Major Algae Problem (Yes, it is an emergency)

[ArowanaLover1902]

Ok I've posted a few things about this in the algae thread, nothing has worked, phosphates are low, as are nitrates and KH. I don't know what it's feeding off of. Its a terrible cyano/bubble mix that's nearing to choking out some of my corals. I don't know what to do, I'm about to start cycling a tank that I can move everything too for a week while I nuke the tank and kill all the stupid algae, but then I'd have to cycle that tank again and my really good live rock would be dead. It grows so fast and I'm not even sure what its eating. I've tried everything I could think of;
- Two day dark period (I covered the tank with blankets and etc)
- Full time refugium (which seems to have actually slowed in its growth)
- 12 snails (various types)
- Manual removal
- Water changes
- Filter media changed
My filter (29 gallon biocube):
- Skimmer
- UV
- Sump
- 10 gallon refugium
I've probably got 4-5 days I start losing some of my favorite corals. The tank is about a year old and has some awesome corals, I've never had a problem with algae before either, I keep my tank pretty well. The only thing I can think of would be my pistol shrimp dying a few days before it started and an online shipment of corals from aquarium depot (this was 2 days before it happened, so I'm pretty sure it was this). Please post any way you know of to kill the algae and get the tank back to normal. I'll post pictures later. Thanks so much for any help.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ok I've posted a few things about this in the algae thread, nothing has worked, phosphates are low, as are nitrates and KH. I don't know what it's feeding off of. Its a terrible cyano/bubble mix that's nearing to choking out some of my corals. I don't know what to do, I'm about to start cycling a tank that I can move everything too for a week while I nuke the tank and kill all the stupid algae, but then I'd have to cycle that tank again and my really good live rock would be dead. It grows so fast and I'm not even sure what its eating. I've tried everything I could think of;
- Two day dark period (I covered the tank with blankets and etc)
- Full time refugium (which seems to have actually slowed in its growth)
- 12 snails (various types)
- Manual removal
- Water changes
- Filter media changed
My filter (29 gallon biocube):
- Skimmer
- UV
- Sump
- 10 gallon refugium
I've probably got 4-5 days I start losing some of my favorite corals. The tank is about a year old and has some awesome corals, I've never had a problem with algae before either, I keep my tank pretty well. The only thing I can think of would be my pistol shrimp dying a few days before it started and an online shipment of corals from aquarium depot (this was 2 days before it happened, so I'm pretty sure it was this). Please post any way you know of to kill the algae and get the tank back to normal. I'll post pictures later. Thanks so much for any help.

when you do your water changes are you using RO/DI water? What is your fish bioload and how much are you feeding them? The reason your tests are coming back low is because the algae is eating all the excess nutrients before they have a chance to enter the water column and show up on your test kit

 

[Newbireef]

Does it look like this? I just started my tank i have no clue how to get rid of it its ugly and i dont think the corals like it, i have a biocube 32g

 

[Jose Mayo]

Wow ... I would start with azithromycin 1 mg / liter in a single dose. At this dosage it is effective for cyanobacteria and does not affect the animals, but there may be slight increase of nitrite; it is convenient to monitor the nitrogen cycle.

To do this, keep the skimmer on for oxygenation and remove the collecting cup, also remove the active carbon and wait until the cyanobacteria disappear for two days; then replace the skimmer cup and the active charcoal.

After 24 hours with active charcoal and skimmer running, perform 25% water change and dose Fluconazole 5 mg / liter in a single dose, again remove the cup from the skimmer and active charcoal and wait 14 days to get rid of the algae.

Even if the problem is solved in this way, it will return if the Nitrate and Phosphate nutrient parameters are not corrected.

Best Regards

PS: This post refers to the post from Newbireef, Today at 1:31 PM

 

[Texas Reefer]

I've used Red Slime Remover and it works great. You will want to keep your skimmer running and allow it to overflow. Do large water changes. I believe the instructions are on the package. I still have small spots of cyano, but nothing like the large mats I had. I am also working on a new system (tank) that will have better flow and keep detritus from building up. Good luck!

 

[rtparty]

Without pictures and a proper ID, we're all just guessing at what to do. My first guess is it's a dino of some kind. Maybe mixed with cyano.

Did you start with dead/dry rock? Have nutrients always been low to undetectable?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Without pictures and a proper ID, we're all just guessing at what to do. My first guess is it's a dino of some kind. Maybe mixed with cyano.

