Never had this algae before

[JDapper]

Can someone tell me what kind of algae I’m dealing with by looking at these pictures? I don’t think iv seen this type of algae before! It’s slimey, stringy, and it comes off the rocks easy. I was running gfo but stopped because I had a cyno outbreak and when I stopped the gfo the cyno went away and then this popped up! It’s only on certain parts of rocks and not all over the rocks. Any ideas?

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

It looks like some kind of hair algae to me. If you pull some out and lay it against a white paper towel, what color is it?

 

[Dburr1014]

Got a microscope?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

A microscope would be a good way to ID it. @ISpeakForTheSeas, do you have any idea?

 

[F i s h y]

It would be helpful to know what your water parameters are. This looks like dinos to me.

 

[Dburr1014]

It would be helpful to know what your water parameters are. This looks like dinos to me.

I was thinking the same thing because the gfo probably bottomed out his po4.
Hence why I suggested the microscope.

 

[F i s h y]

I was thinking the same thing because the gfo probably bottomed out his po4.
Hence why I suggested the microscope.

Agree with that. the cyano and "It’s slimey, stringy, and it comes off the rocks easy" tells me its most likely dinos.

 

[JDapper]

All I have is a API test kit and my readings are

Phosphate- 3 ppm
Nitrate- 40 ppm

It’s weird cause it’s only on certain part of the rocks and not on the sand bed at all. It’s like it took the cyano spot

 

[Dburr1014]

All I have is a API test kit and my readings are

Phosphate- 3 ppm
Nitrate- 40 ppm

It’s weird cause it’s only on certain part of the rocks and not on the sand bed at all. It’s like it took the cyano spot

Po4 is 3ppm?
Or 0.03?or 0.3?

 

[JDapper]

Po4 is 3ppm?
Or 0.03?or 0.3?

The color was between 2 and 4

 

[Dburr1014]

The color was between 2 and 4

I would not trust that test kit.

 

[F i s h y]

All I have is a API test kit and my readings are

Phosphate- 3 ppm
Nitrate- 40 ppm

It’s weird cause it’s only on certain part of the rocks and not on the sand bed at all. It’s like it took the cyano spot

If this is accurate, or as accurate as we can get with API, Need to know some additional information. Please tell us what your tanks age is, if live rock was initially used or if it was dry rock, what your stocking level is, and what type of lights and lighting schedule you are using. It appears in your first picture that there is an abundance of hair algae on your back glass. My initial reaction to all of this is that your tank is having stability issues. I'm not that concerned with your nitrates as many successful reefers run at a higher NO3 myself included. If your Po4 is truly .03 that is to low. It sounds like perhaps you could use a good thorough tank cleaning ( algae removal), and then to start on a strict maintenance schedule to provide some stability. This would include more frequent and better testing, manual removal of the dinos, and water changes only when appropriate.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

The color was between 2 and 4

See if you can grab a salifert phosphate test kit and do it with that. Three is awfully high for a reef tank.

 

[Dburr1014]

If your Po4 is truly .03 that is to low.

No, it's 3.0........ according to API.

 

[JDapper]

If this is accurate, or as accurate as we can get with API, Need to know some additional information. Please tell us what your tanks age is, if live rock was initially used or if it was dry rock, what your stocking level is, and what type of lights and lighting schedule you are using. It appears in your first picture that there is an abundance of hair algae on your back glass. My initial reaction to all of this is that your tank is having stability issues. I'm not that concerned with your nitrates as many successful reefers run at a higher NO3 myself included. If your Po4 is truly .03 that is to low. It sounds like perhaps you could use a good thorough tank cleaning ( algae removal), and then to start on a strict maintenance schedule to provide some stability. This would include more frequent and better testing, manual removal of the dinos, and water changes only when appropriate.

Yeah so I originally had a 60 gallon for about 8 months and it had a custom 20 gallon sump and I got this new 120 gallon and switched everything over including the sump but I did just upgrade my sump to the pro clear at the end of April and also upgraded my protein skimmer and started a refugium but never got any algae except on the glass! This tank has been up and running over a year. Not sure the reason why I was running GFO in my reactor was but it might have been a mistake. I think my phosphates were high that’s why I was running GFO. I use a RODI system also for my water.

The fish I have are Yellow tang, flame angel, red corris wrasse, lunar wrasse, 2 lightning maroon clowns and a spotted puffer

 

[JDapper]

If this is accurate, or as accurate as we can get with API, Need to know some additional information. Please tell us what your tanks age is, if live rock was initially used or if it was dry rock, what your stocking level is, and what type of lights and lighting schedule you are using. It appears in your first picture that there is an abundance of hair algae on your back glass. My initial reaction to all of this is that your tank is having stability issues. I'm not that concerned with your nitrates as many successful reefers run at a higher NO3 myself included. If your Po4 is truly .03 that is to low. It sounds like perhaps you could use a good thorough tank cleaning ( algae removal), and then to start on a strict maintenance schedule to provide some stability. This would include more frequent and better testing, manual removal of the dinos, and water changes only when appropriate.

I use 3 of these on my tank and the only corals I have are softies and they are all doing fine and growing!

I will have to check the exact lighting schedule but I wanna say the blue come on for a hour then the whites ramp up for 9 or 10 hours then the blue come on for a hour then the lights turn off! Its either from 10am to 9pm or 10am to 10pm so a 12 hour I would say.

 

[stewy14]

can we have all the parameters please

 

[JDapper]

can we have all the parameters please

Water temp: 77-78
PH: 8.0
Alk: 10 dkh
Salinity: 1.024
Ammonia: < 0.10
Magnesium: 1400
calcium: 500

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

A microscope would be a good way to ID it. @ISpeakForTheSeas, do you have any idea?

Unfortunately no - I still need to do a lot of learning for "pest" algae ID; I do think a microscope would be a good idea for this though.

 

[stewy14]

here is a good microscope for cheap:
its a handheld
think its good...