Battling algae with no end in sight HELP

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Hello so I have been battling this algae since January I've lost a handful of corals along the way. Tank is a 150 gallon 1.5 years old for the longest time first year I had no nitrates so I stop skimming to raise them I believe this was the begging. I've been siphoning it out into a filter sock every week and just can't get ahead. Bought 100 Astra snails and turbos I have 3 tangs they don't seam to eat it.

Alk 8.7
Cal 400
Mag 1383
Ph 8.25

I will test nitrate and Phosphate later

20230518_154753.jpg 20230518_154808.jpg 20230518_154826.jpg 20230518_154842.jpg 20230518_154848.jpg 20230518_154853.jpg
 
Hello so I have been battling this algae since January I've lost a handful of corals along the way. Tank is a 150 gallon 1.5 years old for the longest time first year I had no nitrates so I stop skimming to raise them I believe this was the begging. I've been siphoning it out into a filter sock every week and just can't get ahead. Bought 100 Astra snails and turbos I have 3 tangs they don't seam to eat it.

Alk 8.7
Cal 400
Mag 1383
Ph 8.25

I will test nitrate and Phosphate later

20230518_154753.jpg 20230518_154808.jpg 20230518_154826.jpg 20230518_154842.jpg 20230518_154848.jpg 20230518_154853.jpg
Elevated phosphates may play part with this and appears to be green hair algae and even dome bryopsis.
While a plan off attack will help, you want to determine cause.
Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?
My suspicion- Is this tank by chance at or near a window?
You may have heard this before, but first step is to remove all you can by hand - ideal is to remove rock and place in container of tank water and scrub with auto detail brush which is rigid (see below).
Thereafter assure if there is any root structure, roots are removed. If any roots remain, it will keep coming back.
After you are done return rock to tank and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white light and add the following cleaners which will help with control. These guys below will consume this but not as fast as bryopsis and GHA can grow - They will never keep up.
Pin cushion urchin, Chiton snails, pitho crabs, and larger astrea snails

This procedure is not as bad or time consuming as it seems. Assure phosphate levels do not become elevated which helps feed this algae
 
Elevated phosphates may play part with this and appears to be green hair algae and even dome bryopsis.
While a plan off attack will help, you want to determine cause.
Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?
My suspicion- Is this tank by chance at or near a window?
You may have heard this before, but first step is to remove all you can by hand - ideal is to remove rock and place in container of tank water and scrub with auto detail brush which is rigid (see below).
Thereafter assure if there is any root structure, roots are removed. If any roots remain, it will keep coming back.
After you are done return rock to tank and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white light and add the following cleaners which will help with control. These guys below will consume this but not as fast as bryopsis and GHA can grow - They will never keep up.
Pin cushion urchin, Chiton snails, pitho crabs, and larger astrea snails

This procedure is not as bad or time consuming as it seems. Assure phosphate levels do not become elevated which helps feed this algae


Thanks for the good right up!! No it's not near a window this tank was set up for three years prior as a 40 gallon Then 1.5 years ago I upgraded. What about a sea hare?

Nitrate 9.2
Phosphate. 03

Hanna checkers
 
Thanks for the good right up!! No it's not near a window this tank was set up for three years prior as a 40 gallon Then 1.5 years ago I upgraded. What about a sea hare?

Nitrate 9.2
Phosphate. 03

Hanna checkers
A sea hare (dolabella) is always good but prepare to rehome it when it has done its job as they will starve. Nori will not supplement it long term
 
So I recently had a major algae problem, and while its still fixing itself.... I upped my water changes (manually removing every time) and purchased a tuxedo urchin. I'm not sure if one is conducive for your tank, but he ate algae, similar to yours, like crazy.
 
I currently have 3 pin and 1 tux I think I'm going to try a sea hare. Im siphoning every week but never comes completely off I have used vibrant in the past with great results but that was a 40 gallon not 150
 
I currently have 3 pin and 1 tux I think I'm going to try a sea hare. Im siphoning every week but never comes completely off I have used vibrant in the past with great results but that was a 40 gallon not 150
forgive me if this is a dumb question, but are you taking tweezers or your finger nails or something to pull/scrape it off? I've also taken hydrogen peroxide and a dropper and dripped it on exposed rock when the water is low from water changes.... just a tiny bit. and then i wait maybe 10 minutes before I refill the water.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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