I can't find an answer anywhere

[mixedreef89]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the marine world. I've had my tank up and running about 6-7 months now and all is great except one thing. I keep having this same problem pop up. I get this white kind of stringy stuff on my front glass. It sticks around for about 2 weeks and cover the whole front viewing section then dies off for about a week or more then starts to.come back. It's annoying because it makes my tank look like crud . Does anyone know what this is or has had the same problem and found a cure. Thank you so much in advance and I hope to learn allot from all of you in the time to come.

 

[Ryan2428]

Algea growth sounds to me what are your water numbers peeps will ask

 

[mixedreef89]

Sadly right now I can not answer that? My dad has all my test kits at his house till Monday. Last time I checked which was the second time this came around everything was right where it needed to be. I had my local saltwater only store double check for me. Also the spec on the tank

75 gallon acrylic DT
40B sump
RO NWB-110
Phosban reactor(not running right now)
Twin 150w glass heaters
40 lbs live rock
70 lbs of live sand
2 Clowns
Starry blenny
Six line wrasse
Small green star polyp
Deep Blue triton 4 return pump on 3/4 pvc
2x drains 1 1/4 into two 4" filter socks

 

[mixedreef89]

 

[leocom2000]

Not sure what they are, but I had them when my tank was first setup. The went away in a couple months.

 

[mixedreef89]

That's what I thought to but this is the 3rd time it has come around. It's only the front glass to. No where else. Would flow inside the DT cause it? Right now I only have a koralia 850 and my return pump. Ive got two 1150 on order to replace my one 850 that my wife is taking for her seahorse tank when she gets it set up

 

[Live life 67]

Not sure what it is! I already running my for over 2 and half months. And I have't had that!

 

[bairdimusprime]

Maybe hydroids?

 

[mixedreef89]

Just looked into it. But it's not that either. I've sent pics to a couple of different places in Florida and California. Hoping to hear back today. I will get to the bottom of this and give you guys an answer on what it is. What's causing it and how to get rid of it for good. I know I'm not the only one who has had this problem. But I assure you I will help the next reefers that get it.

I did notice something different this time around though. When it started to grow I noticed my green star polyp didn't come out much and definitely not in full. It almost started to look dead. But now that this stuff has started it's dieing off "cycle" my GSP look amazing again. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....:suspicious:

 

[fishroomlady]

looks like some detritrus/algae - I'd try and increase flow in your tank and keep the glass cleaned - my guess it's probably some of the uglies that develop and come and go in a newly set up system.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to R2R! Nice tank! I used to get them as well with my new tank. I just used an algae magnet and kept them cleaned off.

 

[mixedreef89]

Thank you it has been a very slow build. I'm going to do a build thread on when I had to re plumb everything for my 40B. It's nice to know someone else had this problem, but I'm still going to figure out what it is, what causes it and a solution. I am determined lol.

 

[mainereefer]

looks like a bacterial bloom to me...

 

[mixedreef89]

Talking to one of the guys in California now. We will see what he says about it. I'll keep you all updated

 

[erk]

I have a question. The pics you posted of your tank and sump make it look like your tank is nowhere near 6 months old. Are those pics from when you first started out? I say this because my tank is 6 months old and my sump and DT are covered in all sorts of growing organisms. Currently I have a plethora of pineapple sponges. But there is coraline and such everywhere. Also, why is there nothing in the refugium? Your sump has so much space but nothing in it. To me, the white slime sounds like a bacterial coat I used to get in my freshwater tanks when first starting out. I think if you get more surface area into your sump and tank, you will see it go away. More surface area being live rock. This is because the bacteria will grow on the rock and not your glass.

 

[mixedreef89]

No those pictures were taken a few days ago. The sump is 3 days old. I had a 29 gallon sump with out a refugium. I acquired a 40B that I just plumb in the other night. That's why it looks so clean. And I'm gathering everything for my refugium now. I have small amounts of coralline growth just nothing major. I have done a good job at scraping off everything that grows on the walls. But at this point I'm going to let it grow on the back and side walls.

I've also ordered 60 lbs of dry rock that will be here in the next few days.

 

[mixedreef89]

When I get everything finished (stand and plumbing) I'll post the before and after pics in a new thread so I can show the difference.

 

[mixedreef89]

When I get everything finished (stand and plumbing) I'll post the before and after pics in a new thread so I can show the difference.

 

[mixedreef89]

Ok guys here is the answer I received. The post is backwards so you have to start from the bottom and read up. Sorry for that.




HIM-It is probably limited by nutrient levels, that crew we sent you should do the job.


ME-What would you belive to be the cause of it coming back and dieing so often? What do you think caused it And what can I do to eradicate it?


HIM-It probably is starving a little. It doesn't look like very robust hair algae. Its has hold fasts and is a filamentous algae, that is all it takes really. There are thousands of species of hair algae, they all look a little different.*


ME-That's what I thought to. That it's hair algea. But it only sticks around for a week or so then dies off completely. It's as white as white can be. And I've only noticed it on the glass. That's why I rulled out hair algea. I am not saying your wrong by any means I'm just throwing a few extra facts in there. Just from what I have read and seen this does not look like hair algea.

HIM-Look like hair algae. What snails do you have that will eat hair algae on the glass? I would stack them around the front and see how they do against it.


ME-Here is an attached picture of my problem guys. It comes around for about a week or so then dies off for about two weeks. My tank is crystal clear for about two weeks then goes right back to this for a week. It is not consistent with my water Changes so I know that is not the cause. There has been nothing new added to the tank in at least 2 months except for last night I added 20 more mixed snails to help battle this. If you all can help I would greatly appreciate it.*