I need serious help

[James Tucker]

That much hair algae and seeing a hippo tang in there makes me raise an eyebrow.

I agree with Ranjib. While you are finding the source, be sure to physically grab the algae out as fast as it’s growing. It’s sponging nutrients from the water, so physically removing it will remove those nutrients. Like a crappy version of macro algae lol. I would not let that tang eat it. It’s probably going to turn it to ammonia at a really high rate.

Just a thought to add to the pile.

 

[Fish_Tank_J]

That much hair algae and seeing a hippo tang in there makes me raise an eyebrow.

I agree with Ranjib. While you are finding the source, be sure to physically grab the algae out as fast as it’s growing. It’s sponging nutrients from the water, so physically removing it will remove those nutrients. Like a crappy version of macro algae lol. I would not let that tang eat it. It’s probably going to turn it to ammonia at a really high rate.

Just a thought to add to the pile.

I am going to do a water change and try to take as much of the algae out as possible

 

[Fish_Tank_J]

1.5 years old? Need to find the source of the notrite and ammonia. Did something big die in it?

I did have a clownfish die

 

[Ranjib]

I am going to do a water change and try to take as much of the algae out as possible

Yes. And don’t give up, this is perhaps the most common issue that can be resolved just be good husbandry . What clean up crew you have ? Get some turbo snails

 

[Fish_Tank_J]

Yes. And don’t give up, this is perhaps the most common issue that can be resolved just be good husbandry . What clean up crew you have ? Get some turbo snails

My clean up crew is pretty light right now. I think I will make a trip to the LFS

 

[OREGONIC]

I did have a clownfish die

Did you remove the clown before it broke down? I had a dottyback go missing and saw no sign of ammonia or nitrite in my 170, your tank looks quite a bit bigger then a 170 wouldn’t think a clown would cause a swing big enough to do all that. After you remove as much algae manually as you can you could spot treat the remaining with hydrogen peroxide, just make sure you do some reading up on how much is safe to use. Another option would a blackout for a few days. The blackout woulda good time to start a refugium or algae scrubber, would really give it a good boost to start. What water are you using for water changes? If you are making your own rodi you may want to change out all the media in the unit.

 

[Fish_Tank_J]

Did you remove the clown before it broke down? I had a dottyback go missing and saw no sign of ammonia or nitrite in my 170, your tank looks quite a bit bigger then a 170 wouldn’t think a clown would cause a swing big enough to do all that. After you remove as much algae manually as you can you could spot treat the remaining with hydrogen peroxide, just make sure you do some reading up on how much is safe to use. Another option would a blackout for a few days. The blackout woulda good time to start a refugium or algae scrubber, would really give it a good boost to start. What water are you using for water changes? If you are making your own rodi you may want to change out all the media in the unit.

I did remove the clown a day later. I use mix saltwater from my LFS for water changes

 

[OREGONIC]

I did remove the clown a day later. I use mix saltwater from my LFS for water changes

You may want to test their water before doing a water change.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

I could be wrong, but from the pics it looks like you have cyano bacteria, along with some hair algae. I would definitely make sure you have flow, and maybe move them a little to change up the dead spots. As corals grow, they may create new dead spots and delete others. A good way to find the dead spots is to feed in the center of the tank with everything on. If the food is blowing around (while being eaten), that’s good. But if the food doesn’t move much it may be in a spot. You will want to look up by the rock work and see up there as well. Cutting the photo period would also help and is the tank exposed to any sunlight?

I currently have a 240 that has some cyano going on and it comes and goes and my tank is stable. It normally averages 2-5ppm nitrates, and I’m pretty good. I had a spike where it went to 10-15 and the cyano came back in a hurry. I’m about to use chemi clean on it because I do not want to drop my nutrients below 2ppm. I would also suggest someone else test your water. That’s how I found out my nitrates spiked, because my test kept showing 2 ppm roughly. Did the same test and same water and huge difference three times in a row. Then we used a completely separate test and that one also showed high nitrates. In terms I had to get a new nitrate kit but it happens.

 

[ylreefer]

To add to James tuckers note which is a good point, if your algea is consuming your phosphate your test kit may show a false low reading. So I wouldn't take that as gospel but will be good to see the result.

