Algae problems and filter questions

[Mike667]

Hey guys,
Some questions,

Setup
75 gallon
1 ehiem canister filter
2 HOB filter emperor 400s (which are noisy as heck)
Uv sterilizer

Perameters
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 80ppm
Ph 7.6/7.8

And only one black piranha approx 4 inches.

Couple of Anubis’s and large Marimo moss balls.

So I have had this tank set up for awhile, but the past 6 months I can’t seem to fix the algae problem.
Constant algae growth on the glass, heavy. Like has to be scraped weekly, but lots of string algae forming all over.. around the heater, around the uv sterilizer, around the driftwood.

1)only feed the piranha like once a week, because he’s not eating much? Is that normal?
2) how do I control the algae problem? I have tried turning down the light from 8 hours to only 6 a day for the past 2 months. Still do3snt help. It’s not in front of any windows...
3)is there too much filteration? I really am not liking these emperor 400s, they are so noisy and seems to be constantly taken apart and reassembled. Loud rattling, tried the vasoline on the impeller, still noisy. I feel like throwing them out the window and buying the fx6. Will that be too much filteration?

Thank you for any help and answers.
Mike

 

[dan518]

80ppm nitrate is very high and would cause the algae. How much are the water changes and how often. Are you maintaining filters regularly, are you leaving uneaten food in the tank. What is the nitrate reading for your tap water.

 

[Mike667]

I usually leave the food in there for 10 mins. He won’t eat it right away. After that, I take everything out whether it’s eaten or not. I change the water 10% on a weekly basis?
I would have to doublecheck the tap water nitrates...

 

[dan518]

I usually leave the food in there for 10 mins. He won’t eat it right away. After that, I take everything out whether it’s eaten or not. I change the water 10% on a weekly basis?
I would have to doublecheck the tap water nitrates...

10% weekly changes aren't enough, you should be looking at 50% at least. I generally try to keep my nitrates within 10% of my tap water.

 

[Mike667]

Thanks Dan! Also, do I need two HOB filters? Or can I remove one? They are too noisy... I would still have the ehiem canister filter.

 

[Nilsafeller]

25% weekly should really be enough but that's bare minimum... 25 -50 % is good

 

[dan518]

Thanks Dan! Also, do I need two HOB filters? Or can I remove one? They are too noisy... I would still have the ehiem canister filter.

Which eheim filter is it.

 

[duanes]

i agree with dan518, 80 ppm nitrate is probably the major cause of your algae problem, and a 10% water change once per week sounds like the reason nitrates are so high.
Filtration does not remove nitrate, only water changes do.
I would suggest a 40% water change as normal routine, but....
first you meed to do more to get the nitrate under control, maybe 2 or 3 water changes of 40 % per week, for a couple weeks until nitrate hits somewhere around 10 ppm.
Then slack off a bit unless nitrate starts to climb again.

 

[Mike667]

Ehiem 2215

 

[dan518]

Ehiem 2215

That and one of the hob filters should be enough, just make sure you clean both out once a month in old tank water. I have two filters and clean one of them out every two weeks I never clean both out on the same week.