Help Please

[Mattgee]

Have been struggling with some sort of algae outbreak but not sure what and don’t have access to a microscope.

i am running a uv filter and trying to stir the sand bed but just keeps reforming in the same place. Also tried siphoning out during water changes but still returns. Using my own ro water and 0 TDS using an in-line tester, also have turned lights off but not doing a total black out.
Just looking for some guidance please.

photo and video attached

hope you can help

 

[Octane13]

looks more like cyano than anything else. Uv probably wont work unless you suck it directly through the uv. Does it go away at night? or does it look like the picture all the time?

 

[Mattgee]

Can’t seem to upload the video for some reason

 

[Mattgee]

Think it goes away at night but difficult to say. Gently blasted the sand bed this morning, thought it looked good then came back a couple of hours later.

 

[Mattgee]

link to video

 

[Octane13]

Think it goes away at night but difficult to say. Gently blasted the sand bed this morning, thought it looked good then came back a couple of hours later.

I would stop stirring the sand. If it does turn out to be dino you are risking a spread. Having dealt with that nonsense before I would highly suggest avoiding. I would however be interested how old your tank is. If its new without a lot of inhabitants I would give chemiclean a shot. At least you'll know if its cyano or not

 

[Octane13]

link to video

Still going with Cyano. Has a purple/red hue

 

[Mattgee]

Still going with Cyano. Has a purple/red hue

Hi tank is only 6 months old

have 2 x clown fish, 1 6 line wrasse and 2 fire fish.
Various snails and hermits also

last tested 2 days ago
ph 8.0
Dkh 10.1
nitrate 5ppm
phosphate 0.05
temp 77

 

[Ryde]

Have been struggling with some sort of algae outbreak but not sure what and don’t have access to a microscope.

i am running a uv filter and trying to stir the sand bed but just keeps reforming in the same place. Also tried siphoning out during water changes but still returns. Using my own ro water and 0 TDS using an in-line tester, also have turned lights off but not doing a total black out.
Just looking for some guidance please.

photo and video attached

hope you can help

What dose your water quality look like? What is your phosphate reading? Nitrate reading? Do you have and thing living in the tank?

It looks like cyano as Octane stated. Here are a few things to know about chemiclean before use. Follow all the instructions, if not you could kill any thing living in your tank. Do not over dos it, if so this will led to death to any thing in you tank. Now it doesn't completely rid the problem it will only stall it. Find out why it keeps growing. Then fix that especially if it's a water problem. Then dos chemiclean.

Lastly don't let it discourage you, Cyano is a common thing. It can be a battle but as long as you do what is right you will win.

I'm currently dealing with cyano myself!

 

[Ryde]

Hi tank is only 6 months old

have 2 x clown fish, 1 6 line wrasse and 2 fire fish.
Various snails and hermits also

last tested 2 days ago
ph 8.0
Dkh 10.1
nitrate 5ppm
phosphate 0.05
temp 77

Is that all you test? Now everything as far as ammonia and nitrate just to name a few don't deal with cyano as far as I know. But if they get out of check they can be toxic.

 

[Mattgee]

will test ammonia as soon as possible

 

[Octane13]

What dose your water quality look like? What is your phosphate reading? Nitrate reading? Do you have and thing living in the tank?

It looks like cyano as Octane stated. Here are a few things to know about chemiclean before use. Follow all the instructions, if not you could kill any thing living in your tank. Do not over dos it, if so this will led to death to any thing in you tank. Now it doesn't completely rid the problem it will only stall it. Find out why it keeps growing. Then fix that especially if it's a water problem. Then dos chemiclean.

Lastly don't let it discourage you, Cyano is a common thing. It can be a battle but as long as you do what is right you will win.

I'm currently dealing with cyano myself!

My 40 was up for over 3 yrs and still got cyano from time to time. Just sucked it out

 

[Mattgee]

My 40 was up for over 3 yrs and still got cyano from time to time. Just sucked it out

Yeah think I’m going to go down that route to start with. Parameters seem fine and don’t really want to use chemiclean yet. Will suck it out keep monitoring levels and see how it progresses. Still a very new tank at 6 months after all

 

[JAC-]

Does your RO unit have a deionizer?
How long are your lights on each day?

 

[Mattgee]

Does your RO unit have a deionizer?
How long are your lights on each day?

Hi

yes it has a resin deioniser unit. Resin was changed about 6 weeks ago.

current lighting schedule

thanks

 

[JAC-]

Hi

yes it has a resin deioniser unit. Resin was changed about 6 weeks ago.

current lighting schedule

thanks

Nothing looks bad to me, though I'm pretty new on the salt side.
I'd agree with the previous statements and clean what you can out and it should get better and the tank ages.

Best of luck

 

[Ryde]

My 40 was up for over 3 yrs and still got cyano from time to time. Just sucked it out

Yep there are times were it just shows up and know one knows why.

 

[Mattgee]

Well stripped down and cleaned skimmer/ return pump / both AI 5 power heads and put a more powerful pump on my uv steriliser.
added an additional power head to my DT aimed at my overflow and vacuumed and stirred the sand bed and blew the rocks too. Did about a 30% water change overall.
Got up this morning and things do look better however still patches forming and currently no lights on !!
Can’t seem to get Chemiclean in the uk anymore but ordered some Blue Life Red Cyano Rex and dependant on things this week might dose at the weekend.
Did a full range to tests this morning and came up with these results ....

As far as I can see everything seems fine with these but hopefully someone will point something out if I’m missing anything .

Thanks