Algae problem

[ECL]

Hey All,

My reef is getting this nasty brown slimmy algae ACCUMULATING mostly on the sediment and green algae GROWING on the rocks. I've starting using the Red Sea Algae Control additive which eliminates the Nitrate and Phosphate and my water is testing okay but I still seem to be getting these bothersome algae. Any suggestions? Identification?

Edmund

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

Are you using a Rodi system?

 

[jackson6745]

Start using one of these and do a little reading on this site to determine where you filtration is failing you. Perhaps you need more water changes ??

 

[BKNYx43]

Hey Edmund, Algae problems can be a pain in the arse, but with some work you can get rid of it and minimize it before having to pour more money into your tank.
Before doing anything check for phosphates and nitrates. High phosphates and nitrates are notorious for helping to grow this stuff. High levels of phosphates are considered more than 0.03ppm while high nitrates are over 20ppm. If any of these are your problem, simple weekly water changes with RO water will help with your fix.

1. What size is your tank? and how many times do you do water changes? please keep in mind that 10-15% water changes

2. It also looks like you got some cyano.. Cyano and other nuisance algae grow where there is a deadzone in your aquarium, a deadzone is where there is little to no flow.

3. In my tank, nuisance algae starts being a problem if my tank temp. rises above 80. Anytime above 80, algae start to bloom and grow like wildfire... Try keeping your tank around 76-78.

4. As for an immediate solution, try to take out the algae manually as much as possible. Your Nitrates and Phosphate levels will be low because the algea store them, so your testing results may be deceiving.

Do you have a sump? Perhaps using "Magnavore Pura Filtration Pad" will help you. It worked wonders for me. Let us know how you progress and feel free to ask.

 

[d5332]

x2 on the temperature above 80.

Went on vacation for 2 weeks and sitter failed to follow instructions.

Took me a month to manage the outbreak and it stopped once summer temps officially disappeared.

 

[petraio]

here is what will work get your self a filter sock with a 1/2 inch hose what you will do is to have the filter sock in your sump with the hose you need to flow water of you tank in the sock (need to do this way cause don't want to do water change yet) with the hose go around your tank siphoning the algae also make sure to have plenty charcoal handy use it while you doing this and soon after repeat this for couple day give your tank 3 days of total dakness with towel or blankets so no sun light will penetrate then slowly each day give your tank 3 hours of lighting increasing 1 hour each day !! when you are up to 8-10 hour of lighting daily do a water change and make sure your magnesium is not lower then 1400 this will take about 7-9 days but sure to work stop adding stuff to your tank good luck ! pm me if you didn't understand it fully

 

[B.BASH]

Looks like dynoflagellates probably from phosphate or nitrates 1+ on using rodi to top off and water change reduce feeding increase flow chemicals are only a temporary fix the reactor with gfo is a good way to reduce nutrients also and or a fuge with macro algae

 

[AquaBeta.com]

I agree with pretty much everything that has been suggested already. I will add one more thing. You might be overfeeding your tank. Start feeding once every other day and see if things get better. Also like others have suggested do weekly 15-20% water changes. Good husbandry habits are so important. And I can't stress this enough, always use RO/DI or at least RO water. An investment in a good RO or RO/DI system might set you back a couple hundred bucks but it's worth it in the long run. New York water is pretty good compared to some other states, but we do have high levels of sediment in our water which could contain silicates. Silicates can cause algae problems. The water you add to your tank should test no more than a 2 on a TDS meter. An average RO system should bring your tap water TDS levels down to 2 or lower. To get consistent 0 readings, you will have to invest in a RO/DI. For example, my tap water reads in the 30s for TDS (total disolved solids) before I run it thru my RO. All of us have battled algae problems, the important thing to remember is that an algae problem indicates an imbalance.

 

[ECL]

Thanks all. I will try probably everything and anything to get things balanced. My tank has been up for about 8 months now and I originally set up with tap water. Everything was fine and dandy until the last couple of months. Since then I have been using RODI water. I do have a sump with macroalgae but I don't have a phosban reactor or gfo yet. My temperature is always 77 because of the chiller my friend gave me (awesome). But I guess i still have to make a few more investments to keep things going well. Currently I'm only running a 46 bow which I found on Craigslist for 40 bucks. I painted the old brown frame black to modernize it and build a simple stand. I should have enough current, I have a Koralia 400? and and an MP40 (also given to me). Maybe the tank is still reacting to the old tap water that I originally used to set up my tank. Thanks for all the good advice.