Algae help

[Techie_]

So recently I've been having various issues... including many types of algae

The pictures here should help: https://imgur.com/a/uAIx8

All of my parameters are in check, except phosphates, which have been at .5 for over 2 years. I do weekly 25% water changes and I don't quite understand why I have such big issues.

Mainly nuisance algae but recently I've been noticing Cyano aswell. If anyone can offer advice please let me know!

 

[devilhunt1231]

From what I can see on my phone it looks mostly like some hair algae, what type if clean up crew do you have and how many of each?
Gary

P.s. your issue is tiny compared to the cyanobacteria issues that I've got lol.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Looks like cyano and green hair algae. What are you feeding? And did you use live rock or dry rock? How long has the tank been running? Something you could do to help would be, if you have the room, to add a refugium or get a GFO reactor to take the phosphates out of your water.

 

[oscargrumete61]

Also stop fiddling to much and lower your light and period time , get better power pumps or relocate them and get a cleaning crew

 

[oscargrumete61]

Usually algae issue are too much nutrients and light and cyano no good water movement

 

[Cory]

The most success ive had at algae removal has been dosing vinegar daily.

 

[Cory]

Red spectrum greatly enhances algae growth. Eliminate that too.

 

[Techie_]

Looks like cyano and green hair algae. What are you feeding? And did you use live rock or dry rock? How long has the tank been running? Something you could do to help would be, if you have the room, to add a refugium or get a GFO reactor to take the phosphates out of your water.

Feeding 1 cube of mysis daily, nori as needed (is not left in tank), only use live rock, the tank has been up nearly 2 years... I'll look into GFO, my temporary solution is Chemipure Blue currently.

Also stop fiddling to much and lower your light and period time, get better power pumps or relocate them and get a cleaning crew

Usually algae issue are too much nutrients and light and cyano no good water movement

I'm going to assume you tried to say feeding and to that I say, one cube every day should not be doing this. Or in the case, you meant fiddling, I don't jack around with it daily, only water changes. Light time is already down to a 6-hour photoperiod. I also have an IceCap 3K on the tank, so flow should not an issue; however, I think I could change my flow profile a bit to have more time in reverse, shooting under the pump, which is where the bulk of the cyano is. I also have a CUC that has been there long enough to start repopulating, I'm good there as well.

The most success ive had at algae removal has been dosing vinegar daily.

Red spectrum greatly enhances algae growth. Eliminate that too.

I have no red spectrum in my tank, except for ambient lighting. How would you suggest going about vinegar dosing? Is there a thread I could look at?

Thank you all for your time

 

[Techie_]

From what I can see on my phone it looks mostly like some hair algae, what type if clean up crew do you have and how many of each?
Gary

P.s. your issue is tiny compared to the cyanobacteria issues that I've got lol.

LOTS of snails. I've only got a couple of crabs since a few died after my switch to a larger tank.

 

[oscargrumete61]

I used before vinegar but works better for me
Nopox , i think i cube of mysis every say its too much why no try just half. Or less , i think that is just issue

 

[Crabs McJones]

I used before vinegar but works better for me
Nopox , i think i cube of mysis every say its too much why no try just half. Or less , i think that is just issue

If you have a refugium with chaeto does vinegar dosing mess with the chaeto at all?

 

[Techie_]

I used before vinegar but works better for me
Nopox , i think i cube of mysis every say its too much why no try just half. Or less , i think that is just issue

I've got 9 fish and they all don't get a bite every day, I always see the cube get eaten, it's not an issue.

 

[oscargrumete61]

Ok what kind supplements are you dosing ? Amino acid, coral food etc

 

[jsker]

What are you testing with?

High nitrates and phosphates/nutrient and the lead cause of GHA. Cyano and diatom are present is our system all the time, it just what make the have a outbreak. Mine was running my white spectrum too long.

Clean up crew and look at the white spectrum length.

 

[Techie_]

Ok what kind supplements are you dosing ? Amino acid, coral food etc

None, I stopped in an attempt to cut down on algae growth about 4 months ago. I used to mix Selcon with the mysis for added HUFA's. Also used reef-chili.

 

[Techie_]

What are you testing with?

High nitrates and phosphates/nutrient and the lead cause of GHA. Cyano and diatom are present is our system all the time, it just what make the have a outbreak. Mine was running my white spectrum too long.

Clean up crew and look at the white spectrum length.

I've got more snails than I can count, I probably need a few more hermits or something along those lines. White spectrum is around 4 hours, testing with Red Sea master kit.

 

[oscargrumete61]

Well if you stop doing that the nutrients still there when i got that issues i changed 50 % of water every week for 6 times and alga and cyano were gone also added GFO reactor and more cleaning crew

 

[oscargrumete61]

Did you check out your rodi filters lately?

 

[oscargrumete61]

Red spectrum greatly enhances algae growth. Eliminate that too.

No only red if you have to
Much white also , lower you white

 

[jsker]

It sounds like @crabs_mcjones gave some pretty sound advice. I would also suggest using Lanthanum Chloride to get the phosphates down then running the GFO to keep the Phosphate down.