Need help with this crazy algae

[Tang addict]

Hey guys,

Ive been in the reef game for a while and im currently trying to help someone local out with there tank.
As you can see in the pictures this crazy green hair algae wont go away. The tank has had a full crash and lost 99% of the corals and fish and only the hardiest are still there.
One large tang and a couple of small damsels and a few shrimp are left, feeding lightly.
params are all pretty standard except for off the charts nitrate and phosphates. (would of expected them to be lower considering the algae should be using up the excess)
Tank is 150gal.
Ive chucked in a decent fuge light and some chaeto, started dosing 10ml per day n0p0x and after two weeks seen no change in algae or params.
Large water changes (20-40%) are being done every few days.
RO water which is testing fine.
Scraping the algae and sucking it out makes no difference and it just grows back.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and also ideas about why this is happening.
Im considering running some bio pellets but am not certain if its a good idea or not.

 

[NeSsyAqua]

Water change every week or when it gets better every 2 weeks. Add 2-3 Sea Hare, couple dozen hermits, and a mix of snails like mexican turbo snails, trochus snails, astrea snails, and margarita snails and just watch them do their magic! Ofcourse while doing weekly water change.

 

[Tang addict]

Water change every week or when it gets better every 2 weeks. Add 2-3 Sea Hare, couple dozen hermits, and a mix of snails like mexican turbo snails, trochus snails, astrea snails, and margarita snails and just watch them do their magic! Ofcourse while doing weekly water change.

Unfortunately i cant get any clean up crew like that where we live. So the only option is to attack the nutrients but i cant work out where its coming from and the best method to do so. I suspect its leaking out of the rocks from the tank crash but i dunno.
ive never had a major tank crash in my own tanks so im not that familiar with the repercussions....

 

[NeSsyAqua]

Online order maybe?

 

[Tang addict]

Online order maybe?

cant get them in my country

 

[NeSsyAqua]

cant get them in my country

none of ur lfs carries cuc's?

 

[NeSsyAqua]

if not then idk what to say other than keep doing water changes and removing algae manually, worst scenario is to set it up as a new tank.

 

[Tang addict]

none of ur lfs carries cuc's?

nop, we can only get shrimps here due to our bio security laws, even then theres only a handful which are allowed.

 

[NeSsyAqua]

nop, we can only get shrimps here due to our bio security laws, even then theres only a handful which are allowed.

Well that really sucks.

 

[Tang addict]

Well that really sucks.

tell me about it...

 

[NeSsyAqua]

Try using brightwell aquatics phosphat-E along with NOPOX and weekly water change along with removing algae manually

 

[NeSsyAqua]

I've also heard that fluconazole works but I have no experience using it.

 

[sixty_reefer]

What’s your current parameters?

 

[Tang addict]

What’s your current parameters?

All params are normal except nitrate and phosphate are sky high, it’s not my tank so I can’t just go test it but have been checking somewhat regularly. Ammonia, nitrite are at 0. The tanks 3 years old

 

[sixty_reefer]

All params are normal except nitrate and phosphate are sky high, it’s not my tank so I can’t just go test it but have been checking somewhat regularly. Ammonia, nitrite are at 0. The tanks 3 years old

That’s cool, after a crash you will have most times a algae bloom, if he keeps on top of maintenance should go back to normal. He could always try the hidrogen peroxide method for a wile

 

[Steelheader09]

Try Vibrant

 

[Tang addict]

That’s cool, after a crash you will have most times a algae bloom, if he keeps on top of maintenance should go back to normal. He could always try the hidrogen peroxide method for a wile

Ok thanks I’ll look into that, you think it’s best for me to leave my doser and n0p0x running for a while? Is it normal after a crash a couple of months ago to still be that with hair algae everywhere? I’ve only ever had pretty mine swings in my tank and never had a full on crash so I’m not to sure of the aftermath. The tank was packed with lots of lps and sps so would it be safe to say all the nutrients from the dead corals were absorbed by the rock and are leaching out? Just a matter of time you reckon?

 

[sixty_reefer]

Ok thanks I’ll look into that, you think it’s best for me to leave my doser and n0p0x running for a while? Is it normal after a crash a couple of months ago to still be that with hair algae everywhere? I’ve only ever had pretty mine swings in my tank and never had a full on crash so I’m not to sure of the aftermath. The tank was packed with lots of lps and sps so would it be safe to say all the nutrients from the dead corals were absorbed by the rock and are leaching out? Just a matter of time you reckon?

The doser will have to be switched off or adjusted at some point as you only left with soft corals, consumption has stopped since the crash. It may take up to 6 months to get things back in shape atlist that’s how long it took me to get everything back in order since my kh swing. I found that what it worked for me was to slowly rebalance the tank.

 

[Bret Brinkmann]

I assume by sky high you mean test kit readings are maxed out and then some. It does sound like the rocks have absorbed a lot of nutrients. But this is fixable. It will take around 1-3 months I suspect, but it will be worth it and better than a reset. Do you know why the crash happened in the first place?

I know you mentioned you can't get them anyway, but adding a massive clean up crew will result in another massive die off once their food is all eaten up. Margarita snails are a cold water species and don't last long in our warmer tropical tanks. Best to stay away from them even if you could get them.

Using Vibrant, fluconazole, or NOPOX may kill the algae but it will just grow back as long as the nutrients remain in the water. The most effective approach I've seen with situations like this are massive water changes of at least 50% per week until nutrients don't max out the test kits, then use a chemical approach with GFO or Phosban to remove phosphates and bio pellets to remove nitrates. Before you syphon out the water for the water change, clean out as much algae as you can so some of if gets sucked out with the water. I recommend switching back and forth between GFO and Phosban because GFO leeches iron which Phosban will remove and Phosban leeches aluminum which GFO will take up.