I have a 48 inch x 18 inch x 12 inch marine
tank containing 1 Tang, 2 Domino Damsels and 1 yellow tail. Filtration is by 2
undergravel filters aided by powerheads, a Fluval 204 containing carbon
and clearwater, a UV and protein skimmer. Lighting is by 1 38w blue moon tube
lit permanently and 3 40w powerglo's lit for 12 hours a day.
The tank was set up 8 months ago and all was fine
until I introduced a Anemone. 2 weeks later it died closely followed by the
macro algae Caulerpa. Since then I have severe slime algae problems. Black,
red and brown slime algae covered everything, green algae grew on the glass
and bubbles are stuck on the rocks. I have tried 20% weekly water changes with
RO water but the algae comes back. 4 days ago, in desperation, I scrubbed the
rocks, cleaned the gravel and all equipment and changed 90% of the water. 2
days later spots of black slime algae appear so I siphoned them off. Today
more spots of algae appeared on the gravel, the bubbles appear on the rocks
and the rocks are becoming covered in brown stuff.
Temp is 80 deg F, Nitrate 5 mg/l, S.G 1.021,
Ammonia 0 mg/l and Phosphate 1.0 mg/l.
Is there any hope of a cure or do I turn to
tropical fishkeeeping ?
