Green algae coating rocks and substrate

[RaymondL]

Ok, tank is reaching the 10 month mark - I never faced a real "ugly phase"; however, early on and up until now there is green algae that is coating all the rocks and part of the substrate - I don't know specifically what type of algae this is - it doesn't look hairy, or have any shape/form that would distinguish what it is. My Nitrates, Phosphates have always been in check - never elevated, and running at 5ppm to 0.03ppm respectively.

I'm not running any crazy high light or scheduling - 8 hours a day at PAR values that will sustain the corals that I have.

Any idea what I can do - the green algae is mask from the blue light spectrum, but if I turn up the whites, it looks discouraging.

Thanks

 

[exnisstech]

- the green algae is mask from the blue light spectrum, but if I turn up the whites, it looks discouraging.

I have a tank that has been running around 4 months that has the same issue. All rocks are completely covered in a green film but only visible under whites or room lighting. I blow rocks off daily so it doesn't blow off.
To be honest after dealing with bubble algae, cyano, dinos and a few diatoms in other tanks I haven't even given the green stuff a second thought.
Let's see what others say.

 

[Brandont21]

Sounds like it might be fairly normal. Can you take a picture under the white lights?

 

[Dan_P]

Ok, tank is reaching the 10 month mark - I never faced a real "ugly phase"; however, early on and up until now there is green algae that is coating all the rocks and part of the substrate - I don't know specifically what type of algae this is - it doesn't look hairy, or have any shape/form that would distinguish what it is. My Nitrates, Phosphates have always been in check - never elevated, and running at 5ppm to 0.03ppm respectively.

I'm not running any crazy high light or scheduling - 8 hours a day at PAR values that will sustain the corals that I have.

Any idea what I can do - the green algae is mask from the blue light spectrum, but if I turn up the whites, it looks discouraging.

Thanks

A photo under white light might help with identification.

 

[Doctorgori]

Regular ole short green stuff seems standard, its when it gets long and grassy is when I start looking for causes. Maybe cop some urchins, they leave nothing behind but rock crumble poop. How s your alkalinity, pH and calcium? Any sign of coralline algae yet

 

[RaymondL]

Regular ole short green stuff seems standard, its when it gets long and grassy is when I start looking for causes. Maybe cop some urchins, they leave nothing behind but rock crumble poop. How s your alkalinity, pH and calcium? Any sign of coralline algae yet

Thanks - I'll look into some urchins. dkH is 8.3 on average. PH is at 8.2, and Calcium is around 420ppm. No purple coralline algae yet other than on the shells of my snails.

 

[Doctorgori]

Thanks - I'll look into some urchins. dkH is 8.3 on average. PH is at 8.2, and Calcium is around 420ppm. No purple coralline algae yet other than on the shells of my snails.

put some black powerheads in there, its scientifically proven the coralline will surely find those …ask anyone LOL

Anything over ~150 gallons introduces other issues.

yeah like light wallets

 

[Lavey29]

Green film algae is in every tank with a proper biome of biodiversity and microfauna. Snails and grazers love it. It's part of the ecosystem. Ever pick up a rock in a tide pool? The best way I see mine is after lights out with a flashlight.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Likely typical surface and film algae and if tank is at or near a window is one cause as is light intensity and organics. Not unlikely and you can add a few snails such as astrea-cerith-turbo grazer and nassarius to assist with cleannup

 

[RaymondL]

A photo under white light might help with identification.

Here's a picture of a part of the tank - I mean the green doesn't look that bad on the rocks, but on the substrate it's more an eyesore.

I do have what I believe some Chaetomorpha that has made its way into the display portion of the tank

 

[RaymondL]

Likely typical surface and film algae and if tank is at or near a window is one cause as is light intensity and organics. Not unlikely and you can add a few snails such as astrea-cerith-turbo grazer and nassarius to assist with cleannup

I have all the snails that you mentioned, but they sure are failing at helping with the clean up

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have all the snails that you mentioned, but they sure are failing at helping with the clean up

What isphosphate level?
Are you using RODI water or tap water from faucet?
Is tank at or near a window?

Art times, algae will grow too quickly for snails to keep up with it. A pencil urchin may be a consideration

 

[RaymondL]

What isphosphate level?
Are you using RODI water or tap water from faucet?
Is tank at or near a window?

Art times, algae will grow too quickly for snails to keep up with it. A pencil urchin may be a consideration

Phophate at 0.03-0.05 range. Using 4 stage RODI system, and tank is nowhere near a window.

 

[Dan_P]

Here's a picture of a part of the tank - I mean the green doesn't look that bad on the rocks, but on the substrate it's more an eyesore.

I do have what I believe some Chaetomorpha that has made its way into the display portion of the tank

Looks almost shiny. @taricha, I am stumped on the nature of this organism. My only guess is cyanobacteria, but I am not happy about it.

 

[Uncle99]

Would the algae not be up taking nutrients to some degree leaving your numbers, much smaller than they actually might be.
Clearly, some nutrient feeding that, my guess phosphate.

 

[taricha]

Looks almost shiny. @taricha, I am stumped on the nature of this organism. My only guess is cyanobacteria, but I am not happy about it.

Yeah, the way it so evenly covers the rock makes me lean to some kind of cyano.
Also, if chaeto is growing like that around the display, then the herbivore crew is a bit lacking. (But that's irrelevant to the green rocks.)