Help!

domination2580 · Mar 4, 2016

I have a friend who has a tank who is getting frustrated. He has issues with some kind of algae problem. Brown stringy algae with some bubbles.
Please help diagnose and treat it! I know this forum can figure this out!

cloak · Mar 4, 2016

Check this out.

http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

HTH.

4FordFamily · Mar 4, 2016

Looks like dinoflagellates to me but I am no expert. Usually a nutrient export issue (needs better skimming, more water changes, better flow)

Once you have it it is very tough to ditch.

domination2580 · Mar 4, 2016

Hmm.....any other options

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2016

OK, so problem has been fixed, but what fixed it shocks me. The lights. He was using my sbreeflight . He took them off and within 2 hours the problem cleared up a lot. So tell me how these lights did this? And has anyone else experienced this problem. Two lfs is Sioux falls say wrong spectrum. If that's the case then I just wasted money on these lights. But before I accuse I want to know if it's true, how and why it got dinofligellete

Wiz · Mar 6, 2016

Less light will slow or stop it. I've never heard of spectrum causing it. Interresting. Does look like dino

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2016

He tried blackout for two days straight. Didn't help...so that tells me it has To be spectrum...but I'm not sure...but I really want to find out. Maybe the whites weren't high enough?

Wiz · Mar 6, 2016

Sounds plausible. Ill follow for more info. When I had dinos it wouldn't go away until I kept syphoning. Every 20 mins for 3 weeks. These dinos are lighter more green. Maybe different.

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2016

The color of these are brownish. Camera shows green...but mostly brown

Kershaw · Mar 6, 2016

A friend of mine had this. And lfs told him to black out for 3 days then reduce light to 4hours a day and move it up .5 hours a week. In addition to heavy skimming and weekly water changes. He did so and it worked. Been a about 2 months and still no sign of it.

Wiz · Mar 6, 2016

Mine were the same color as a brown crayon. Dark brown.

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2016

Are you thinking that my friend was not aggressive as should have been? It kind of makes sense except for the progress when he changed the lights out

Kershaw · Mar 6, 2016

I don't know. People have different experiences with it. But if changing light helped then it's possible. When I had MH when they where getting near about 9 months I would start having algae blooms. So it's possible.