Help!!! Algae problem

[Flameback Pair]

Didn't read the whole thread but try sand-sifting inverts.

 

[TimothyJ91]

We'll, I still have the problem. I think it's coming from my sand bed. I looked under my tank today and there is tons on green and black spots in my sand. I turned off the light and I hope this kills it. If not I'm going to do a whole new system reboot. New sand and replace 50% of my water. Clean my tank like its new again and start fresh. Thoughts?

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

Why are you doing such massive water changes!? You shouldn't be changing 50 percent of your water really ever unless you have a massive issue with say copper. When you are changing that much water that often you aren't letting your tank cycle or causing mini cycles which is just adding to your problem. Do as you are doing and feeding less but just do your normal weekly water change of 10 percent water volume no more than 20 percent and let your tank catch up. Also, I dose with Micron7 from brightwell with every top off and water change and these bacteria seem to out compete the cyano and other unwanted algae!

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

You can't really rush anything in the hobby of reefing not even the problems. Once a problem has become visible in the tank it is already got a strong hold on your tank and from that point all you can do is correct the problem and try to reverse the conditions slowly. Doing anything fast in a reef tank will cause problems even down to adding too much livestock or feeding too much. Don't expect to find a cure for things that is going to immediately fix anything everything in this hobby takes time! Be patient and you will be rewarded!

 

[TimothyJ91]

I do 10% water changes a week. So what should I do to get this algae under control? I'm not over feeding my fish and I'm picky about how I feed them. Lights are on for 10 hours. So I'm at a lose here. I've tried everything and it's still growing on my sand bed. Ugh!!!!!

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

And you have added sifters? diamond gobies move a lot of sand but are known to be jumpers. Sand sifting starfish are great too just have to worry about the gobies covering corals.

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

I also dosed heavy with my bacteria so they would out compete the algae for the nutrients.

 

[TimothyJ91]

I had sand sifting snails. I think there's a few left in there. Kind of bacteria do you use? Do you suggest I get some Chemiclean?

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

MicroBacter7 made by brightwell I use it everytime I top off and do my weekly water change. that with the macro I have in sump I never have any nutrients in the water for excess algae growth, My two tangs help too

 

[TimothyJ91]

I have two tangs and a spotted goby. I'll get some of that bright well and add it to my tank.

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

I also run a low nutrient system where I dose an open carbon source (vodka dosing) only I don't trust the manufacturer of vodka so I use thrives Bio-stimulate liquid which in the short sense feeds the bacteria I add depleting nitrates and nutrients in the water. Algae have a hard time living in these conditions but my bacteria and macro algae are very happy as are my corals. The down side to this is that other than photosynthesis I have to supply all the organisms in my tank with food, fish and corals a like. So I feed live phyto and reef snow for my corals. And again it can take some time for the bacteria to set in and make a change so don't expect an instant change you should see your nitrates start to drop if you start the vodka dosing as well mine stay at 0.00.

 

[rworegon]

What you are dealing with is not an algae, its a bacteria. Cyanobacteria. Cyano can and does survive in the dark. Blackouts can help with algae but mot so much with cyano. Clean up your nutrients and it will eventually go away. Chemiclean is an oxidizer, it will kill the bacteria. However, it will come back if you don't clean up your system. Strive to get your Phosphates to under.05 and your nitrates under 5, preferably under that. Practice good husbandry and your reef will thrive.

 

[TimothyJ91]

All my levels are under control. Here is a better picture too. There is hair fibers growing too. Very thin. I was told that it might be diotoms.

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

Diatoms are usually seen during the first phase of your cycling.

 

[20 gallon nano]

i got a layer of brown algae on my sand bed as well, it goes away when the lights are off and come right back when the lights are on. can my lights be the issue? that hair like algea in the picture doesnt look like diotoms. there's a species of worms that live in the sand bed that stretch out there hair like tentacles out, that kind of looks like that.

 

[20 gallon nano]

i have that same issue with the brown algae on my sand bed and glass. i dont know to get rid of it either. i use 0 tds rodi water for my 40% monthly water changes. the algae started out of no where, i didnt do anything different in my tank.

 

[inetjnky]

Paul did you ever get your brown algae under control? If so what did you do?

 

[20 gallon nano]

Paul did you ever get your brown algae under control? If so what did you do?

No I still have the same issue, I clean my glass every two days becuase it spreads through out the glass. It could be that my api phosphate test kit is just inacurrate and my phosphate are just high, since brown algea does come from a phosphate source. Do you test with a better quality phosphate test kit?if so do you have a low phosphate reading?

 

[inetjnky]

I have to retest to be honest. I tested last week with my Hanna and the phosphates read 0. Nitrates from my api kit read between 0 and 5ppm. I have a Red Sea pro test kit here I'm going to test with but haven't done so yet. Haven't had time.

 

[20 gallon nano]

I have to retest to be honest. I tested last week with my Hanna and the phosphates read 0. Nitrates from my api kit read between 0 and 5ppm. I have a Red Sea pro test kit here I'm going to test with but haven't done so yet. Haven't had time.

Are you having the same issue with the brown algea? I got my self a blue diamond goby to sift through my sand, I have a deap sand bed so my sand is doing fine, the goby is doing a good job with keeping the sand white. I need to get myself some better quality test kits.