Help identifying algae on sand bed

[Dj A-Ron]

Hi guys and girls. Another noob question here. I need some help identifying some algae growth on my sand bed. It kind of looks like hair algae in some places and a little snotty looking in other placed. I’ve noticed some of the green snotty stuff on one of the rocks the past couple days. I did see one little bubble amongst the snot on the rock. I’ve been trying my best to keep nutrients down and get my husbandry up the past month or so. I have my apex set to do 10% auto water changes per week (about 1 gallon per day). I’ve also been gravel vac’ing the sand at least once a week and doing an additional 5 gallon water change while vac’ing. I have the BRS 7 stage RODI unit and use Fritz RPM salt. The glass along the sand bed gets a green film on it within a day or so after scraping it. It’s a 55 gallon display with 10 gallon sump. The tank is just over 5 months old. Started with dry rock and dry sand. I feed the fish once per day. The algae comes back on the sand bed within one day after gravel vac’ing. I have a diamond Goby that seems to help but can’t keep up. The left side of the tank seems to get more of the algae than the right. I cranked up the flow a bit and that helped a little but not much. I change out my filter socks every 3 days and have a Reef Octopus Regal 150 skimmer running. I’d like to try and eradicate it naturally without chemicals or additives if possible. I have a couple things on hand and ready to add if needed. I have been running Carbon but only in a bag in the sump. However, I have a reactor that I can implement if needed. I also have a hang on refugium that I can get going as well if you think it would help. Please see the pictures and let me know what you think. With the lights off the algae looks green. With the lights on the algae looks brown. I’ve been doing a bunch of research and am thinking that it’s but not sure with my rookie experience. Here are my current parameters:
Nitrate: 4
Phosphate: 0.04
Alkalinity: 7.8
Calcium 377
Magnesium 1430
PH: 8.3-8.4
Temp: 78
Salinity: 35

Any help, suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[PBnJOnWheat]

Hi guys and girls. Another noob question here. I need some help identifying some algae growth on my sand bed. It kind of looks like hair algae in some places and a little snotty looking in other placed. I’ve noticed some of the green snotty stuff on one of the rocks the past couple days. I did see one little bubble amongst the snot on the rock. I’ve been trying my best to keep nutrients down and get my husbandry up the past month or so. I have my apex set to do 10% auto water changes per week (about 1 gallon per day). I’ve also been gravel vac’ing the sand at least once a week and doing an additional 5 gallon water change while vac’ing. The glass along the sand bed gets a green film on it within a day or so after scraping it. It’s a 55 gallon display with 10 gallon sump. The tank is just over 5 months old. Started with dry rock and dry sand. I feed the fish once per day. The algae comes back on the sand bed within one day after gravel vac’ing. I have a diamond Goby that seems to help but can’t keep up. The left side of the tank seems to get more of the algae than the right. I cranked up the flow a bit and that helped a little but not much. I change out my filter socks every 3 days and have a Reef Octopus Regal 150 skimmer running. I’d like to try and eradicate it naturally without chemicals or additives if possible. I have a couple things on hand and ready to add if needed. I have been running Carbon but only in a bag in the sump. However, I have a reactor that I can implement if needed. I also have a hang on refugium that I can get going as well if you think it would help. Please see the pictures and let me know what you think. With the lights off the algae looks green. With the lights on the algae looks brown. I’ve been doing a bunch of research and am thinking that it’s but not sure with my rookie experience. Here are my current parameters:
Nitrate: 4
Phosphate: 0.04
Alkalinity: 7.8
Calcium 377
Magnesium 1430
PH: 8.3-8.4
Temp: 78
Salinity: 35

Any help, suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

I’m guessing GHA (Green Hair Algae) for sure. I’ve had some myself, seen it around. That’s my take on it and I’d reccomend an urchin or some snails or something to eat it. Getting stability in nutrients would help also

 

[Dj A-Ron]

I’m guessing GHA (Green Hair Algae) for sure. I’ve had some myself, seen it around. That’s my take on it and I’d reccomend an urchin or some snails or something to eat it. Getting stability in nutrients would help also

I did add a bunch of snails, blue leg hermits, and an urchin about a month and a half ago to help get me through the ugly stage. They eradicated the hair algae that I had from the uglys. The snails and urchin don’t seem to touch the slimy snotty stuff on the rocks. I’m not so sure this is hair algae...? What nutrient levels do you recommend?

 

[PBnJOnWheat]

I did add a bunch of snails, blue leg hermits, and an urchin about a month and a half ago to help get me through the ugly stage. They eradicated the hair algae that I had from the uglys. I’m not so sure this is hair algae...? What nutrient levels do you recommend?

Idk honestly your nutrients seem pretty good tbh I wouldn’t even like aim for a specific number, I’d just give it some more time and wait it out. You could also put a snail or something in a patch of the algae and see what it does if it eats or runs lol then see what kinda of snail you put there and what they are known to eat lol if you’re doubting GHA. Idk lol

I think chasing numbers is eh I’d just manually remove some or get a sand sifter to help out.

 

[Dj A-Ron]

Idk honestly your nutrients seem pretty good tbh I wouldn’t even like aim for a specific number, I’d just give it some more time and wait it out. You could also put a snail or something in a patch of the algae and see what it does if it eats or runs lol then see what kinda of snail you put there and what they are known to eat lol if you’re doubting GHA. Idk lol

I think chasing numbers is eh I’d just manually remove some or get a sand sifter to help out.

Thanks. Ive been trying to remove as much as I can. It literally is back the very next day after gravel vac’ing. I’ve thought about getting a sand sifting star fish. Maybe some conch’s. Maybe a sea cucumber but I’ve read some horror stories about the cucumbers.... I may pick up some more snails for the sand bed this weekend. I forget the name of the snails that dig down into the sand...?

 

[PBnJOnWheat]

Thanks. Ive been trying to remove as much as I can. It literally is back the very next day after gravel vac’ing. I’ve thought about getting a sand sifting star fish. Maybe some conch’s. Maybe a sea cucumber but I’ve read some horror stories about the cucumbers.... I may pick up some more snails for the sand bed this weekend. I forget the name of the snails that dig down into the sand...?

Gotcha gotcha I’d try flow there if it’s really low or a starfish starfish are pretty cool. I know my favorite sand sifter are sanddollars amazing guys