Help!!! Algae taking over my tank!

[gibbs.david]

My reef tank is rapidly being overtaken by a brown hair/dust like algae. I’m fast running out of ideas and the tanks is quickly being overtaken. At the same time My corals are struggling given the irritation. Not sure what to do.very concerned.

 

[jmp21677]

How old is the tank? A picture of the algae helps as well. Have you tested phosphate and nitrates?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yup^^
Pics. Dusty tonme says diatoms. Nbd

 

[JustDewwit]

Noticed you said you are running out of ideas. Have you tried any other treatments or options? Feeding , Cleanup crew & Parameters will be a plus in helping to identify finding where to start fighting this Algae.

 

[JustDewwit]

Also what are you using for nitrate and phosphate removal?

 

[gibbs.david]

Tanks about 5-6 years old. Just tested Nitrates and these are at 0.5ppm. Phosphate 0.015.

I’ll take some pictures of the algae.

One other point is that I’m now using Orphek lights but with whites and blues reduced.

 

[gibbs.david]

I use Rowaphos on the phosphates and bio nitrate ex on the nitrate

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I use Rowaphos on the phosphates and bio nitrate ex on the nitrate

I would stop the bio nitrate ex. It appears to be an organic carbon source or bacterial additive of some sort. Many organisms can directly absorb this carbon source.

IMO , you’re nutrients are almost dangerously low. In younger tanks (and the battle for zero)it causes a lot of problems. Dinos and Chrysto most notably.

 

[BranchingHammer]

Could be cyano, it comes in many colors... the bacterial carbon source could be feeding the Cyanobacteria as well. Is it forming mats? Do you have good flow in your tank? Some pics would be nice as well.

 

[gibbs.david]

I would stop the bio nitrate ex. It appears to be an organic carbon source or bacterial additive of some sort. Many organisms can directly absorb this carbon source.

IMO , you’re nutrients are almost dangerously low. In younger tanks (and the battle for zero)it causes a lot of problems. Dinos and Chrysto most notably.

I may be missing the point here. By nutrients what do you mean? I had a recent lab check on water without too much amiss

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I may be missing the point here. By nutrients what do you mean? I had a recent lab check on water without too much amiss

No3 and Po4.
In newer tanks there’s an abundance of no3 and close to true zero in Po4. This causes phosphate block. Good bacteria die, bad take over.
Older established tanks this seems rare to be able to strip it. Plus there is a ton more macro diversity like diatoms cyanos etc that compete and balance the system.

 

[gibbs.david]

Thanks but what’s the answer in terms of balance. Higher Po4 or No3?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks but what’s the answer in terms of balance. Higher Po4 or No3?

Doesn’t matter. Availability won’t effect orgaisoms uptake. Also uptake seems relative to species.
Ie, why is the nitrifying bacteria dying and the dino does not.

 

[gibbs.david]

Ok. Not sure where to go from here.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

@gibbs.david - First, if you want to just cut to the chase, do you have a GFO reactor running currently? If you dont' have one running, I would highly recommend getting one. Also, if you want to get rid of this process you have to do weekly water changes until the Algae is gone.. Then again your not giving us a lot of info on what color and kind of Algae you have growing in your tank. If I were you i would buy one of these new NYOS reactors!!

 

[gibbs.david]

I have a reactor running with Rowaphos.

 

[gibbs.david]

The algae is brown and string like and and some in clumps almost like cotton wool. The iPhone isn’t good for photos. I’ll try my camera.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

The algae is brown and string like and and some in clumps almost like cotton wool. The iPhone isn’t good for photos. I’ll try my camera.

The key is doing your Water changes ones a week.

 

[gibbs.david]

Struggling with photos. Even tried my underwater camera but cannot get the focus. Currently doing water changes weekly. Have so done so for months.

 

[jmp21677]

Is it long and stringy? Almost like snot?