Loosing the will to reef

[chrisgold]

Been having algae and ugly problems in my tank for about 2 months now and nothing seems to sort it

No3 13-14
Po4 0.126

I’ve tried to lower or raise nutrients with no change either way
I’ll post some picture any advice would be much appreciated

 

[MDAquatics]

Nooooo. Keep fighting the good fight! Looking forward to pics to help more

 

[paul01609]

What test kits you using

 

[chrisgold]

Been having algae and ugly problems in my tank for about 2 months now and nothing seems to sort it

No3 13-14
Po4 0.126

I’ve tried to lower or raise nutrients with no change either way
I’ll post some picture any advice would be much appreciated

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Pictures can help determine what you should do! Don't lose hope!

 

[chrisgold]

What test kits you using

Hanna

 

[chrisgold]

Pictures can help determine what you should do! Don't lose hope!

Pics posted thanks mate

 

[paul01609]

You got a micro scope? Could be dino

 

[chrisgold]

 

[chrisgold]

You got a micro scope? Could be dino

I don’t have one a local lfs does but haven’t had time to get down

 

[paul01609]

Does it look snotty with bubbles

 

[Dom]

So... you're ready to give up? I've been there.

I began to faze out and got myself down to a 10 gallon tank with an Anemone and one clownfish. It was during my early days of reefing. But then I got a second wind. And now I'm putting together a 125 gallon tank!

I would suggest scaling back so as to not be overwhelmed. You might be surprised and develop a new appetite.

 

[chrisgold]

Does it look snotty with bubbles

Pics above

 

[Nano_Man]

Never give up in a couple of months your tank could be back to stunning this is what this hobby does bad times great times as the tank gets older and older it will be fine . The secret in this hobby is don’t be beaten and never give up . Here is a guy who has seen it all before problem is you need to be in saltwater hobby for decades @vetteguy53081

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

how old is the tank?

 

[c4haskett]

I understand how you're feeling and it's a bummer. It looks like you may also have some dinos. Good news is you have plenty of options. The first thing I would do is add a sea hare or two depending on your tank size. They eat algae like nothing i've ever seen. Second I would add some turbo snails to assist and keep the algae at bay once the sea hares eat all the algae. Once the algae is gone you can see what else you're working with. As far as nutrients go I would keep them at an elevated level even though thats counter-productive in reducing algae. You don't want them bottoming out, especially if it is dinos your dealing with. Dino's are another problem all on their own and will require quite a bit of effort to remove. If you have facebook you can look up Mack's Reef Dino Group and get them to assist you with helping you get rid of them.

 

[chrisgold]

how old is the tank?

About 18 months

 

[nothing_fancy]

All the clean up crew suggestions above are good. You might also try growing some chaeto or other macro. You can use a HOB fuge if you don't have a sump. You have the nutrients to grow macro. If your tank is very young or unstable you might have some difficulty but IME macro is key to having an algae free tank. You can look into some micro fauna options, pods etc. I would also dose phyto daily. Basically you need something to outcompete the current algae. Once you lock that in, give it time, the algae will start to fall away especially if you can brush it off regularly. Give it a few months

 

[The_Paradox]

That’s advanced enough I don’t see any reasonable clean up crew (CUC) catching up. Hit it with Fluconazole and after 14 days CUC should be able to maintain. IMHO at this point only option only options are tear rocks down and scrub or chemical.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is both hair and wire algae. Good news is that it is labor intense and an easy fix if given time. Applying to both types, best is to (and I know some have coral) place each rock in a container of tank water and pull off as much as you can by hand and scrub the rest with a firm toothbrush or automotive detail brush and some 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Return rock to tank afterwards, reduce white light intensity and number of hours of white lighting and add some snails such as :
Astrea
cerith
turbo grazer
trochus
Ninja star (great with wire algae)

A Pencil urchin
A fighting conch
8-10 Caribbean blue leg hermits
1-3 pitho crabs

Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?
What is your phosphate level?
Is tank at or near a window?