Help! How to get rid of this stuff?

[Ashley13]

What is this and how do i eradicate it? Im thinking i could be a form of hair algea but want to get some other opinions first. I have scrubbed it off with a tooth brush, sucked it up and done water changes and it comes back in a couple days. Also what is on the sand? The tank is 3 years old so i dont think it's diatoms but i could be wrong. I know i have something called flatworms (well i was told by lfs that's what it is) It's small square rust color things all over the rocks and sometimes glass, so could this be what's on the sand? I've been sucking them out with an air line tubing and it seems to be slowly working. But any tips would be appreciated. So questions are, whats the green slim looking stuff on my rocks and brown stuff on the sand?

 

[hexcolor reef]

It’s algae, looks like some bubble agar in there as well. A lot options on the market but most start with adding algae eaters

 

[Ashley13]

What pic do you see bubble algea in? I've never had that in my tank before..unless it starts out in another form and then transforms into the the bubble. I know it's algea, trying to figure out what kind so it can be treated accordingly. I have a good clean up crew.

 

[liddojunior]

It’s Dinos
Notoriously hard to get rid off

Basically need to balance nutrients in the tank. You might have too low nutrients

Other thing that helps is raising the temps of the tank. Here is an article on reef builders

Is This the Dinoflagellate Treatment We’ve all been Hoping for? | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Being a reef aquarists, means dealing with nuisance algae, parasites, and other pests… Cyanobacteria, AEFW, Red Bugs, and who here remembers that pink cotton candy algae (Callithamnion)?

reefbuilders.com

I also think using polyfilter pad will help. I found it helps capture them once they start to go freefloating

Dinos always seem to bother zoas a lot

 

[Alex.qld]

You probably need to upgrade the cuc. I would start with an army of snails - turbo snails can reproduce quickly, maybe a lawnmower blenny or other herbivores
also some pepper shrimp for the aiptasia
and some sand shifting critters such as conch snails and starfish

 

[Ashley13]

You probably need to upgrade the cuc. I would start with an army of snails - turbo snails can reproduce quickly, maybe a lawnmower blenny or other herbivores
also some pepper shrimp for the aiptasia
and some sand shifting critters such as conch snails and starfish

Okay, thanks! I think a diamond goby would do good for sifting the sand but not sure how my blue spot jawfish will like it.

 

[Ashley13]

It’s Dinos
Notoriously hard to get rid off

Basically need to balance nutrients in the tank. You might have too low nutrients

Other thing that helps is raising the temps of the tank. Here is an article on reef builders

Is This the Dinoflagellate Treatment We’ve all been Hoping for? | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Being a reef aquarists, means dealing with nuisance algae, parasites, and other pests… Cyanobacteria, AEFW, Red Bugs, and who here remembers that pink cotton candy algae (Callithamnion)?

reefbuilders.com

I also think using polyfilter pad will help. I found it helps capture them once they start to go freefloating

Dinos always seem to bother zoas a lot

Thanks, I'll check into that. I normally like to keep my nitrates around 5-10 but they spiked to 20-30 a few days ago so maybe this had something to do with algea.

 

[Ashley13]

It’s Dinos
Notoriously hard to get rid off

Basically need to balance nutrients in the tank. You might have too low nutrients

Other thing that helps is raising the temps of the tank. Here is an article on reef builders

Is This the Dinoflagellate Treatment We’ve all been Hoping for? | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Being a reef aquarists, means dealing with nuisance algae, parasites, and other pests… Cyanobacteria, AEFW, Red Bugs, and who here remembers that pink cotton candy algae (Callithamnion)?

reefbuilders.com

I also think using polyfilter pad will help. I found it helps capture them once they start to go freefloating

Dinos always seem to bother zoas a lot

I just raised my temperature. Glad you told me to do that, or else i might wouldn't have seen my pistol shrimp in the sump lol. He's never done that before, he had a heck of a ride going through the pipes haha. He's now been returned to the tank.