Algae Id

[arvind]

Is this bryopsis or GHA? can someone identify it?

[video=youtube;OEZdD8JHdek]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEZdD8JHdek[/video]

Also, what is this slime stuff on the sand?

thanks for your help!

 

[NC2WA]

appears to be GHA, not bryopsis....broypsis has a fern, bushy look to it..from the video I do not see the fern like structures.
but I would check it against this website:

Green Algae

diagnosis is critical as removing GHA under water is OK, however you do NOT water to remove bryopsis underwater as the spores will release and multiple..this why bryopsis is so hard to eliminate from a tank..the only treatment that works is Kent Tech M..and lots of it....need to increase your Mg level to 1700 and leave for at least 4 wks..once it starts to die off (by turning a greyish color) it would be safe to siphon (do not pick out) of the tank.

the green algae on sand appears to be a type of cyano, but in green form...

So it is evident you have a high nutrient load in your tank...now the 64K question..where? you find that you cure your algae problem.

questions I would ask myself:

review the link I provided and carefully identify you do NOT have bryopsis
what the age of the tank?
what are you feeding the tank?
how much are you feeding daily?
how old are you lights?
how much flow is in the tank?

 

[arvind]

Thank you for the response. Below are my answers to your questions and also a brief summary of my tanks.

what the age of the tank?
The system is about 4+ years old. I have a 180g which has been running for over four years and about three months ago added a 60g cube to the system. The video is from 60g tank and the image is from 180g.
what are you feeding the tank?
I feed frozen mysis every other day.
how much are you feeding daily?
Two cubes every other day.
how old are you lights?
Chinese LED lights on 180g and Radion on the 60g. For LEDs, it does not matter how old they are, correct?
how much flow is in the tank?
180g has two MP40s and 60g has a Jebao wp40

Here is a brief summary of the steps that I took so far:

180g:

About three months ago, GHA was taking foot hold in my 180g tank. I had phosphate issue and at one point it went upto 0.19. I brought it under control and last week the phosphate was showing 0.02. In the 180g tank there is still some hair algae present but it is under control - doesn't spread as much it is used to before. I began dosing vodka for about month and a half and then I saw this green slime algae (in the sand as shown in the picture) growing like weed. I then switched to vinegar dosing the amount of slime algae is not that much. I have stopped vinegar dosing for now. I want to address the issues first before thinking about dosing anything again.

60g:

About three months old. The rocks were from the existing system. The green algae you see in the video is growing like weed. Like every day I see a bunch.

I use Ro/di water. Typically I change water every other week but starting from two weeks ago, I've decided to change once a week of about 10%. I reduced feeding to every other day. Frozen mysis thawed and rinsed before feeding. Have a fairly good skimmer. Royal Exclusiv cone 200 and a ASM G3 skimmer. Also have a refugium. It was taken offline for couple of weeks when I added the 60g and now it back online with some chaeto in it.

I will try to get a better picture of the algae and post it here.

 

[arvind]

Here is a better picture:

 

[Coraloliseffect]

Looks like gha to me. Sounds like you are on right track with water changes. Reducing nutrients.
Sounds like several tanks, long term If you have room for a refugium, It is a way to let the gha and other macro have a home and remove nutrients. With out being a pest.

Not familuere with the green sand bed stuff. But with the old gha nemesis I would try ...

When doing water changes suck and pluck as much of it out as possible.
Can also throw a siphon hose into the sump with a filter and use as a vacuum to help manual removal of gha.
Change gfo frequently. Especially since you stopped carbon dosing. (Even if phosphate test reads zero. The gha tell you phosphates are present. The test doesn't pick up all)
If it a fish only Turing off lights a couple days will weaken its hold prior to water change.
Check phosphates in ro/di makeup and run gfo if needed.

 

[arvind]

Thanks. Just checked phosphates again and it showed 0.13. You are right that the phosphates reading last time was not accurate. Thanks for your response.

 

[TheSaint216]

Get some Turbo snails

 

[NC2WA]

from the pic you posted I still say it is GHA not bryopsis.

continue small water changes weekly until you get PO4 under control.

how many times a week are you emptying the collection cup to your skimmer??

and is the skimmate thin or thick?

 

[arvind]

I am emptying the collection cup once a week and the skimmate is thin.

 

[NC2WA]

good..this tells me your skimmer is working...