Algae on corals

[mrbacony]

I have a Waterbox 130. I am using a Nero 5 and a Icecap 4000 for flow. I have both turned up to around 70% flow. However, I have noticed recently that algae is growing on two of my plating montis. Any suggestions on how to stop this from happening? I thought my powerheads were powerful enough to not allow that to happen. Do I need to turn the power heads up more?

 

[mtraylor]

It's most likely a nutrient problem or parms issue. Post all your parms especially alkalinity.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It looks like the algae is growing on the dead parts, algae will often quickly grow on newly died corals. The way to stop it is to correct whatever is killing the coral.

 

[blaxsun]

It looks like the algae is growing on the dead parts, algae will often quickly grow on newly died corals. The way to stop it is to correct whatever is killing the coral.

I was going to opine the same (it looked like some of the edges where algae was present were bleached/dead).

 

[gbroadbridge]

I have a Waterbox 130. I am using a Nero 5 and a Icecap 4000 for flow. I have both turned up to around 70% flow. However, I have noticed recently that algae is growing on two of my plating montis. Any suggestions on how to stop this from happening? I thought my powerheads were powerful enough to not allow that to happen. Do I need to turn the power heads up more?

Algae only grows on dead coral Skeleton

What are your params?

 

[mrbacony]

Not sure why the coral would be dying. But you are correct, those parts of the coral do look like they are dying. I have another monti (encrusting) that was going gan busters, but has now lost its color.
Here are my parameters for the last few months. Notice the alkalinity went way up all of a sudden. Not sure why because I have been dosing the exact same amount for a while. When I noticed it going up, I cutback the dosing amount.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a Waterbox 130. I am using a Nero 5 and a Icecap 4000 for flow. I have both turned up to around 70% flow. However, I have noticed recently that algae is growing on two of my plating montis. Any suggestions on how to stop this from happening? I thought my powerheads were powerful enough to not allow that to happen. Do I need to turn the power heads up more?

I suspect elevated phosphates and even nitrates. As for removal, a few Carribean blue leg hermits will pick at it without damage to coral. These crabs are tiny. First identify source of algae and I agree with the mentioned of dead area accumulation.

 

[mrbacony]

I suspect elevated phosphates and even nitrates. As for removal, a few Carribean blue leg hermits will pick at it without damage to coral. These crabs are tiny. First identify source of algae and I agree with the mentioned of dead area accumulation.

Would you consider my phosphate elevated? I know my nitrates are, but thought the phosphate was not too bad. I dose about 8ml of Nopox daily as well as a reactor with GFO. I probably feed a bit too heavy as well

 

[vetteguy53081]

Would you consider my phosphate elevated? I know my nitrates are, but thought the phosphate was not too bad. I dose about 8ml of Nopox daily as well as a reactor with GFO. I probably feed a bit too heavy as well

Recommended often is .06-.08. many run .1 which I find acceptable.
Tap water, overfeeding, overcrowding, lack of maintenance, certain frozen foods, feeding plankton foods such as reef roids are some contributors to elevated po4

 

[gbroadbridge]

Not sure why the coral would be dying. But you are correct, those parts of the coral do look like they are dying. I have another monti (encrusting) that was going gan busters, but has now lost its color.
Here are my parameters for the last few months. Notice the alkalinity went way up all of a sudden. Not sure why because I have been dosing the exact same amount for a while. When I noticed it going up, I cutback the dosing amount.

I dont see any real issue with those numbers, although I suppose unstable Nitrate could cause issues.

Is the coral getting enough light?

 

[blaxsun]

Not sure why the coral would be dying. But you are correct, those parts of the coral do look like they are dying. I have another monti (encrusting) that was going gan busters, but has now lost its color.
Here are my parameters for the last few months. Notice the alkalinity went way up all of a sudden. Not sure why because I have been dosing the exact same amount for a while. When I noticed it going up, I cutback the dosing amount.

I have several monti plates as well and roughly similar parameters (higher nitrates, lower phosphates and alkalinity in the 8.25-8.5dKH range). You may want to bump up your magnesium a tad (I run mine in the 1400-1450ppm range).

