Green/Brownish Dust algae

[Chickenfrog]

Hello, I'm curious if you all could help me figure out what type of algae this is and how do I get rid of it?

1.025/ 80.5 F/ 8.45 dkh/ 480 calcium/ 1320 mag/ .01 ppm phosphates/ 0 nitrates.

Phosphates I use ULR Hanna Checker all the other tests I use Salifert.

Thank you

 

[GoVols]

The light brownish looks like diatoms and the other could be some cyano.

If your reef is young diatoms are perfectly normal.

Try to slowly raise:
Phosphates to .03 - .05
Nitrates to 4ppm or above

 

[Chickenfrog]

Do you know of anything I can use to raise the nitrates and phosphates?

 

[GoVols]

Do you know of anything I can use to raise the nitrates and phosphates?

Fish food

You could add a pair of clownfish...

 

[Chickenfrog]

Thank you, but I have a question. I guess I dont understand how adding more fish, food or both will aid in getting rid of algae? I thought algae was due to the bio load being to large and in my case I cant see it on a test kit. Also, I'm not for sure what age makes a tank young or mature, but my tank has been running for almost 3 years now.

 

[GoVols]

Thank you, but I have a question. I guess I dont understand how adding more fish, food or both will aid in getting rid of algae? I thought algae was due to the bio load being to large and in my case I cant see it on a test kit. Also, I'm not for sure what age makes a tank young or mature, but my tank has been running for almost 3 years now.

I'd consider a three year old setup to be mature.

Are you test kits still not expired?

Are you using a product carbon doses?

Have you been moving things including stirring up or replaced your sand bed, because those kind of things can cause a water chemistry change.

Some times the things we test for for like phosphates are hard to test, because they maybe bound up inside the algae and or bacteria as their fuel, and are not floating in the water column.

Might want to buy a silicate test kit to rule that out.

Edit:
Your corals need phosphate and nitrates, and if you keep those parameters low, then dino's can set in and thrive, because there is nothing left beneficial bacteria's to out compete dino's to take over in an ultra low nutrient system.

Make sure that your RO/DI unit's TDS meter is still accurate as well.

Pretty much all I've got.

 

[Chickenfrog]

Thank you and see below your questions for my responses.

I'd consider a three year old setup to be mature.

Are you test kits still not expired?

----They are not expired.

Are you using a product carbon doses?

---No.

Have you been moving things including stirring up or replaced your sand bed, because those kind of things can cause a water chemistry change.

----I changed my aquascape a few months ago.

Some times the things we test for for like phosphates are hard to test, because they maybe bound up inside the algae and or bacteria as their fuel, and are not floating in the water column.

Might want to buy a silicate test kit to rule that out.

---I will check this test kit out. Any certain brand that you prefer?

Edit:
Your corals need phosphate and nitrates, and if you keep those parameters low, then dino's can set in and thrive, because there is nothing left beneficial bacteria's to out compete dino's to take over in an ultra low nutrient system.


Make sure that your RO/DI unit's TDS meter is still accurate as well.

Pretty much all I've got.

 

[Malifry97]

#reefsquad

 

[Retro Reefer]

@GoVols covered everything I could think of, I don’t see any CUC? maybe add a few things to help stir your substrate.

 

[Chickenfrog]

@GoVols covered everything I could think of, I don’t see any CUC? maybe add a few things to help stir your substrate.

I use to have a decent clean up crew, but my malnuras wrasse keeps eating them. He is the only fish I currently have. I just bought a sand sifting starfish. My lfs recommended the starfish would help. Honestly, I'm starting to think the wrasse is going to have to go so that I can keep my cuc alive. It blows bc I really like wrasse's.

 

[GoVols]

I use to have a decent clean up crew, but my malnuras wrasse keeps eating them. He is the only fish I currently have. I just bought a sand sifting starfish. My lfs recommended the starfish would help. Honestly, I'm starting to think the wrasse is going to have to go so that I can keep my cuc alive. It blows bc I really like wrasse's.

If your willing to put on a screen top, you might want to consider a diamond goby. Make sure that one takes to eating mysis shrimp.

 

[Chickenfrog]

If your willing to put on a screen top, you might want to consider a diamond goby. Make sure that one takes to eating mysis shrimp.

I have a top bc of the wrasse. Would a midas blenny help with the sand?

 

[GoVols]

I have a top bc of the wrasse. Would a midas blenny help with the sand?

I just don't see a midas working a sand bed like a diamond goby does.
Those diamonds are cool to watch too.

 

[Chickenfrog]

I just don't see a midas working a sand bed like a diamond goby does.
Those diamonds are cool to watch too.

Okay, thanks for the help.