Algae growth on Goniastrea?

Schteeve · Dec 31, 2019

Hi all,
I've noticed I'm starting to get Green-Hair(?) Algae growth on the septa of my Goniastrea.
Has anyone else experienced this? and what would be the best way to treat the issue? last thing i want is for the algae to drown out the Goni. and prevent him from getting adequate sunlight.

Tank parameters are poor but I'm working on that. dunno exact numbers but:

Phosphates: ~0.06
Nitrates: >5pmm (off my scale)
Magnesium: ~1500pmm
Calcium: ~350pmm (too low, i know)
dkH: ~11
pH: ~8.3

DSC reef · Dec 31, 2019

Typically algae will grow on the dead spot of the coral/exposed skeleton. As tissue recession continues more algae will grow unfortunately.

Schteeve · Jan 1, 2020

DSC reef said:
Typically algae will grow on the dead spot of the coral/exposed skeleton. As tissue recession continues more algae will grow unfortunately.

I dont believe that brown part is receded tissue. im quite sure that its just the colour of the goni that i bought.

Gareth elliott · Jan 1, 2020

I dont have that coral to be positive but i think i am seeing areas of no tissue around areas of tissue. I think its normal colors resembling coralline probably doesnt help.

What nitrate test are you using? The nyos and red sea both will test pretty low and are easy to use. Lps do best in detectable nitrate. I shoot for somewhere between 5-10 ppm. The low calcium and high alkalinity for the low nitrate maybe compounding the issue.

Id raise both nitrate (to atleast your test kits range )and calcium. When you do this id test alkalinity a few hours later and again the next morning and evening. Dosing both Ca and NO3 May cause it to drop a little.

DSC reef · Jan 1, 2020

Schteeve said:
I dont believe that brown part is receded tissue. im quite sure that its just the colour of the goni that i bought.

Algae won't grow on coral tissue IME

Schteeve · Jan 2, 2020

well, either i was sold a coral that was already half dead with exposed tissue, or something is going on that is out of the ordinary.
I wonder if the spot i have it in simply doesnt have enough flow to keep algaes or something from settling on it.

as for my nitrates, Im using RedSea testing kit and only just noticed that there are instruction for diluting the water sample to get test results for high-range nitrates. i will try that and see how i go, but i agree with you both. things are out of whack due to unstable parameters. i will do water changes, get my Ca up, balance my dKh and clean the tank up some more