I'm at a loss... SOS

[RichtheReefer21]

From the pictures i can´t rule out that this is not a cyanobacteria. It for sure looks like something from the cyanobacteria world - Calothrix, Lyngbya or similar genus. This can also explain why your algae eaters pass away - many genus, species or strains of cyanobacteria are toxic. The way to defeat these photosynthetic bacteria is IMO to mechanical remove as much as possible and rise the NO3 up to around 2 - 4 ppm - PO4 should be around 0.05 - 0.1 ppm. You maybe need to mechanical clean many times because this is a hard struggle. As you see - my advises contradict the others in this thread and are based on that it is indeed a cyanobacteria - not an algae. Try to establish if it is an algae or a cyanobacteria. I do not think it is a GHA but I can be wrong - it has happens before.

During the struggle - go down in light intensity for a while

Sincerely Lasse

I was going to mention the white channel in his light settings, as well as the greens. Reducing them and the overall photoperiod schedule should help with the battle as well.

Perhaps a 48hour blackout would be beneficial as well? And maybe just blues for a few days following?

 

[Lasse]

I was going to mention the white channel in his light settings, as well as the greens. Reducing them and the overall photoperiod schedule should help with the battle as well.

Perhaps a 48hour blackout would be beneficial as well? And maybe just blues for a few days following?

I was going to say that I do not think the wavelengths play a significant role - but as always I did a google search in order to confirm this (or the opposite) I know since long time that many Cyanobacteria have photosynthetic pigments that absorb green and orange. If this is a cyanobacteria and if it have these pigment - your advise could be good. However - a found of a new article (for me) could alter your advise from being good to be genial!
Just look here

With this not saying that it is true for your your possible cyanobacteria but it will not hurt the other life in your aquarium.

Because you have few corals and they can thrive in blue light - test to reduce all other wavelengths (over 500 nm) as much as possible too.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Katrina71]

Are you using RODI water to mix salt? Do you have many snails and crabs? My first thought was add about 10 ninja star snails.

 

[josvanmeer]

I just did a treatment of chemiclean on my tank, it really works! If it is Cyano related, it will work in 24 hours. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS if you are gonna use Chemiclean, up the flow, increase oxygen exchange at water level, and remove anything like chemipure or carbon if you use that in your filter. Watch crap go away the second day it's like magic. If that doesn't work I can almost guarantee you it's not cyano related. Maybe a bottle of Vibrant is due after that. People will usually not recommend chemical treatments like this, but your tank is in need of immediate help so I think that would be the best way to battle it right now.

 

[Ripley224]

@JoshO @artieg1 @myinvalidname @Lasse @RichtheReefer21 @Katrina71 @josvanmeer

I think these answer everyone's responses, thank you all for helping me out.

I have done multiple blackouts and manual removals and 30% water changes with RO/DI water it comes right back. I will try to take better pictures when I'm home so you can see clearly. I've also tried dosing NOPOX which was recommended by the fish store which seemed to dull the infestation down but it it's persistent.

I have lots of cleaners that are persistent, the snails and crabs don't seem to have issue with eating it. My feather duster, anemone, and other fish are all healthy. The algae eaters are the ones that kicked the bucket relatively quickly. I have checked my ammonia levels like a million times and it's always 0 so I really don't think that can be what has killed them.

 

[NS Mike D]

In case this hasn't been addressed. Since she wasn't involved in maintaining the tank and it was the ex's idea to get it, might I suggest a heart-to-heart about her desire to have a reef tank that includes the maintenance that goes along with it.

If she isn't 100% in on this, and not just "well if you want to that is ok with me", then the best course of actions is to find another home for it.

I get the chivalry here, but keep in mind, that even with all your good intentions, the tank is hers and if it doesn't work out, she's stuck with a neglected tank again.

Have that discussion with her, and make sure it's about her commitment to the tank and not a discussion about your relationship. She might be going along with it because it makes you happy and it might address the eyesore that has ties to a cord she already cut.

 

[Pdash]

From the pictures i can´t rule out that this is not a cyanobacteria. It for sure looks like something from the cyanobacteria world - Calothrix, Lyngbya or similar genus. This can also explain why your algae eaters pass away - many genus, species or strains of cyanobacteria are toxic. The way to defeat these photosynthetic bacteria is IMO to mechanical remove as much as possible and rise the NO3 up to around 2 - 4 ppm - PO4 should be around 0.05 - 0.1 ppm. You maybe need to mechanical clean many times because this is a hard struggle. As you see - my advises contradict the others in this thread and are based on that it is indeed a cyanobacteria - not an algae. Try to establish if it is an algae or a cyanobacteria. I do not think it is a GHA but I can be wrong - it has happens before.

During the struggle - go down in light intensity for a while

Sincerely Lasse

First thing I thought when looking at the picture was cyano + GHA. Maybe tons of manual removal + water change then a 3 day blackout + another water change/manual removal. I'm thinking this would help you get out from behind the eight ball, then it's just normal husbandry after that.

 

[Pdash]

@JoshO @artieg1 @myinvalidname @Lasse @RichtheReefer21 @Katrina71 @josvanmeer

I think these answer everyone's responses, thank you all for helping me out.

