Help Algae Wont Go Away

[blackz151]

I am fresh out of ideas so I figured I would post here and see if anyone could help. First off the tank is a 80 gal Deep blue. 50 gal sump. Reef octo skimmer. I run gfo in a BRS reactor. AI hydra 52 lights.

Right now the tank sits at
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Po4 0 ( I do not have a low range just ordered the hanna)

The only thing in the tank is about 150lbs of rock rock a few spawns , mushrooms, and CUC. The tank is about a year and a half old. No life stock no food.

Lights:
Right now it is only one hydra 52
8 hr's a day 1 hr ramp
Max 50% RB and DP
White max 20

The problem:

I have to say I dont know if it is diatoms or brown algae. It is all over the sand rocks and glass.
It started to break out bad about 2 weeks ago. The sand and rocks where covered in it. I stirred it all up and before I was even done it was already turning brown.

I did 2 32 gal water changes and added phosgaud in a bag in the sump. It seemed to help allot then the other morning I woke up and it was covered again.

Did another water change. I stirred up everything syphoned the sand cleaned the glass brushed off the rocks got everything moving. Then I pulled the lights for 2 days. Turned the lights back on last night very dim night light everything is clean and clear not a speck.

Came home from work today and there is little bits starting to break out on the sand again!!!!!

Please help!!!

 

[Tahoe61]

Flow?
Water source?
Image please..

Does the tank get any direct sunlight?

 

[blackz151]

Sorry I was just thinking I forgot the flow

2 Jebao rw-8's in wave mode

I have a 200GPD ro/di 0 tds
I mix in a brute can

The tank gets very minimal sunlight

I just took this picture. It is no where near as bad as its been but this is how it starts

 

[Tahoe61]

Thanks, does it grow on the rocks or just the sand? Any bubble formation involved? Is that fine grain sand? Have you added any new equipment like a reactor....within the last month? Can you try changing the directional flow of the RW to aim more to the sand bed?

I know the frustration but 2 weeks is not really that long, I have dealt with different blooms for much long until they burn out.

Looks like Diatoms with possible Cyano, pure speculation. These things are so hard to nail down.

Hopefully someone else will chime in with more assistance.

 

[blackz151]

It been on and off for a few months now. It has just really gotten worse lately for sure.

It grows on the sand rocks glass power heads. It is not really to thick it comes off pretty easy from the glass and power heads and stuff. No bubbles forming at all. No new equipment all the same stuff for about a month or so.

It is fine grain fiji pink. I have had them a little lower but it tends to blow the sand around a bit.

 

[Daytonareefing]

How old is the DI resin and did you check the TDS on the RO system. Also the phosguard needs to be changed once a week or so. You could try some Zeostart 3 as well it helps a lot with algae problem. But it really sounds like a water problem from the R.O.
I hope this helps.

 

[blackz151]

Di was changed about a month ago. TDS going into the DI is about 16 or so and coming back out it is 0

I have changed the posgaurd a few times now it really seems to slow down the problem.

I will look at the zeostart 3

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Maybe this can still help...
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/l...urf-and-slime-algae-from-your-aquarium.86207/

~CI

 

[blackz151]

Thanks. I will read it now! It has seemed to slow down a bit so that Im happy about. I think I may be pin pointing the problem. What Daytonareefing said got me thinking. I do hold about 15 gal's of ro for top in 5 gal water jugs. I know the water coming out is at 0 tds but I have a feeling the jugs are leaching. I ordered a hand held tds meter so I can see if that's whats going on

 

[Oceansize]

I have had blooms exactly like yours, but experimentation has proved that mine are directly related to nitrates getting above 5ppm or so (combined with a fair amount of indirect sunlight hitting the tank). So if nitrates aren't the issue (and it doesn't look like they are) my next guess would be your water source. Which is consistent with the other advice you're getting.

 

[beaslbob]

If you don't have macro algae add some and a light to your sump. If you do then add some more anyway.

then kill the (display) lights and suspend feeding until the algae dies off. then resume with 1/2 of both and adjust (more) is algae stays away and/or (less) if the algae comes back.

You will find some balance where you have little algae/cyano but things thrive.

my .02

 

[blackz151]

I have had blooms exactly like yours, but experimentation has proved that mine are directly related to nitrates getting above 5ppm or so (combined with a fair amount of indirect sunlight hitting the tank). So if nitrates aren't the issue (and it doesn't look like they are) my next guess would be your water source. Which is consistent with the other advice you're getting.

Yea seems the ro might be to blame

If you don't have macro algae add some and a light to your sump. If you do then add some more anyway.

then kill the (display) lights and suspend feeding until the algae dies off. then resume with 1/2 of both and adjust (more) is algae stays away and/or (less) if the algae comes back.

You will find some balance where you have little algae/cyano but things thrive.

my .02

Thanks I will try this for sure!