Hi all! I'm not exactly new to reefing but I'm new to the forum (been lurking for awhile. I only created the account to ask this question). For months I've been sort of battling algae on my tank walls (mixed reef; top half SPS bottom half LPS and softies). It's this greenish film that comes off very easily. I usually need to clean the glass every two or three days. If I don't, the algae becomes more obvious and turns almost dark/reddish to my eyes. They're still green if I disperse them in a separate container with RO/DI water, as in the water turns green. I've been testing my water for weeks and I'm at a consistent 0.05-0.07 ppm phosphate and 2-5 ppm nitrate depending on when I test during the day. I feed heavily and there's nori present in the feeder clip for at least 10 hours during daytime.
My question is, does the algae growth seem natural to you? I feel like you should be able to wait at least a week to HAVE to clean your tank walls but I HAVE to clean it at least every 3 days or it'd become an algae infestation. I don't think I have other problems and the corals all look alright to me. My water is almost crystal clear (after I clean the walls of course). I just don't understand why the algae grow back so quickly no matter what. Please advise!
Other info that might be relevant:
- Refugium on opposite cycle for 12 hours. I turned it down to 10 hours this week to see if it'd have an effect on the algae problem in the DT.
- Major ions are within appropriate range.
- I can smell the algae bloom coming on some days. My air purifiers also pick this up. This usually happens the day after I stir the sandbed to get it back to white. This doesn't happen often; it's happened twice in the last four months.
My question is, does the algae growth seem natural to you? I feel like you should be able to wait at least a week to HAVE to clean your tank walls but I HAVE to clean it at least every 3 days or it'd become an algae infestation. I don't think I have other problems and the corals all look alright to me. My water is almost crystal clear (after I clean the walls of course). I just don't understand why the algae grow back so quickly no matter what. Please advise!
Other info that might be relevant:
- Refugium on opposite cycle for 12 hours. I turned it down to 10 hours this week to see if it'd have an effect on the algae problem in the DT.
- Major ions are within appropriate range.
- I can smell the algae bloom coming on some days. My air purifiers also pick this up. This usually happens the day after I stir the sandbed to get it back to white. This doesn't happen often; it's happened twice in the last four months.