Algae on sand and rocks coming back

[heyitskelton]

I'm not sure what this algae is, it grows like crazy and very fast. I thought it was cyno so I bought some chemiclean and put that in the water and followed the instructions on the box. it looked great afterwards, nice white sand, but its back but it doesn't look like it used to. it looked almost neon orange, but now its brownish. hope someone can help me ID this algae and how to get rid of it. put the lights on white so it is more visible.

 

[GillMeister]

Is this diatoms maybe? Are you using RODI for topping off and salt mix?

 

[heyitskelton]

Is this diatoms maybe? Are you using RODI for topping off and salt mix?

sorry, this thread posted 3 times for some reason, but I have a thread with other responses. im not sure if it is diatoms, I am not using rodi, what do you mean by am I using salt mix? I use instant ocean salt. am I supposed to use regular water when topping off my tank and not saltwater?

 

[Glenner’sreef]

sorry, this thread posted 3 times for some reason, but I have a thread with other responses. im not sure if it is diatoms, I am not using rodi, what do you mean by am I using salt mix? I use instant ocean salt. am I supposed to use regular water when topping off my tank and not saltwater?

You should really be using rodi when you make new salt water and when you top off evaporated water.

 

[heyitskelton]

You should really be using rodi when you make new salt water and when you top off evaporated water.

I know, I just can't find a good one that isn't super expensive. also, when I top off evaporated water, do I use regular water or saltwater?

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I know, I just can't find a good one that isn't super expensive. also, when I top off evaporated water, do I use regular water or saltwater?

You should be using non-salt water. Just fresh water evaporates. The salt stays in your tank.

 

[heyitskelton]

You should be using non-salt water. Just fresh water evaporates. The salt stays in your tank.

good to know, thanks! what rodi system do you use?

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is not algae but Dino.
Here is full program:
Prepare by starting with a water change and blow this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles.
Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15%) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off.
During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as bacter 7) per 10 gallons.
Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX as it is food for dinos.
Day 5,, you can start with blue lights - ramping up and work your white lights up slowly

 

[Glenner’sreef]

good to know, thanks! what rodi system do you use?

Spectra pure.

 

[heyitskelton]

This is not algae but Dino.
Here is full program:
Prepare by starting with a water change and blow this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles.
Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15%) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off.
During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as bacter 7) per 10 gallons.
Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX as it is food for dinos.
Day 5,, you can start with blue lights - ramping up and work your white lights up slowly

thank you, I will try this out.

 

[GillMeister]

good to know, thanks! what rodi system do you use?

Any RODI system is better than nothing. You're likely introducing silicates into your system with unfiltered water and it's causing diatom outbreaks.

 

[heyitskelton]

Any RODI system is better than nothing. You're likely introducing silicates into your system with unfiltered water and it's causing diatom outbreaks.

doing my first water change with RODI water right now

 

[heyitskelton]

good news: it is under control and almost completely gone!

 

[GillMeister]

good news: it is under control and almost completely gone!

Was it dinos, or diatoms?

 

[heyitskelton]

Was it dinos, or diatoms?

i’m not 100% sure but i think it was dinos

 

[GillMeister]

Hmmm. The brown film sure looked like diatoms. Did you follow Vetteguys suggestion to fix the issue?

 

[Lavey29]

This is not algae but Dino.
Here is full program:
Prepare by starting with a water change and blow this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles.
Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15%) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off.
During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as bacter 7) per 10 gallons.
Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX as it is food for dinos.
Day 5,, you can start with blue lights - ramping up and work your white lights up slowly

Do you remove carbon media for this?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do you remove carbon media for this?

No