Problem Algae

Problem Algae - Simple thoughts for a not so simple problem
By Doug Wojtczak - September 24, 2000 (updated June 2, 2001)

Problem Algae. Go ahead and say it again. Problem Algae. These are two words that a reef keeper never wants to say. One day, after your reef tank is really doing well and life is good, BOOM, you have a tank full of problem algae. How did that happen, you ask? I really wish I could answer that question for everyone who asks me but I cannot. What I can do is try to give some ideas on what you can check to hopefully find the cause and terminate it.

From what I have seen the more common reasons for algae problems can be traced back to a few different things.

Improper or old Lighting - Lighting can be a contributor to algae problems. This could mean old bulbs which have out lived their useful life. Some bulbs only last six months depending on the type of ballast and bulb combination. It can also be related to using bulbs with an improper color spectrum. Most good and bad algae need light to grow but using the improper color spectrum or bulbs temperature can make it bad algae take over a tank. Try to use lights with color temperature (Kelvin rating) of 5500k or higher.

Topoff water - Using water high in nutrients such as phosphate, nitrate, or silica can certainly be a cause of problem algae. If you are using tap water and are not sure what it contains you should take a hard look at it. This can normally be taken care of when using a good Ro/Di unit, other water purification device or even purchasing water from your Local Fish Store.

Excess food or additives - Feeding too heavily can be a major factor contributing to algae blooms. If the food is not being utilized by the animals (fish and corals) in the tank it can be utilized by the algae. Also, food that is not eaten will decay inside the tank ad fuel to the algae fire. Additives can also be bad when it comes to algae. Many of the more popular additives contain things that will contribute to algae growth. If you cannot accurately test for all of the additives that you are putting into your tank you should probably not be using them. Even if you are able to test for additives such as Iodine and others you do not know what effect it has when mixed with the ones that cannot be tested for.

Inefficient Filtration - Another area to check is your filtration system. Is your protein skimmer clean and running at peak efficiency? Make sure that you keep the riser tube of the skimmer clean, make sure that the airstones used in counter current skimmers are in proper working order and the pumps for venturi and downdraft skimmers are clean working well. If the skimmer is not maintained or is too small for tank it cannot keep up with the excess nutrients that need to be removed.

Improper tank husbandry - Have you been changing water? Sometimes even the best filtration systems cannot remove every bit of waste/excess nutrients from our tanks water so a regular water change can help. A simple task that can be performed is the use of a kitchen turkey baster to blow the detritus from the live rock. This will suspend the waste matter in the water column which can then be removed by the filtration system or the water change. Also take this time to remove as much of the problem algae by hand as possible.

Lack of natural algae eaters - There are many types of snails, crabs and fish that eat some types of problem algae but I feel that they should be used in moderation. I would rather eliminate the source of the algae problem itself than rely on certain animals to keep it in check. Snails do a good job on certain types of algae but many are needed to get the job done. Crabs are also another animal that will eat certain algae but again they can be unpredictable and sometimes develop a taste for corals or other animals. Fish such as tangs and a few others are good at removing certain algae but remember that what they eat comes out in in waste which will continue to feed the algae in the tank. Again, I am not saying that the use of certain animals to remove algae is bad but I would rather stop the algae at the source and keep the animals that I want to keep because I like them not because I have to keep them.

Weak Water Circulation - Water movement plays a very important role inside our tanks. If the water is still or calm uneaten food and fish waste will settle on the substrate and rocks and contribute to the nutrients that algae feed upon. This can be accomplished by the use of powerheads placed throughout the tank in a manner that allows for no dead spots.

Tank age - Last but not least, the age of the tank can cause algae problems. If the tank is new and you suddenly see algae problems starting it can be the normal tank cycle that many, if not all, tanks go through in the beginning. The growth of algae in a new tank is just one of the things that we have to endure as the tank is stabilizing but following many of the principles above will help decide how long the problem lasts. Older more mature tanks are more complex and can also experience problem algae for many different reasons but following following the advice given above is good place to start.

Update - June 2, 2001

Water Holding Containers - There has been some recent issues involving certain types of Rubbermaid trash cans that are leaching phosphate in to both top-off water and freshly made saltwater. If you are still having algae problems along with high levels of phosphate in your water use a phosphate test kit and check the phosphate levels of the water in your container.

Thanks to a friend of mine (Steven a.k.a. Pegasis) here is some information on a food safe container that will not leach phosphate in to your water that was posted on Reef Central. It does cost more than the standard $8-$12 trashcans but it is worth it if you are having phosphate or algae problems.

Pegasis said: " You need to get a Rubbermaid "Brute" 2632 Trashcan. You can get it in Gray, Yellow or White. These are the only ones that are food safe. The number is molded into the container. The lid is 2631. Home Depot sells them(at least at some locations). If you call about them, their stock number doesn't match the Rubbermaid Stock Number and you will have to have someone actually look for the number on the can."

Rubbermaid website with Brute 2632 Trashcan information

I hope that some of the things that I have written here will help you in your battle against problem algae. While there are other causes of problem algae, the ones that I have listed above are the more common reasons for many of the algae problems that we see in our tanks.