New member needs help

[Diet Coke]

Hi All
Any help would be appreciated
I have a 40 gallon breaker withe a homemade 20 gallon sump with a sock a skimmersfloss and carbon
The tank has been running for 6 months
I have always had algae problems brown and green
About 2 months ago most of the brown algae disappeared
I now get a turquoise green covering on the crushed coral it appears in one day after cleaning
The next day it turns black and has strings
In 2 days it will cover the bottom
You can not remove it with gravel cleaner
The gravel is matted together
I usually scrape the top layer off
I have had 0 nitrates from the beginning
Decided to add NP + 2 days ago
The first day the water looked not as clear as usual
Yesterday I added it again
This morning my tank was soo cloudy I could barely see the overflow
Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R! Do you have pics? Almost sounds possibly like cyanobacteria

 

[Diet Coke]

Welcome to R2R! Do you have pics? Almost sounds possibly like cyanobacteria

I do but at work now
Will post later

 

[fishguy242]

hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun....
pics will help!

 

[Auquanut]

Welcome to the family!

 

[ChgoGoodGirl]

Questions :

What are your basic water parameters?
How often do you do water changes?
Inhabitants?
What type of lighting do you use? What light schedule do you follow?

I know thats a lot of questions but the answers will help everyone here give the best advice possible.

 

[Diet Coke]

hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun....
pics will help!

 

[fishguy242]

appears to be dying and regenerating cyno,not an expert,many other will chime in ,without a doubt

 

[Diet Coke]

I have posted 2 pics
I test with API 8.2 pph
0 nitrate
O nitrite
0 ammonia
I do a 10 gallon change every 2 weeks

 

[Frais]

Is it long and string or like a mat covering the sand. Could be Dino's. Does it disappear when the lights are off.

 

[BighohoReef]

Welcome to R2R! Agree that it looks like cyano... What do you have in your tank? Treatment is needed...

 

[Diet Coke]

Is it long and string or like a mat covering the sand. Could be Dino's. Does it disappear when the lights are off.

When it’s green it’s matty
When it’s black it’s stringy
Does not leave when light are off

 

[Diet Coke]

When it’s green it’s matty
When it’s black it’s stringy
Does not leave when light are off

I have gsp
Several frags
1 sail fin tang
1 cleaner wrasse
2 clowns
2 shrimp
10 snails
10 hermit crabs

 

[Crabs McJones]

You can try a 3 day blackout to reduce it. But usually cyano is a result from nitrate and phosphate imbalance. Do you know phosphate levels?

 

[Diet Coke]

You can try a 3 day blackout to reduce it. But usually cyano is a result from nitrate and phosphate imbalance. Do you know phosphate levels?

No but I can pick up a test

 

[Diet Coke]

No but I can pick up a test

The cloudy water has me worried

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[SCReef'n]

Welcome to R2R! Good luck

 

[Fishbro]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[F i s h y]

Welcome to the party! Happy reefing!
You should be able to find what you need here...

Nuisance Algae (including bacteria)

Need help with nuisance algae, cyanobacteria, or dinoflagellates? Maybe you just need an ID of what you have in your tank? This is the section for you.

www.reef2reef.com