 

[mrbacony]

I dont see any real issue with those numbers, although I suppose unstable Nitrate could cause issues.

Is the coral getting enough light?

Should be getting plenty of light. I have two Hydra 32’s. Running around 150 to 250 par throughout. They have been doing super for the last year and a half and I have not changed my lighting schedule for years.

I have several monti plates as well and roughly similar parameters (higher nitrates, lower phosphates and alkalinity in the 8.25-8.5dKH range). You may want to bump up your magnesium a tad (I run mine in the 1400-1450ppm range).

Yes, my mag has always run a bit low. That last entry going from 1200 to 1300 was me adding about 300-400 ml of magnesium. I need to add more. Just didn’t want to over do it at once.

Maybe I need to run another ICP test to check for other issues.

 

[blaxsun]

Yes, my mag has always run a bit low. That last entry going from 1200 to 1300 was me adding about 300-400 ml of magnesium. I need to add more. Just didn’t want to over do it at once.

Maybe I need to run another ICP test to check for other issues.

I'd probably try to get your phosphates down a bit with some GFO or something like TLF PhosBan, get your alkalinity back to where you want it and slightly increase your magnesium before getting another ICP test (which may not reveal much anyway).

Are there any adjacent corals that could be stinging it? My torches were really bad for this.

 

[mrbacony]

I am currently (and have been for a while) running GFO. My filter sock can’t seem to keep up with the detritus. I am changing the sock every day now because it starts to overflow. Granted, the socks are pretty dirty and need to be replaced. But the wife has agreed to a Red Sea Reefmat 500. I will have to cutout the sock holders to accommodate it. I am hop that RedSea will have a 4th of July sale, but I think we would have already seen one if it was coming.

No adjacent corals that could be stinging it. It is on its own where it is.

 

[blaxsun]

I am currently (and have been for a while) running GFO. My filter sock can’t seem to keep up with the detritus. I am changing the sock every day now because it starts to overflow. Granted, the socks are pretty dirty and need to be replaced. But the wife has agreed to a Red Sea Reefmat 500. I will have to cutout the sock holders to accommodate it. I am hop that RedSea will have a 4th of July sale, but I think we would have already seen one if it was coming.

No adjacent corals that could be stinging it. It is on its own where it is.

The ReefMat will make a noticeable difference. You are washing/laundering the socks after removal, yes?

 

[mrbacony]

Oh yes. They are washed together as a bunch once I have used them. I have around 15-20 socks. They are due for a replacement. But decided to go with the Reefmat instead of investing in more socks. I know a ReefMat is much more than new socks, but in the long run, it makes sense.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Oh yes. They are washed together as a bunch once I have used them. I have around 15-20 socks. They are due for a replacement. But decided to go with the Reefmat instead of investing in more socks. I know a ReefMat is much more than new socks, but in the long run, it makes sense.

For sure.

My tank has never run better after I installed a roller mat filter (X-Filter in my case).
Saves a ton of time too.

 

[mtraylor]

Well it looks like to me that on 5/21 you bottomed out your nutrients really hard to almost zero phosphates and zero nitrates. Not sure what you had going on, but that is a huge sudden drop and will affect each coral different. That is probably how you got the die off on the coral and then algae growing etc. Parms look good now. I would just trim the dead corals out.

 

[mrbacony]

Well it looks like to me that on 5/21 you bottomed out your nutrients really hard to almost zero phosphates and zero nitrates. Not sure what you had going on, but that is a huge sudden drop and will affect each coral different. That is probably how you got the die off on the coral and then algae growing etc. Parms look good now. I would just trim the dead corals out.

I checked my notes and I had done a water change on 5/18 of 25 gallons. I cannot rememeber why the bottoming out of nitrate that week.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I checked my notes and I had done a water change on 5/18 of 25 gallons. I cannot rememeber why the bottoming out of nitrate that week.

I simply assumed that you had either recorded incorrectly or a test error.
You would notice something as obviously out of range as that and made a correction.
Only way you could have done that is out of control carbon dosing or a huge water change.

A short term blip like that wouldn't offend a monti anyway.