I have done multiple blackouts and manual removals and 30% water changes with RO/DI water it comes right back. I will try to take better pictures when I'm home so you can see clearly. I've also tried dosing NOPOX which was recommended by the fish store which seemed to dull the infestation down but it it's persistent.

I have lots of cleaners that are persistent, the snails and crabs don't seem to have issue with eating it. My feather duster, anemone, and other fish are all healthy. The algae eaters are the ones that kicked the bucket relatively quickly. I have checked my ammonia levels like a million times and it's always 0 so I really don't think that can be what has killed them.

Since it's a neglected aquarium, maybe tons of bound phosphate + really low nitrate, maybe this algae/bacteria (whatever) can explode because it can use atmospheric nitrogen while others cannot, allowing it to reach plague proportions? What about using lanthanum chloride consistently for a while to export it?

 

[Lasse]

Before doing anything to reduce the phosphates - try to measure the phosphate in the water column - is not sure there is any.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Lasse]

Yes - take a better pictures. I interested to see how the "hairy" part looks like. Are there any "bubbles" in or around the hairy branches in the end of the light period. There is a lot of cyanobacteria that looks similar to what many people call GHA.

 

[Ripley224]

In case this hasn't been addressed. Since she wasn't involved in maintaining the tank and it was the ex's idea to get it, might I suggest a heart-to-heart about her desire to have a reef tank that includes the maintenance that goes along with it.

If she isn't 100% in on this, and not just "well if you want to that is ok with me", then the best course of actions is to find another home for it.

I get the chivalry here, but keep in mind, that even with all your good intentions, the tank is hers and if it doesn't work out, she's stuck with a neglected tank again.

Have that discussion with her, and make sure it's about her commitment to the tank and not a discussion about your relationship. She might be going along with it because it makes you happy and it might address the eyesore that has ties to a cord she already cut.

She is 100% on trying to save it, the tank was for her but her ex did everything for it he really big into reefing. I love it too and I'd hate to see it go I'm just trying to learn as much as I can. There's only so much blind research I can do.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I was going to say that I do not think the wavelengths play a significant role - but as always I did a google search in order to confirm this (or the opposite) I know since long time that many Cyanobacteria have photosynthetic pigments that absorb green and orange. If this is a cyanobacteria and if it have these pigment - your advise could be good. However - a found of a new article (for me) could alter your advise from being good to be genial!
Just look here

With this not saying that it is true for your your possible cyanobacteria but it will not hurt the other life in your aquarium.

Because you have few corals and they can thrive in blue light - test to reduce all other wavelengths (over 500 nm) as much as possible too.

Sincerely Lasse

Thanks for the research and reference!

Cheers

 

[Ripley224]

@Lasse @Pdash

Hopefully these are better

 

[dohc97]

There are far smarter and more experienced reefers in here than myself but I will tell you what worked for me. I went through a period where I really neglected my tank, no water changes no nutrient export, nothing. I ended up with what looked like a jungle on my rocks and choking my corals. Tried chemiclean, algae would come back, tried again same result. Tried others and just would not budge, finally I just resorted to letting it be but got my husbandry up, Started doing 20% water changes once a week, manual removal, watched what I fed. It took about 3 months of this to finally start seeing results, algae would just not grow as fast and then one week it was gone. I am very convinced my situation was bound nutrients in the rock, I also believe yours is the same issue,. Until you exhaust those nutrients you will continue to have to remove algae, be patient and you will get there.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

@brandon429

I found another subject for u

 

[Lasse]

On the rocks it looks like what I would define as some sort of cyanobacteria - the more transparent ones. The more deep green - can´t judge. On the backside - can´t judge.

If your problem and your unwanted growth is caused of real microalgae @dohc97 :s advise will help - however if your main problem is Cyanobacteria/dinoflagellates related - together with mechanical cleaning - you need also to rise NO2 to around 2-3 ppm and PO4 over 0.05 ppm IMO

I would personal start with mechanical cleaning, go down with light intensity - maybe try to only run blue ones for a while, rinse, rinse, rinse and rinse. If there is a nutrient problem - your mechanical cleaning will take away the nutrients locked in the "algae", more "algae" more removing - more nutrients out.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Ripley224]

On the rocks it looks like what I would define as some sort of cyanobacteria - the more transparent ones. The more deep green - can´t judge. On the backside - can´t judge.

If your problem and your unwanted growth is caused of real microalgae @dohc97 :s advise will help - however if your main problem is Cyanobacteria/dinoflagellates related - together with mechanical cleaning - you need also to rise NO2 to around 2-3 ppm and PO4 over 0.05 ppm IMO

I would personal start with mechanical cleaning, go down with light intensity - maybe try to only run blue ones for a while, rinse, rinse, rinse and rinse. If there is a nutrient problem - your mechanical cleaning will take away the nutrients locked in the "algae", more "algae" more removing - more nutrients out.

Sincerely Lasse

I'll up the water changes again but that didn't do much in the past. Do you have a reference as to what I should do with my lights?