Algae

[christigers]

Ok, I have a 46 gallon reef tank that has been running for about three months. Deep sand bed, 38# of live rock and still adding, protein skimmer, two power heads, and 2- 96 watt PC lamps. All RO water. The cycle went fine. Everything was zeroed out. Added ricordia polyp, mushrooms, and hammer coral. Everything still ok. I went out of town for two and a half days and when I returned, the water was nearly opaque with a green tint. My response-free floating algae. I cut the light back to three or four hours a day, did a 15 gallon water change and tested the water. Everything still tested ok. This was two and a half weeks ago. I have done one more 15 gallon water change and one 20 gallon water change (all RO), still using the low hours per day of light and the tank looks the same. Do I just need to get a UV sterilizer and kill what appears to be an outbreak of free-floating algae? What is going on? Help!

 

[randy holmes-farley]

I'll move this to themain forum for more replies.

It does sound like free floating algae. Do you have a skimmer?

 

[christigers]

That is what I thought to Randy. I do have a protein skimmer. Red Sea Prizm - the hang on tank model. Not my favorite that I have ever used, but capacity wise, it should be adequate for this size tank. I have been very diligent about it's maintenance. Particularly since this problem started.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you getting anything in the collection cup?
~wings~

 

[christigers]

Hi wings. Yes, I am getting stuff in the collection cup and disposing of it regularly. This is weird.