Help fighting what ever I algae I got

[Captainscott]

I have tried to fight what I thought was dinos so I blacked out my tank for 3 days that didn’t work. That made me think it was red slime to I tried two doses of red slime remover over 48 hour period a d it still looks like this maybe hair algae. Attached bellow are my parameters and what the algae looks like any tips on removing I do a 20% water change every Saturday and does 2ml calc, 8ml alk, 1ml mag per day

 

[Spare time]

Reminds me of spirulina algae. API algaefix clears that out. Out of curiosity, what is the nitrate level in that tank?

 

[Captainscott]

Thanks that was something I checked today but the Hanna was not reading accurately causing a invers in samples 3 times but sill look into api algae fix

 

[Lavey29]

Your parameters are off. Cal is elevated, alk way to high, phosphate slightly elevated, magnesium? Nitrates?

You should start by cutting back lights to 6 hours with blue and UV only no whites. Dose good bacteria like PNS probio and phytoplankton. Siphon out what you can. Get a diverse cleaner crew too.

 

[Ricox]

Get more cuc to work in your sandbed as well to keep it aerated and moving and if you can up the flow on top of the sandbed.

 

[Spare time]

Thanks that was something I checked today but the Hanna was not reading accurately causing a invers in samples 3 times but sill look into api algae fix

Spirulina is a type of cyano but is brownish rather than red and isn't impacted (at least not noticeably) by chemiclean. Algaefix is the only product I know that kills it.

 

[Ricox]

If nothing works you could try Dino X but that will kill all algae in your tank so it may affect your zoanthids if you have any as they have algae growing inside them. So I would first try a cuc for your sandbed.

 

[131696]

I looked at your #'s tank is not stable is why you got algae nitrates not on there ,get stable tank with right ratio and algae will go away.

 

[Captainscott]

If nothing works you could try Dino X but that will kill all algae in your tank so it may affect your zoanthids if you have any as they have algae growing inside them. So I would first try a cuc for your sandbed. Thanks everyone yes just started dosing this past week with Redsea reef foundation will adjust my dosing amounts and yes waiting on. New nitrate test kit because I’m getting tired of using my Hanna nitrate tester and bought a cheap microscope to see what I’m dealing with and tried dinox but had negative results and lost a torch and pulsing Xenia. What are good parameters was thinking 11.5 alk 450 calc 1350 mag and 0.08 phosphate

 

[Captainscott]

Thanks for the help have ordered a clean up crew some pods to help sed the tank and and microscope should come tomorrow

 

[Captainscott]

Here’s some microscope views of the algae should I put a water sample under the scope I know dumb question thanks

 

[Captainscott]

Here is some updates from the microscope what type of dinos and just used a sample of water from the top that’s brown

 

[Captainscott]

Here are some more updated pics thanks for the help everyone and if anyone can I’d that’s rad

 

[saltyhog]

You have Prorocentrum dinos. The best treatment IMO is to dose water glass to elicit a competing diatom bloom. I would also dose phyto regularly as this also seems to help. Keep nutrients up (Nitrate 5-10, Phosphate 0.06-0.12). I dose the water glass at 0.2 cc/15 gallons of water volume daily. It can take a few weeks to a few months to get rid of this.

 

[Captainscott]

You have Prorocentrum dinos. The best treatment IMO is to dose water glass to elicit a competing diatom bloom. I would also dose phyto regularly as this also seems to help. Keep nutrients up (Nitrate 5-10, Phosphate 0.06-0.12). I dose the water glass at 0.2 cc/15 gallons of water volume daily. It can take a few weeks to a few months to get rid of this.

Thanks salty hog what do you mean by water glass and have started dosing phyto

 

[saltyhog]

Thanks salty hog what do you mean by water glass and have started dosing phyto

Water glass is sodium silicate....it usually is 36-41%. I would dose 0.2 ml/ 15 gallons of water volume daily and check an ICP test in 3-4 weeks to see what your level is. One good source for water glass is made by Loud Wolf....search for it on Amazon. We want to see levels around 2-3 ppm.

 

[saltyhog]

Here's a link to the water glass product I have used in the past.

 

[Captainscott]

thanks saltyhog just ordered that bottle and will use my dosing pump to dos it each day

 

[saltyhog]

thanks saltyhog just ordered that bottle and will use my dosing pump to dos it each day

Oh no, no! My bad for not expounding on the dosing. You mix each dose in 250cc or so of RO/DI water and pour it slowly in to a high flow area(like in front of a powerhead). It's very alkaline and will precipitate badly if dosed directly in to the tank. You don't want a silicate white out!