yup. this
pests are pests. bugs or algaes. it seems common now. folks dont dip for alge. just bugs.
So true. Algae doesn't need anything to grow on, as
@saltyfilmfolks says, even the corals you have in there are producing stuff during the course of life, even enough for algae to grow on; we just don't measure those levels of "stuff".
Only way to fix that are some sorta harsh treatments, but I am going through the same thing and paying the price. I'm going to have to be careful with H202 as well; used a little too much today and corals closed up. Been down that road before thankfully, so I know they will be fine tomorrow, but be careful what you do... One thing I am trying is using a really old canister filter with pure mechanical filtration in it and nothing else, then physically cutting or scrubbing the algae, suctioning it out with the canister and returning water to the DT, then using H202 to target the anchors of the algae, spot targeting with H202, then turning my powerheads on the spot to make the anchor let go, and keep cleaning my mechanical filters every couple of days. Sucks doesn't it? I know you know what you are doing, you stated, "all new rock that was acid dipped and bought cycled. This is where my fish are at. Fish only, no lights. But ZERO algae in there." The rock was acid dipped, the current tanks' rock was not. That is where you carried the algae, so in the DT for future, ideally what you do:
is get some live sand,
wash it until it is clear.
Get some regular ol rock that has been cleaned with an acid, or this time use some muriatic acid on the LR you have. That is such a pain I know, but it kills the algae where not a lot else will. Also helps with initial phosphate levels of the new tank, as it strips the stored up PO4 from the surface anyway,
or buy brand new dry rock, doesn't matter, add that to DT.
Dip all frags with iodine before transferring, but also ideally, start that process now as was stated, to kill everything, but with a couple of dips in iodine, you can use less iodine to cause less damage to corals. Also some minor H2O2 treatments, but spot treatments so you can dose less per day. Have to do it daily though, at least almost daily, to kill the algae on that frag now so it doesn't transfer to new DT.
Start a tank new with ammonia cycling and the live sand. You know how to do this, but I think you like shrimp cycling, right? either way, cycle a new tank, add only stuff you have dipped in iodine and cleaned with peroxide. Then you have a chance. Try adding an ATS from the get go, that will really help. Then stay on top of any algae you do see in the DT, and you'll be fine.
