Need help, low nutrient algae ?

[reefdude101]

Is this some kind of algae that does well in a low nutrient environment ?

Has anyone got an ID on this algae or seen it before it doesn’t look like GHA, I cant see much GHA at all except for the bit on power head/tiny bit on snail shell it’s all this brown algae, tank is over two years established/mature might be diatom not sure but doesn’t look like Dino either.

It’s not out of control but I can see it getting thicker in spots/multiplying on overflow box/power heads & some rock when as far as I can tell via testing it shouldn’t be.

Any ideas/input ?
Plus a few tank shots because why not right.
(Last three pics are of algae that keeps growing despite low nutrients)

 

[reefdude101]

Bump

 

[Billldg]

When you have low N03 and P04, and you still have algae, then it is usually because of the algae that you have low N03 and P04 as they consume it and lock it up. I don't see much of a CUC, what do you have for a CUC?

#reefsquad

 

[reefdude101]

I

When you have low N03 and P04, and you still have algae, then it is usually because of the algae that you have low N03 and P04 as they consume it and lock it up. I don't see much of a CUC, what do you have for a CUC?

#reefsquad

only have two Trochus snails tbh & two tangs that graze, was thinking of throwing another 10-15 snails in.

Was using 200ml of gfo weekly in reactor which I have bumped to 400ml AF phosphate minus.

& 2ml of nopox daily which was fine at 0.5 no3 & 0.01-0.02 po4 but i bumped it because it’s consuming something right wether that be no3 or po4

just weird because it’s been fine thought it might be some type of low nutrient algae

 

[Billldg]

I

only have two Trochus snails tbh & two tangs that graze, was thinking of throwing another 10-15 snails in.

Was using 200ml of gfo weekly in reactor which I have bumped to 400ml AF phosphate minus.

& 2ml of nopox daily which was fine at 0.5 no3 & 0.01-0.02 po4 but i bumped it because it’s consuming something right wether that be no3 or po4

just weird because it’s been fine thought it might be some type of low nutrient algae

The Algae will lock up the N03 and P04 causing you to think that, but unless you physically remove the algae, it is still in the tank. I would add some more trochus snails. I would go at least 1 per 10 gals. I would also add some Cerith snails.

 

[Double monti 61]

Algae happens

 

[Double monti 61]

I fought calurpa and I won ! My bubble algae has no chance either I use tweezers to remove them from my substrate And a 1/4 inch tube to remove them from the glass and substrate if needed here is a current photo of my little 15 gallon tank

 

[reefdude101]

The Algae will lock up the N03 and P04 causing you to think that, but unless you physically remove the algae, it is still in the tank. I would add some more trochus snails. I would go at least 1 per 10 gals. I would also add some Cerith snails.

Will do that today see how things progress then, also got some vibrant on order which I’m going to run which might hopefully help, wanting to start adding in sps soon, so need to get it just that little bit cleaner etc even though it’s been testing perfect I know that can’t be the case.

hopefully the 4ml nopox & upped gfo suck up the nutrients quicker then algae, I’m guessing once I use vibrant & algae dies offthe nutrients will be free floating in water column & I can gauge where I’m at properly ?

Anyone used this product before ?

 

[reefdude101]

Tan

I fought calurpa and I won ! My bubble algae has no chance either I use tweezers to remove them from my substrate And a 1/4 inch tube to remove them from the glass and substrate if needed here is a current photo of my little 15 gallon tank

Looks nice algae can be the biggest pain sometimes haha

 

[Billldg]

Will do that today see how things progress then, also got some vibrant on order which I’m going to run which might hopefully help, wanting to start adding in sps soon, so need to get it just that little bit cleaner etc even though it’s been testing perfect I know that can’t be the case.

hopefully the 4ml nopox & upped gfo suck up the nutrients quicker then algae, I’m guessing once I use vibrant & algae dies offthe nutrients will be free floating in water column & I can gauge where I’m at properly ?

Anyone used this product before ?

Please understand that you don't need ULN to have SPS. My best SPS color and growth was at N03 of 15 and P04 of .08. To some that is way to high and a crime to the SPS, LOL!!! I feel that if your can get your N03 at or under 10 ppm and your P04 at or under .05 then you are golden, but don't go chasing numbers, It usually ends up causing more issues in the long run.

I have used Vibrant with no issues, just not sure what it actually did, lol!

 

[reefdude101]

Lol

Please understand that you don't need ULN to have SPS. My best SPS color and growth was at N03 of 15 and P04 of .08. To some that is way to high and a crime to the SPS, LOL!!! I feel that if your can get your N03 at or under 10 ppm and your P04 at or under .05 then you are golden, but don't go chasing numbers, It usually ends up causing more issues in the long run.

I have used Vibrant with no issues, just not sure what it actually did, lol!

yeah I get what you mean, see my goal isn’t ultra low nutrient, it’s more to starve out the po4 that must be leaching from my rocks as last tank got over run because of equipment failures & I can’t let it happen this time so I’m just trying to keep it as clean as possible but feels like everything I’m doing the past week isn’t doing a lot as this brown algae just keeps growing & growing, gonna start up vibrant add more cuc & stick with higher dose of nopox & gfo for a month or so & reassess down the track .. once things are looking good I’ll drop the dosages till my levels even out around 4-6ppm no3 & 0.02 0.04 po4 just had me on edge why this brown stuff keeps growing, hopefully what I’m doing over the next few days knocks it all out & gets me back on track

 

[tjensen]

I am running into a Calothrix bloom right now with Phos and N at zero. ammonia is almost non detect. I'm running GFO and carbon reactors. the water is crystal clear for what its worth. I have not tested for sulfur but after reading some white papers online it indicates algea can uptake Sulfur and thrive. maybe limiting Sulfur is the key to controlling Calothrix .??

 

[tjensen]

I am running into a Calothrix bloom right now with Phos and N at zero. ammonia is almost non detect. I'm running GFO and carbon reactors. the water is crystal clear for what its worth. I have not tested for sulfur but after reading some white papers online it indicates algea can uptake Sulfur and thrive. maybe limiting Sulfur is the key to controlling Calothrix .??

My tank is 6 months old.