Algae taking over

[spot620103]

Hey everyone. I've had a 12g nano for almost a year now, and its basically just been an empty pocket. I don't really have the funds to put all what I want into it, but everything I put into it, doesn't seem to last. I have about 7lbs of live rock, handful of blue-leg hermits, and a couple snails. I used to have a bi-color spottyback, a few turbos, and a bubbletip, but they're all dead and gone. I've tried adding various polyps, and they maybe last a week each. I'm getting fed up with it, but I don't want to quit. My nitrates and phosphates are low, I do regular water changes. I have a protein skimmer constantly running, water temp is at 76*, and I do 20% water changes bi-weekly, sometimes weekly. I had coraline algae covering a lot of areas, but green algae took over and killed it, turning it white. I am constantly battling the green algae on the substrate, everyday turning it over. PLEASE help me before I lose my mind! Appreciate any advice!

:maitre

 

[Trogdor]

Sounds like you lost a lot of your beneficial bacteria. The first step I would do is bump your temp up to around 80°F. What type of mechanical filter are you running? If you are running one, change/rinse your filter pads weekly. Changing the carbon in the filter bi-weekly wouldn't hurt. Can you give actual readings on all parameters that you are testing for? Can you post some photos so we can see how bad it actually is? It might not be as bad as you think. Start researching "cooking live rock" and there are many methods that work rather well to get your live rock back to it natural state. Hope that gets you started a little. Post back with as much detail as you can and we will try and help as much as possible

 

[spot620103]

thanks for the help!

Hey thanks for the advice, I'll look into it more, and once I get accurate readings I'll post them with pictures. I do NOT have a mechanical filter, only the protein skimmer, heater, and flow pump. What type of mechanical filter would you recommend? Wet/dry? I have a filter i can put on the side of the tank for now, but if i need a filter, i want it to be out of site. Thank again for the help.