Algae/Nutrient Issue

AZ_Reefer420 · Mar 20, 2022

Hey everyone,

So I’ve been dealing with some algae issues for a couple months now and can’t seem to figure it out. Hoping someone might be able to give some input.

My tank is a 29gal with a hob filter. My tank is consistently testing at 0 for both nitrates and phosphates but I can’t seem to figure out the algae issue. I’ve tried dosing and skipping a water change or 2 hoping it would raise it but neither seems to help. Not sure if the algae is just consuming the nitrates and phosphates to quickly? Ive tried manually removing but it just comes back.

Is this a nutrient export issue I could be dealing with? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Lavey29 · Mar 20, 2022

What kind of algae? 0 phosphate and nitrates is really bad situation for a tank and can lead to dinos. Cutting lights to 6 hours with blue and UV only no whites can help while you correct the situation with your water parameters.

I had to double dose neonitro and neophos for multiple weeks before I got measurable numbers.

AZ_Reefer420 · Mar 20, 2022

Lavey29 said:
What kind of algae? 0 phosphate and nitrates is really bad situation for a tank and can lead to dinos. Cutting lights to 6 hours with blue and UV only no whites can help while you correct the situation with your water parameters.

I had to double dose neonitro and neophos for multiple weeks before I got measurable numbers.

It’s like a brownish hair algae. Pretty sure I am dealing with Dino’s too.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 20, 2022

Diatom.
You'll exp cyano bacteria before you exp dinos.
I'm so tired of everyone yelling dinos at everything. Picture please.
D

Lavey29 · Mar 20, 2022

AZ_Reefer420 said:
It’s like a brownish hair algae. Pretty sure I am dealing with Dino’s too.

Well you need to address the underlying source problem that is causing your algae or its gonna be an uphill batter. You want nitrates at 10ppm and phosphate. 05 to .1.

Manual removal, siphon during water changes, get a diverse cleaner crew and cut back your lights. Some use UV sterilizer effectively also. Try to increase your biodiversity with phytoplankton and PNS probio which is a natural bacteria supplement.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 20, 2022

Pull algae up and throw it in a container. Blow off the rocks as much as u can with a turkey baster.
Do a large 75-90% Wc.

What's you cuc?
D

Lavey29 · Mar 20, 2022

monkeyCmonkeyDo said:
Diatom.
You'll exp cyano bacteria before you exp dinos.
I'm so tired of everyone yelling dinos at everything. Picture please.
D

He describes it as hair algae which is not indicative of diatoms plus he said it's been going on several months.

Yes. Dinos need to be specifically identified via microscope for a positive confirmation.

AZ_Reefer420 · Mar 20, 2022

Lavey29 said:
Well you need to address the underlying source problem that is causing your algae or its gonna be an uphill batter. You want nitrates at 10ppm and phosphate. 05 to .1.

Manual removal, siphon during water changes, get a diverse cleaner crew and cut back your lights. Some use UV sterilizer effectively also. Try to increase your biodiversity with phytoplankton and PNS probio which is a natural bacteria supplement.

I agree I need to figure out the underlying source. I just haven’t had any luck. I’ve tried adding in pyto as well as tigger pods to try to add some diversity.

AZ_Reefer420 · Mar 20, 2022

monkeyCmonkeyDo said:
Pull algae up and throw it in a container. Blow off the rocks as much as u can with a turkey baster.
Do a large 75-90% Wc.

What's you cuc?
D

Cuc is about 4-7 hermits, 2 trochis snails, and about 3-5 nassarius snails. Problem I have is some of my hermits and snails will die after being in there for a week or 2.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 20, 2022

No they don't dinoflagellates are Dino flagellates. Like saying u need to ID a algae cell. Lol.
D

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 20, 2022

Or plant cell.
D

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 20, 2022

If it's long and stringy and has c02 gas off bubbles yes it could be dinos.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 20, 2022

K
..u might not like this or others might not.
Ditch the hob filter or add a hob protein skimmer.
Aquamaxx bullet seems good.

Add 30-55ceriths. Rehome ur hermit crabs for now. We need snail action. Lol. Add 3 top crown snails and 1 pencil urchins. These may need to be re homed as well.
Still think u need to do the deep clean though and wc after.
You use rodi water for top off?
D

REEFUNLIMITED. · Mar 22, 2022

I went through some of the same issues with my reef tank a couple months back. I can recommend doing a 20% water change, adding a filter sock, and dosing a little bit of Phosphate-E(lanthanum chloride). I got a Hanna ULR Phosphate Checker and realized my phosphates were way high...3 months later not a problem. Get a little cleanup crew going, Hermits, and snail to speed up the process. If you are interested in a video of what I keep my phosphates at and how I test for them, check out THIS VIDEO. Hope this Helps... Happy Reefing!