Help agressive growth

rsnelgrooes · Mar 2, 2018

Hey all,

I'm new to this and have a problem I can fix yet and my local fish store is puzzled.

I have an agressive alge or diatons growing all over my sand and on my rocks. My nitrites, nitrates, & phosphates are all within range. I can clean and it comes right back. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Attached is a few pictures. Tank is about 4 - 5 months old.

EmdeReef · Mar 2, 2018

Welcome!

New tanks go through a lot of stuff, even new older tanks. I started my latest tank in June with all rocks that were ~6yo and still had diatoms and some other issues, went away fast but it's just how things are.
What color is that? Brownish/rust looking or more red? Slimey or blows like dust and any air bubbles in the evening?

rsnelgrooes · Mar 2, 2018

EmdeReef said:
Welcome!

New tanks go through a lot of stuff, even new older tanks. I started my latest tank in June with all rocks that were ~6yo and still had diatoms and some other issues, went away fast but it's just how things are.
What color is that? Brownish/rust looking or more red? Slimey or blows like dust and any air bubbles in the evening?

Thanks!

Its a rust color and not slimy at all. Some of the rocks have very small air bubbles. So is it safe to say I just have to wait it out? Its been going on about a month, but seems to be getting more aggressive.

EmdeReef · Mar 2, 2018

rsnelgrooes said:
Thanks!

Its a rust color and not slimy at all. Some of the rocks have very small air bubbles. So is it safe to say I just have to wait it out? Its been going on about a month, but seems to be getting more aggressive.

What are you nitrates and phosphates at? And what test kit?
Sounds like diatoms. Unfortunately, you will probably have to wait them out. You could try running GFO which will bind silicates and cut off some of their food supply. If you go down that route start with a much smaller dose than whatever manufacturer recommends (1/4 or less) and make sure to test phosphates even a few times a day initially so you don't strip your water completely, your corals wouldn't like that. Also you want to make sure there's a balance between nitrates and phosphates to avoid other issues.

rsnelgrooes · Mar 2, 2018

Nitrates are at 0 and phosphate are at 0.025. Testing with API reef kit and Nyos for phosphate. I have been running phosphate minus for a couple months changing monthly. Coral and fish seem to be doing fine.

EmdeReef · Mar 2, 2018

Can you take a closer pic without the blues on?

ReefguyEric · Mar 2, 2018

Might need more water flow

rsnelgrooes · Mar 2, 2018

Her are more pictures without blue lights. I did install a Gyro fx250 and running at 20%. Anything more make my corals unhappy.

jayala12 · Mar 2, 2018

If you used base rock could still be leaching phosphate

EmdeReef · Mar 2, 2018

Diatoms are harmless, but ugly. can rarely irritate some corals so just watch out for that.

If it just started maybe check your RODI but probably just a normal thing for new tanks.

Maggie321 · Mar 2, 2018

rsnelgrooes said:
Nitrates are at 0 and phosphate are at 0.025. Testing with API reef kit and Nyos for phosphate. I have been running phosphate minus for a couple months changing monthly. Coral and fish seem to be doing fine.

The diatoms could be pulling the nitrates and phosphates out of the water making it impossible for you to read the real numbers. I think your tank is going through an ugly new phase like others have said. If you can bring your nitrates up to 16x what your phosphates are, it can help. That means reduce feeding and if you feed frozen, rinse it to remove as much phosphates as possible. I know some say there isn't much phosphates in the liquid, but every bit helps.

Oberst Oswald · Mar 2, 2018

I really hope I'm wrong but they look like dinoflagellates to me.

mcarroll · Mar 3, 2018

rsnelgrooes said:
Tank is about 4 - 5 months old.

rsnelgrooes said:

rsnelgrooes said:
Nitrates are at 0 and phosphate are at 0.025. Testing with API reef kit and Nyos for phosphate. I have been running phosphate minus for a couple months changing monthly.

I would definitely stop messing with your nutrients at all on the filtration side.

It sounds like you lacked flow until recently. That means a lot of detritus may have settled in the sand and on the rocks and now algae are making use of the nutrients left over in it. Probably cyanobacteria.

Raising nitrate levels probably would help in the short term, but "help" means getting you through the uglies to the other side, not stopping them.

Test out your rocks and sand bed, BTW, by taking a powerhead in your hand and aiming around the tank like a firehose. If you stir up anything that isn't pure-aragonite-white, then you probably have a detritus problem.

Let us know!

Jesterrace · Mar 3, 2018

rsnelgrooes said:
Nitrates are at 0 and phosphate are at 0.025. Testing with API reef kit and Nyos for phosphate. I have been running phosphate minus for a couple months changing monthly. Coral and fish seem to be doing fine.

Nitrates at 0? Your API kit is lying to you (as they frequently do). I know the Diatoms can really absorb Nitrates and Phosphates, but I find it hard to believe that with fish and feeding that you could get it down to 0. I would go with Red Sea, Salifert or one of the others for Nitrates. Also when was the last time you did a water change? and how much and often do you do them?

rsnelgrooes · Mar 3, 2018

I do 15 gallon water changes weekly using RO/DI water. I have also took a turkey baster after the rock and sand, but the it comes right back. I noticed my snails seems to be dying too.

rob safron · Mar 3, 2018

All normal for a new tank. Just keep vacuuming what you can and siphon with water changes. I have a 10+ year old tank, added a bunch of new rock and having the same issue. I have both Diatoms and Cyno but chemiclean got rid of the cyno. Diatoms have been going for a couple months now. And yes I also have 0 nitrate by test but that does not mean it’s 0 in the tank, alge is just taking it up before the test kit can detect it. I see some cyno in your pics also. It’s pretty much a waiting game for diatoms.

rsnelgrooes · Mar 3, 2018

My local fish stores tells me not to vacuum or disturb the sand bed. I have read about it in the past and there seems to be mixed reviews about it. I also treated for cyno back when this first started. That was about an month ago.

kashman100 · Mar 3, 2018

Looks like Aiptasia in 2nd picture above coral. I would get that out asap

rsnelgrooes · Mar 10, 2018

Thanks for all the feed back. I am still struggling and am starting to have fish die and my corals are not happy. Should I take my GFO offline ? I read online where this could help?