Algae that's tough as steel (or so it seems!!)

[JEFFR259]

150 gallon asst cichlid tank. The green clustery (shape, not thickness, algae is very thin layered) that grows on the glass is EXTREMELY tough. My Plecostomus can't eat it, the Cichlids can't eat it, and I wear out razorblades every two weeks trying to get it off. Water quality is pristine ( PH 7.8-8.0, Amm/Nitrite/Nitrate 0ppm, temp 78 f) although I havent checked phosphates, which I would believe are suspect since the cichlids are furious eaters and are super messy. SO, is there anything I can do to curb this specific type of algae from growing? With the goal of not starving the Pleco to death (could feed him wafers I guess though). Included are some pics of a couple of my fish and the dreaded algae. Thanks in advance!


Jeff

 

[OohFeeshy]

How longs the light on for?

 

[JEFFR259]

Thanks for the super fast response ! about 10 hours (in my store's showroom). There are large windows in the storefront, so I know this is partially the problem too, although the tank doesn't get direct light.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I've heard having a 'siesta' can help. If I remember, its something like in the middle of the day you turn off the lights for a few hours. The algae can't adapt. How many live plants do you have? With 0 nitrate though it seems a bit odd....

 

[Ethos]

Thats weird.
I had a problem of stuff like that, except it was cleaery.
It was like...lime scale or somthing..

 

[SirMinion]

I'm no algae-expert, but could this be a silicon based algae? (diatoms) It would certainly explain the blunt razorblades and the fact the the fish can't eat it.

 

[JEFFR259]

Your guesses are as good as mine. Im not into Reef tanks yet, but it acts like Coraline Calcium deposits ( I think that's what it's called, the pink/purple collections that indicate a healthy reef ). It's very tough to remove though, I know that for sure!