Loosing battle

[Marine430]

I can't seem to get rid of this algae. Any help please?

 

[Zack K]

Appears to be either Dino’s or cyano. Does it go away overnight and come back during the light cycle?

 

[Marine430]

Only time it goes away is when the lights are off for a few days. Otherwise it's there all the time

 

[mcarroll]

See if this seems to fit your tank and algae:
Dinoflagellates – Are You Tired Of Battling Altogether?

If you think it's a fit, then make sure you do the dino test linked on the first page!

 

[Marine430]

I managed to suck some of the algae up and hit it with some hydrogen peroxide. Nothing happened...

 

[mcarroll]

If that was intended to be the cyano test, I found that to be at least a semi-bogus test. My cyano will "pass" that cyano test just sitting in a glass of tank water dying it red by itself, no help from h2o2.

Try the dino test on the link I posted (the specific post where the procedure is described is linked in the first post) and see if you can at least rule dino's out.

BTW, the profile on that sand bed looks almost too clean. How new is this tank? Was it started with dead rock? And how are you controlling nutrients (if at all)?

 

[Marine430]

I upgraded my 20 to a 40 in april. I was told to us brand new sand so I got a bag (not live sand). I used only the rocks in my 20 with the exception of 2 dry rocks. I also got a bigger filter an aqua clear 70 and 2 hydro Koralia 240. It's been like this since August.

 

[Marine430]

First thing I did was use the chemiclean thinking it was red slime. Didn't work. It does go away when the lights off. Comes back when they go on

 

[mcarroll]

As long as you don't think you fit the profile of the "typical" dino tank on my thread ("ultra low nutrients", carbon dosing, lots of nutrient export) and you're confident on your water quality (beginning with your RODI source) then I think I'd just keep waiting it out. May just be delayed uglies.

 

[mcarroll]

Def. run that dino test.

I'd get a microscope ($10; not a big deal) too.

 

[Marine430]

I only used rodi from wwc.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How does that stuff feel in your fingers? Slimy or sticky snotty ?

IMO , it doesn't look that bad.
Bummer it's hung on so long.

Do you stir the sand bed ?

What are your N03 Po4 , do you know your ph range?

Ant bottled Bactria or vibrant nopox ,

 

[Marine430]

Have not actually touched it. I have stirred up the sand in the past so I can suck it up while doing water changes.
N03 0
Po4 0 I feel like I am getting fulse readings.
PH 8.2
Not sure I know what bacteria or nopox you are referring to

 

[mcarroll]

Having no nutrients in a tank with no real algae growth is not a great state of things.

Are you feeding very much?

Are you doing anything beyond skimming and water changes to lower nutrients?

 

[Marine430]

I feed pellets every 2-3 days. I use chemi pure blue, and purigen

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Agreed. Super low nutints can be kind of a bad thing.
But do you have coral in the tank ? How are they?

I'd def get the Sipon or stir a alittle bit at a time.

Honestly it could be a nasty from a system prob or it could be crud growing on fish poo.

How's your cuc ?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'd also consider feeding the fish more.

 

[Marine430]

Coral look great except xenia. They lost their heads.

 

[Marine430]

Cuc?

 

[mcarroll]

I feed pellets every 2-3 days. I use chemi pure blue, and purigen

I would lay off of these until things feel like they are more in your control.

There's certainly no apparent need for them – that tank is CLEAN except for this mystery algae.

Agreed with Salty about feeding too....at minimum I'd switch to feeding daily, even if you don't feed more volume overall. But based on apparent conditions you have some room to increase the total amount of food your feeding as well. Just don't make any gigantic changes all at once. E.g. switch to feeding the same amount per feeding of pellets every 1-2 days for a few weeks to see how it goes. Then up feeding the same amount of pellets per feeding to once every day to see how it goes for a few weeks. Increase from there as needed.