mysterious algae for no reason

[Clownreef]

I’m at a loss..

300 gal.
Salinity 1.025
Alk 8.5
Ca 500
Mg 1410
Phosphates 0.9
Nitrate 5.0
Temp 78

ive been dosing NOPOX since May 16. Brought my nitrates from 45 ppm to 5.

i have no idea where this Algae came from.

0 tds RO/DI for top off and water changes.

i run ozone. Water is insanely clear.

bubble king skimmer…

my theory is that my algae scrubber is creating this outbreak.

i have no clue what’s going on. My SPS frags are doing great.

any help is greatly appreciated

 

[Clownreef]

Note: it’s on every single rock.

 

[Clownreef]

 

[Dburr1014]

I’m at a loss..

300 gal.
Salinity 1.025
Alk 8.5
Ca 500
Mg 1410
Phosphates 0.9
Nitrate 5.0
Temp 78

ive been dosing NOPOX since May 16. Brought my nitrates from 45 ppm to 5.

i have no idea where this Algae came from.

0 tds RO/DI for top off and water changes.

i run ozone. Water is insanely clear.

bubble king skimmer…

my theory is that my algae scrubber is creating this outbreak.

i have no clue what’s going on. My SPS frags are doing great.

any help is greatly appreciated

Is it hair? Did you ID it?
Are those air bubbles in the pic?
Is that a window right behind the tank?

 

[Clownreef]

Is it hair? Did you ID it?
Are those air bubbles in the pic?
Is that a window right behind the tank?

Those are nice and shiny bubble algae lol

 

[Dburr1014]

Those are nice and shiny bubble algae lol

Oh, hard to tell from the pic. They look like they are attached to the algae, kinda floating on it.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, looks like two different algae species there from what I can see. Not sure what the grass looking stuff is, but it does appear you have a bit of a bubble algae outbreak on your hands. This stuff comes in on frags, rocks, etc. all the time. General recommended CUC for it includes emerald crabs, pithos crabs, foxface fish, and tangs. You can manually remove it too, and I’d probably recommend it, but given the severity of the outbreak, I’d guess some biological controls are in order.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Algae is going to happen. Get some herbivores to eat it.

 

[shakacuz]

seems like turf/GHA. an urchin will clear that right up. increase CUC and remove as much as you can manually.

 

[Clownreef]

Thanks guys.. I’m thinking about getting some pieces out and scrubbing them in an RO bucket.
I just placed an order from reef cleaners too..

Thoughts?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Turf algae and one you want to pull by hand. Sometimes you may get lucky and are able to press down hard with your thumb then lift and peel off in one sheet
If not, requires scrubbing off with firm toothbrush and dipping in peroxide and returning to the tank
Snails such as ninja star, conch and carribean blue leg hermits will assist with post cleaning

 

[Clownreef]

Update:

I decided to test the phosphates out of my ro/di unit and they were at 1.6 ppm. I’m sure this was dumping phosphates in my top off as well..

 

[WhoIsCandice]

Update:

I decided to test the phosphates out of my ro/di unit and they were at 1.6 ppm. I’m sure this was dumping phosphates in my top off as well..

Clownreef, how did you test phosphates out of RO/DI?
Typical phosphate tests are invalid for RO/DI because the TDS is too low. You need to use a qualified TDS meter to be sure that your water is clear.

Phosphate in my RODI Water?!

I've been having a phosphate problem in my DT. I've been trying everything I can think of to lower it. I'm running GFO but it wasn't making a dent. Water changes weren't making a dent...seemed to even be getting worse after water change. So tonight I tested my RODI system. RODI: Hanna...

www.reef2reef.com

So it looks like you have the following in your tank:
Minor bubble algae
Minor turf algae
Major white-film algae that typically is described as a bacterial-mat, usually occurs due to carbon dosing w/ high nitrates.

If you get rid of just one of these and not the rest, the other(s) will overtake the free-space.
For bubble algae -- I remember seeing updated information / advice on r2r that popping does not release spores. There is also some anecdotal evidence here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2281956.

For turf algae, I can only recommend using Vibrant and fluconazole.
For the bacterial film, likely you could use an antibiotic for cyano (I'm not exactly sure it's a cyano-based bacteria but likely the antibiotic will work).

Until you get coralline algae going, any other algaes are going to try to use this free space.
I recommend this product if you haven't seeded with live-rock / "paste of coralline": https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/pink...ae-kit-arc-reef.html?dfw_tracker=43788-212662