Did you start with dead/dry rock? Have nutrients always been low to undetectable?

Yup. Go slow.

Consider an inexpensive canister filter or reactor , running only carbon and floss , then remove as much of the mass from the tank as possible.

The carbon will remove a lot of toxins and also a lot organics it may be feeding on.

Avoid antying that may be pro biotic. And that may contain an organic carbon source. MB7 vibrant s etc.

 

[mcarroll]

I was trying to find the details on this tank, but I don't see a build thread or anything. I get that it's a year old tank, not exactly new, but maybe not very mature either.

What was the total bio-load before the large coral order?

Can you describe how the tank got to that point? I.e. how it was started, how quickly the livestock went it, etc?

Also, does the tank have any history of carbon dosing (i.e. pellets, vodka, etc) or GFO usage?

I did find this:

My current died (and it hasn't changed throughout the tank's life) is just some liquid phytoplankton (its the bottled stuff, not fresh) and Microvert (another bottled liquid).

That's not a diet for the fish at all. The fish would have to be getting by on pods. I wouldn't rely on that as a sole food source for long.

Some algae will actually eat those liquid foods as well. Corals may and dino's probably eat it intact. Any algae or coral would use the nutrients released as the foods naturally break down in the tank.

In a new tank, algae are usually going the best-able to take advantage of "spare nutrients" vs coral.

If you're carbon dosing the tank, you can throw this off if you aren't careful and end up with things worse than green algae.

I agree with the dino+cyano guess posted above....killing off the cyano will not make things better if that's what you have.

I also agree with getting a microscope....cost can be close to nothing since plenty of folks are getting good use out of the $10-$15 toy scopes mentioned here: Selecting a microscope I don't think you can ID cyanobacteria with it (too fine for me to see well), but dino's will be easy to ID via some cell phone pics/movies. You can see lots of related info on dino's here: Dinoflagellates – Are You Tired Of Battling Altogether?

If you don't want to get the scope, or you want something to try while you wait, then look at the other test you can do. This is from the first post of the dino thread above:

Confirming the ID of your dinoflagellate is important if possible.

• To begin with, make sure you have Dinos
• Use @taricha's dino confirmation guide on posts #986-987.

Let us know about all those details!

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Bio load was 2 fish and several corals, plus some snails. No history of carbon dosing or gfo usage. Nutrients have always been low, I've never had problems like this before. I'll try to buy one of those microscopes and i'll post pics tonight. Yeah that food is just for the coral, the fish eat pods.

 

[mcarroll]

With that many fish and corals, and that low level of nutrient input, I still say that starvation may be at work....that would imply dino's more than other options.

FYI, you can try the dino ID guide while you wait on the scope to arrive. No equipment required.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

What do you mean starvation? It's reddish brown and slimy. Plus there is a good amount of bubble algae, that's just as big of a problem.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Does it look like this? I just started my tank i have no clue how to get rid of it its ugly and i dont think the corals like it, i have a biocube 32g

Nothing like this, especially since there aren't any strands.

 

[mcarroll]

Dang, I skimed too quick and thought that was your photo......can you post a pic or pics that shows what you're dealing with?

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

What if I rinsed all the rocks in freshwater? It wouldn't be for long enough to kill the important stuff, just the force to rinse off the algae. The water here is pretty heavy on minerals, I have to buy RO from my LFS. Does it matter if I use my water?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes. A freshwater bath and scrub may help. It kills them with osmotic. Shock.
Some folks add a bit of peroxide to the water as well.


Some folks use peroxide or other oxidization methods to accomplish the same thing. Results vary from species to species and also bio mass.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Is it a problem that I'd wash it with my heavy mineral tap water?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Mine is cloramine heavy. So, imo , ime, no. I just wouldn't soak it.

I've done mine on water change day.
I put it in a bucket is old tank water , scrubbed and dipped/rinsed in tap , also used the hose , then put it back into a second bucket of tank water.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Ok I'll do that asap, not doing water change at the moment but hopefully tomorrow or day after (as soon as I can go to my LFS). I hope this works (and I think it will). Hopefully it knocks it back to the point where snails can manage it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I highly suggest some seachem prime and dr tims , and some fresh gac. in case any of the nasties get stirred up.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Removed every bit of algae, plus I redecorated, no real point in taking pictures now I guess. I'm sure it'll be back in 2-3 days though