Algae Growth in Coral Frag Tank

[arkodios]

My LFS’s coral frag tank was overtaken by what looked like dinoflagellates. The slime was snotty, red, and bubbly. We unplugged the skimmer and turned the lights off for 2 days. Now we have what seems to be a different type of algae. This kind is green and long. I took a sample and put it under a microscope. I have a video showing some worm thing and then a still photo.

Can I get an ID on the algae? And maybe a treatment plan? Thanks in advance

EDIT: I tried uploading the video twice but it doesn’t seem to save, so heres an imgur link:

 

[Subsea]

I can’t help with your microscope pictures.

From reading over some of your threads, I hear a consistent theme of limiting nitrogen & phosphate. The fact that you had a dinoflagellates bloom tells me that most likely your tank is both nitrogen & phosphorus limited. Contrary to newbie wisdom, by using dry rock & dry sand there is no diversity of micro fauna & fana.

Limited biodiversity and limited nutrients is a recipe for opportunistic & undesirable algae, which is where you are.

Help us help you, Take a full tank picture of your tank using white light.

 

[arkodios]

I can’t help with your microscope pictures.

From reading over some of your threads, I hear a consistent theme of limiting nitrogen & phosphate. The fact that you had a dinoflagellates bloom tells me that most likely your tank is both nitrogen & phosphorus limited. Contrary to newbie wisdom, by using dry rock & dry sand there is no diversity of micro fauna & fana.

Limited biodiversity and limited nutrients is a recipe for opportunistic & undesirable algae, which is where you are.

Help us help you, Take a full tank picture of your tank using white light.

Hmm I think you got some info confused between my personal tank and my LFS’s coral frag tank. My tank has dry rock and sand, I was pretty certain (so I’m glad to see someone else agrees) that the lack of introduced biodiversity in my tank is the cause of it being so sterile. However, the coral frag tank has established live rock in the sump, and it has been running for years now. The frag tank had dinoflagellates which we attributed to limited phosphates since I was measuring 20 ppm nitrate. At the time, I had no test for phosphates but we did unplug the skimmer so now it reads over 1 ppm. The dinoflagellates went away and now this algae is all over the tank. I’ll see if I can get a photo of the frag tank under normal white light but I haven’t been given the authority to mess with the lights so its no guarantee. I’ll get an updated picture though

 

[Subsea]

My bad on mixing tanks with similar conditions. Good fortune with that stuff.

 

[Subsea]

After reading your first thread about this tank, I suggest following up microbator7 with ChemiClean. I also suggest you provide more gas exchange to raise oxidation potential of your system.

without knowing how big your frag tank is, a fast rip clean should be easily done in an hour at most 2. Of course dip eggcrate and corals. I use a 10% solution of 3% h202 for 10 minutes, if delicate corals than 5 minutes.

 

[nkyreef]

@arkodios I just made a post with I think the same type of algae you have. Coincidentally in a frag tank as well. Have you had any luck? I've tried peroxide and a 3 day blackout and that hasn't worked.