Algea in saltwater tank,HELP?

Question

I have a 55g saltwater tank, its been set up since before thanksgiving, i have a yellow tang, a clown fish, and a blue reef chromis. All levels are normal, just checked this mourning. There is blue green algea on the substrate (this one is kinda pretty), But theres a brownish red algea over all the decorations and it gets on the glass to. It is a fish only tank, can someone please tell me how to get rid of it?

Answer 1

If it's the slime algae, (red slime algae if you want to do a search for it), it's not really algae. That's more than likely what both the brownish/red and the blue/green ones are. It's more of a bacteria. There are very few fish or crabs or anything (saltwater OR freshwater) that will eat it.

Cyanobacteria is what it's called... There are quite a few things that cause it... I had problems with it until I started using R/O water.
Too high of a concentration of nutrients (phosphates, nitrates, etc.) can cause it, overfeeding, not enough flow, too much light or lights on too long, or like mine, the water can be part of the problem.
Try taking it out by hand and then adjusting filtration, lighting and what water you use for changes to see if it helps at all.
If the tank isn't too large, you could try buying r/o water and using that for water changes to see if it helps. You can get it at some local pet stores, or some grocery stores, or if you want to spend the money anyways, you can by a r/o filter for yourself.
There are lots of forums and websites that give solutions. Not all of them work for everyone. Just stay away from the medicines and stuff...they don't solve anything. You have to find the cause, and eliminate it or it just becomes a revolving battle.

Answer 2

You want a product called Chemi-clean. You can buy it at any pet store. It's kinda pricey, but it's the only thing that will kill red or blue slime algae. It's safe for fish only and reef tanks. Make sure that you are keeping up with your water changes and keep the light on no more than 8 hours a day, off at night. Also, you need to stir your substrate frequently and scrub the glass. Good luck!

Answer 3

First of all It really bothers me when people give bad advise. YOU DO NOT NEED CHEMICALS to remove your red algae. Your local fish store will sell phosphorus pads to naturally control this red algae. The pads cost around $1.50-$3.00. Cut one of these pads the same size as your filter and insert into the filter. In salt water, you will see a change within a few days. Remember to rinse out the pad when you change and/or rinse your filter. They make these "Chemical" free pads for a number of aquarium problems. Treat your fish like fish and please do not dump more chemicals into your tank.

You can read more about these pads at the web page below.
Good luck.

Answer 4

Algea is actually good in salt water tanks, i don't know much about it, my father has a tank and i know he has told me that when ive asked about it. It is all over the rocks, and he keeps it that way. He cleans it off the glass, they have a little magnetic thing that one side is in the tank the other you control outside, to clean the glass.

Answer 5

theres an additive you can buy to treat red algea in salt water tanks

Answer 6

There are a variety of algae-eating fish and invertebrates out there. Such as emerald crabs and hermit crabs, turbo snails, cerith snails etc.
If it's on the glass, you may find it simpler to just scrape it off; but don't scrape it off the back. Algae growth is good :)

Answer 7

i would use chemi clean or turbo snails
or n a type of crab or a saltwter algea eater

Answer 8

salt water snails

Answer 9

you can buy sucker fish