Gone for a month, need help ID whats wrong!

[Alex.M.]

I was gone from my 40 gallon salt water tank for roughly a month due to personal reasons. It was kept at my parents house however they didn't do much besides add one cube of frozen food a day. All my animals are alive and acting well however (now that I am back), I've noticed a lot more different colored and shaped algae all over the sand and mangrove roots. Can someone please help me ID this algae and what happened and how to correct everything. My tank is under-stocked. It only has one fire fish, one small clown, 2 B.cardinals, 1 urchin, 1 feather duster worm and like 100 mixed snails. My local fish store told me it was under-stocked so that is what I am going with.

The pictures aren't the best, I tried to include as much as possible, but without submerging my phone I wasn't able to get better pictures.

 

[flchamp89]

I see cyno and GHA. A month's awhile. I assume someone fed your tank. Could be too much import and no export. I'd test params first.

 

[Alex.M.]

I see cyno and GHA. A month's awhile. I assume someone fed your tank. Could be too much import and no export. I'd test params first.

Yeah my parents only feed them, didn't change filters, or add water. But then again this is not their tank so I cant be mad at them. I've tested the parameters. My nitrates are high (30ish) but that's really it. One good water change and it should be corrected. Just didn't know if this other algae was dangerous or indicated other issues in the tank. My urchin and worm are acting normal so I know it can be that toxic in the tank.

 

[flchamp89]

It's not bad. Manually attack it. Do your WC and get the tank back to normal. Lower feedings.

 

[Alex.M.]

It's not bad. Manually attack it. Do your WC and get the tank back to normal. Lower feedings.

So just manually remove the algae and do a large water change (50%) and it should be fine? Do you think I need a bigger clean up crew?

 

[motortrendz]

What did they use to top off evaporation? Tap water? That could have added silicates to the water which will promote the growth of cyano. And the lighting schedule could have fueled the gha ontop of the high nutrients.

Manual removal of what you can, a few good water changes, change your filter media and some stability over the next few weeks will get you back in order.

 

[Alex.M.]

They didn't do anything for the evaporation. My tank has a glass top so it doesn't have huge evaporation issues. I think it only lost 1/2 an inch of water total. My parents left both the top aquarium light and the light for the mangroves on 24/7 which explains the gha like you said. Do you think I need to add more CUC? like sand sifters?

Thank you for your help.

 

[flchamp89]

No I can't promise that's all you need to do you'll have to monitor the situation. 100 snails is plenty lol. Some hermits would help. Increasing maintenance limiting import manual removal and light intensity and duration management is typically a solid start and the least evasive approach.

 

[Alex.M.]

No I can't promise that's all you need to do you'll have to monitor the situation. 100 snails is plenty lol. Some hermits would help. Increasing maintenance limiting import manual removal and light intensity and duration management is typically a solid start and the least evasive approach.

Are you sure? Maybe 200 snails would be better. LOL JK. thanks for your help.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

It’s not looking as bad as I would have expected. Get the lights on a timer. Home Depot has some that will work. I think your cuc saved the day on the gha. A nice water change with RO/DI water will help. Also manual removal will help.