Alright Alright, I give up. Help to ID SandBed Algae

[tutmatt3]

Thought I could make it go away on my own, but I've come to realize I'll help you guys help me =)
This bed of algae covers my sandbed. I tried to scoop some out so I could test it w/ Hydrogen Peroxide to see if it's Cyanobacteria - I can't get an actual scoop of it. It just dissolves. Same thing when hit w/ a turkey baster. Just an ugly brown / red layer on the bed.

Sometimes I can see bubbles on it, sometimes not. Usually not an issue on rock.

Any input? It never grows hairlike structure. I thought not having a sump was my issue before, so I finally have a sump set-up on the tank w/ HOB overflow. Sump has a beast G2 skimmer, UV, and in the baffle some carbon.

Looking forward to help on ID & rectification!
- Wc weekly 10%
- Feeding 1cube for 7x fish
- Flow for 75g 4' long tank: 2x powerful jebao on else mode opposite sides, opposite corners / 2x weak current usa on surge mode middle back wall / 2x return pumps from a jebao DC in my sump on 7/10 setting - back corners

Lighting Sch - https://media.trillian.im/media/?m=...yLOLJN9dNp74jH3/KHVOFa3l70iSqcRzzHBgViz2OMkoX
1/2 optics removed, Par ~ 280 middle of tank for acrorocks, 150ish floor

 

[oscargrumete61]

I cube of food everyday? I know why you have algae and not go away do not be foolish for your fishes always they are hungry

 

[tutmatt3]

I cube of food everyday? I know why you have algae and not go away

All fish eat it within 30-60 seconds. They aren't overweight and it's a 75g tank.

My friend up the st feeds 1 cube for 4x fish a day in a 20g pico, and not 1 bit of algae in sight on the sand

 

[oscargrumete61]

They ate all the solid food and what about the liquid that is on it, and not all systems are the same

 

[oscargrumete61]

I do not use any frozen food i gave 3 small fishes and when i give then
Just a little bit i got algae so. Nooooo

 

[tutmatt3]

They ate all the solid food and what about the liquid that is on it, and not all systems are the same

Def understand all systems are not the same. And yes, the solid food.

I used to rinse foods before, but read an article by RHF saying the phosphate in whats rinsed verse whats in the food itself is nothing and unnecessary.

 

[oscargrumete61]

Why you do not try pellets, just small amount once a day , if you see any results well you know the problem

 

[tutmatt3]

Why you do not try pellets, just small amount once a day , if you see any results well you know the problem

Used to. Brown to try this was everywhere rocks sand glass everywhere

 

[oscargrumete61]

Did you turn off your water pumps

 

[tutmatt3]

Did you turn off your water pumps

Yup. and made sure ever one that was in the tank was eaten and the any of that fell I took out

 

[oscargrumete61]

Give some wait until they eat it and do it again not just throwing the food in the aquarium

 

[tutmatt3]

Give some wait until they eat it and do it again not just throwing the food in the aquarium

I know. I did

 

[oscargrumete61]

Well that is my only tip my friend and its to much over feeding

 

[Maritimer]

I'd be surprised if there's not someone on the #reefsquad who's seen something like this before . . .

A couple of quick questions - how old is the setup? Anything new added shortly before the algae breakout began?

~Bruce

 

[tutmatt3]

I'd be surprised if there's not someone on the #reefsquad who's seen something like this before . . .

A couple of quick questions - how old is the setup? Anything new added shortly before the algae breakout began?

~Bruce

8+ months. This used to be an on / off thing, and I THOUGHT when I changed my lights to lower settings that it came, but I've since reverted back and nothing different.
This algae has no bubbles collected on it fwiw.

Even when my tank was .03phos and 0-2 nitrate it would still be there. I don't know if my light temperature could have caused it when I switched things, but idk

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

There's a ton of cyanos and common slime algaes out there. Kinda what it looks like to me. I'm inclined to say a slime algae.

What kind of cuc do you have in there?
Are you a sand stirrer?

 

[tutmatt3]

There's a ton of cyanos and common slime algaes out there. Kinda what it looks like to me. I'm inclined to say a slime algae.

What kind of cuc do you have in there?
Are you a sand stirrer?

I was thinking red slime, but my expertise is minimal in ID'ing stuff

No, I'm not a stirrer, and FWIW, this sand was fully rinsed just 2x weeks ago (issue still arose a week later) when I had to transfer tanks due to a leak.
I'm talking thoroughhhhly rinsed.

I had the issues even before my tank had a leak, which is why I didn't mention the tank transition earlier.

CUC right now is ~5-6 nassarius, and a few turbos and spiney stars and a couple ceriths

I havn't had crabs in the tank since they got the evac notice due to 1 rouge, just a few weeks into the tank back in jan/feb - but I am considering adding some back.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Fwiw, red slime is commonly cyano.
A bacteria. Slime algaes come in lots of pretty colors including brown.
Yea could be a cyano, but I'm going with algae.

No not a crab fan here too. I would have reccomended a snail anyway.

If it's clean sand, stir it imo, or turkey baster.

It might be worth looking at flow and seeing if it's settling stuff right there, also might be wothe changing foods for a while and see if there's any effect.

The snail I'd reccomend would be conks.

 

[tutmatt3]

Fwiw, red slime is commonly cyano.
A bacteria. Slime algaes come in lots of pretty colors including brown.
Yea could be a cyano, but I'm going with algae.

No not a crab fan here too. I would have reccomended a snail anyway.

If it's clean sand, stir it imo, or turkey baster.

It might be worth looking at flow and seeing if it's settling stuff right there, also might be wothe changing foods for a while and see if there's any effect.

The snail I'd reccomend would be conks.

Is that the one where people recommend only getting one of? The fighting 1?

And for flow should I point my wavemakers towards downwards Direction for Less build up or should I have it pointed straight for more crashes or upwards for more aeration

I'll take a picture of my current powerhead placement

 

[tutmatt3]