every 4 to 5 days. It covers the sand and everything. I beat it once with the use of chemicals, but it came back. Since it has come back it is not nearly as bad, nut it is persistent and annoying. I do not want to use chemicals, I want to find the source.

These are the contributing factors as I see them:

1) My bulb coloration is 5500K. The ones that came with the MH. I have 20000K on order. I have heard that certain colorations are more likely to cause algae.

2) My sand bed is not deep. It is only 3 inches max. Also, there are thousands of air buble trapped under my sand. I can see them where the sand meets the glass. Should I stir the sandbed and are these bubbles a reason for the algae or a result of the algae?

3) My protein skimmer pump may be slightly under powered. A new one is one order.

4) I know it is not from over feeding. I only have 1 fish and feed it lightly.

5) I have no actinic lights as of yet. That is why i bought the 20K bulbs. Could the lack of blue light be causing a problem?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

John

 

[SPC]

John,
1. How long has the tank been set up (if I remember correctly not very long).
2. Describe the algae a little more.
Steve

 

[hurrifan]

It has been about 8 months now. Has a few SPS and LPS and 1 fish. My first tank this large and am going VERY slowly. The algae is green, thin (quasi-translucent) and covers sand and glass. It also is covering the rock to some degree. It looks like a verey mild slime algae. Nothing nearly as extreme as my first bout with it.

 

[Ph]

Few more questions.

What quality is your makeup water? RO/DI?

Is your skimmer sized for your tank properly?

Do you have good circulation?

Ph

 

[hurrifan]

ro/di water...the skimmer is a ets knock-off designed for tanks from 150-300...and good circulation... HELP!

 

[BROKER]

Do you have refugium? A great way to grow macro algae to compete with the nasties.

And what kind of circulation do you have? I thought I had good circualtion until I added my sea swirl.

How old are the catridges on your ro water?

Have you tested your water lately?

I would stay away from the chemicals.

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

Test that your phospahte is less than 0.01ppm (phospahte-phosphor)?

If it is then I (as in what I would do) would hit the cyano with an antibiotic.