Hair/Slime Algae - possibly phosphates

[xhaust50]

I need to rid my 55G of some hair/slime algae. What gets me though, is I have the same filtration setups on both my 45G and my 55G and my 45G is crystal clear.

Both tanks:
AC110 converted refugium
Prizm Skimmer
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrates 0
ph 8.1
Salinity 1.024-1.025
Ca 450
dKH 8
No test for phosphates (but I hear they don't work well anyway)

I do use tap water, but it is for both tanks so I'm not sure why one would be affected and one wouldn't. Cheato grows healthy in both fuges. The only thing that is different is the sand. The 45G has white sand from HD, the 55G has the same sand that was in my brothers FW tank. Each tank has a little over 1lb of rock per gallon. 55G is a FOWLR, 45G is light reef. 55G also has three MJ 900's, plus the skimmer and AC110 for water movement.

I'm wondering what the best snails are for hair/slime algae (I think cerith and astrea?) and also adding a phosphate reactor.

Your thoughts?

 

[xhaust50]

Oh, the 55G have been up for about 18 months and the 45G setup 15 months.

 

[KathyC]

Not to be harsh but as long as you are using tap water in these tanks you will continute to have a phosphate issue along with algae issues.
As it stands now your rock & sand will continue to absorb those phosphates and will leech them back into your tanks for a long time to come.

You don't mention the lighting on either tank, but older bulbs add to algae problems.
An upgraded skimmer would also be useful.

 

[qy7400]

I’d start by switching to RO water, I know that tap on the Island is really good but not sure I’d trust fully for a clean reef; adding a phosban reactor should help.
Like Kathy said you never did mention the lights and they will make a difference, sounds like the FO system may just have the standard fluorescents.
One other thing that jumped out, was the sand ever cleaned from the FW tank? You may have carried a lot or organics over from one system to the other fueling the majority of the algae.

One last thought; if you’re a LIRA member bring a water sample to the next meeting (Jan 18th), the club has a true PO4 meter.

 

[xhaust50]

I was using RODI water for the first few months, but I left it setup outside and it cracked last winter. It's something that I planned on picking up again but just never go around to it. However, I still don't see why my 45G is crystal clear and the 55G isn't.

Lighting for the 45G is 96W 50/50 and the 55G is 2x65W 50/50. Also, I had a CPR bakpak skimmer on the 55G but I actually feel the Prizm is better at skimming. Noisier, but better.

I think I'm going to tear the tank down one day, replace the sand, clean the skimmer and AC110, any maybe add some more flow. Is there a good way to clean the rock other than just blasting it with a powerhead? Also, what's the best cleanup crew for this problem? (and I know they wont eliminate it while there is a problem in the tank, but perhaps if I get the phosphates minimized eventually they can take care of the rest).

 

[Killerdrgn]

emerald crabs, cerith snails, astrea snails, blueleg hermits, scarlet reef hermits, fighting conchs, nerite snails, lettuce nudibranches.