Our eyes are sometimes the best test kit we have and what we see here is obvious a problem. 1 clownfish dying with a light clean up crew could possibly have raised the Nh4 and in turn No2 depending on how long ago it happened and the water volum you have.

As most people have suggested, remove what algae you can without removing the good bacteria in the rocks, water changes with RODI water (also test this and your new saltwater mix to be sure there's nothing funny going on there). I'd reduce the lighting schedule to maybe about 6hrs a day, 7 at most with varying intensity as you are doing.

Reduce your feeding if possible depending on how much / often and what your currently feeding. Make sure your skimmer is in good working order and as mentioned keep the pumps clean as water flow will also help, especially at the water surface.

Most importantly, until your sure of the cause I wouldn't start dumping any magic potions in. I've seen others do this and crash a tank due to oxygen starvation. Be carful what products you use. [emoji106]

Good luck.

 

[WVNed]

I would cut the lights 40%, double the flow and do weekly water changes of 20-30 percent for a while.

 

[OREGONIC]

Chemi clean works really well for cyano but will only be a band aid for the cause. I have used it a few times but only after I have figured out the cause of the issue. I agree with whay @ylreefer said about finding the cause before magic potions are used. Definitely test the water you are using for your water change, your water will only be as good as the water used for the change. If the issue is in that water you will just make the issue worse.

 

[TheEngineer]

Ok, there’s way too many chefs in this kitchen right now. There are plenty of good suggestions being made here. We need to focus our attention on the root cause not trying to address the visual symptoms.

You have algae because your bio filter is insufficient. A single dead clown would not cause high nitrites and ammonia in a mature tank. There is a larger source of nutrients here.

What else has gone into this tank recently? What do you feed and how much? How many fish do you have? How long have they been in the tank?

 

[Fish_Tank_J]

Ok, there’s way too many chefs in this kitchen right now. There are plenty of good suggestions being made here. We need to focus our attention on the root cause not trying to address the visual symptoms.

You have algae because your bio filter is insufficient. A single dead clown would not cause high nitrites and ammonia in a mature tank. There is a larger source of nutrients here.

What else has gone into this tank recently? What do you feed and how much? How many fish do you have? How long have they been in the tank?

Currently I have a hippo, clown, and fire fish. I try to feed 1/2 cube of frozen food everyday or every other day.

 

[jabberwock]

Is there a bunch of loose algae in your filters, pumps? Once it gets stuck in there it dies and breaks down. That might be causing your ammonia spike.

 

[TheEngineer]

Currently I have a hippo, clown, and fire fish. I try to feed 1/2 cube of frozen food everyday or every other day.

How big is the tank? When was the last time you tested the tank? When was the last time you saw nitrite and ammonia at 0?

 

[Drewskiii]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hydrogen-peroxide-in-the-reef-tank.72877/

This will treat the outbreak but you still need to find the cause.

 

[Alexreefer]

I also see alot of red in your lights if you can turn them down or off. Ammonia in a tank that is 1.5 years ld is not good. I would do a wc and and something like prime to rid the ammonia.

 

[Delatedlotus]

It is because of Nitrates and Phosphates.. I am going through this right now. Turning off the lights wont do anything and any water changes right now will do you no good at all..! Reef Flux take this to the bank. BUT you have to as said above pull all you can by hand to start with.. "ALL OF IT YOU CAN GET OUT". Don't scrub anything why mess up and stunt your whole system? Reef Flux instructions will tell you exactly what to do.. Mature tank.. not enough water changes is probably it really. Hand pick out all you can! Reef Flux - Amazon $14.99 each I think I just ordered two jars 10 capsules in each jar. One jar treats 100 gallons. For my total 200 gallons. This is the cheapest I could find anywhere on the web or store fronts. Get some.. Follow the instructions to a tee..

 

[Delatedlotus]

And.. Change out any RO water filters that you use...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you use RO water..? Nitrates right out of the RO filters.... most don't know that, filters have to be changed..! If so just take them out and look at them. Everything other than that looks good. Are you running a sump...?