Out of ideas

[LC8Sumi]

Hi!

I have a 54g tank (Reefer 250), that has been running for 2.5 years. Since the beginning I have multiple algae issues that I just can't seem to get around (it's like the ugly stage never went away). This is an SPS dominant tank.

The problem:
- I have a green kind of algae growing on the glass, that if not removed in a day or two, bakes on the glass and only a razor can take it off.
- I have greenish/brownish hair algae issues, growing mainly on plastic (powerheads, weir comb) & also on the back glass
- I have returning red cyano issues. It comes, then I have enough & treat them with chemiclean -> that blows them away for a week or two and then they return
- The rocks are crystal clean

Other issues:
- I can't really get purple coralline to grow - there are some patches, but far from what I'd like to see
- PE is not very good on corals

Info:
- I'm running a CaRx. It has been up for year, but had the issue before that as well (was doing balling then). I've tried different medias, although both were/are crushed coral.
- I'm running a fuge. It's a 6g tank with chaeto in it and a 150w grow light - decent grow
- I'm currently running rowaphos in a phosban reactor (I've also tried not running it)
- I've tried dosing 6ml of vibrant every week for the past 4 weeks - didn't make a single difference
- I'm using Red Sea blue bucket salt, but tried to switch to ATI 2-3 months ago - same.
- I'm running filter whool, but tried not running it as well. No difference
- I've tried running my tank at different nutrition levels. I've tried all permutations of it (PO4 vs. NO3), ranging anything from 0-20ppm NO3 and 0-0.7ppm PO4. Currently I'm running it on the low side.
- RODI is 0 tds, and was also tested with ATI ICP, everything is 0 in it.

Now a big problem is, that I live in a 3rd world country, so it's not that easy to get all the snake oil that you guys use in the USA to ship/import here.

Parameters:
Salinity: 35 ppt

Alk: 8.2 dKh (testing daily)
Ca: not testing for it (because of the CaRx)
Mg: 1350 ppm (but not testing for it frequently)
pH: 7.8 - 8.1 (night and day) - I don't know how it was prior to the reactor, as I haven't monitored it back then

NO3 (currently): 0.5 ppm - dosing Seachem Flourish Nitrogen, 5ml every other day. (once again, I had 5-10 ppm NO3 as well, and if anything the issue was just worse)
PO4 (currently): 0.03 ppm

Lighting is 2x Kessil A360we at 30% color, two ati blue+ bulbs and two ati actinics. I change the bulbs every 6 months. (doesn't make a difference). Over the years I've tried different settings on the Kessil, different bulbs in the t5 fixtures, but it didn't make a difference at all.

I'm really running out of ideas, possible things to do and make this go away and thinking about throwing in the towel.
Any advice is welcome!

You can see the algae on the overflow and on the bottom/side/back glass:

2019. dec.

2019. jul.

2019 feb.

2018. nov.

2018. jun.

2017. nov.

Chaeto growth

 

[reef lover]

Imo with the growth in chaeto and the algae in the tank that your nitrates and po4 is higher than than u think just being consumed. I recommend to stop dosing the flourish and see how the algae does then...

 

[LC8Sumi]

Imo with the growth in chaeto and the algae in the tank that your nitrates and po4 is higher than than u think just being consumed. I recommend to stop dosing the flourish and see how the algae does then...

Thank You!
I have now discontinued the refugium 2 days ago - as that was the only thing with the tank during its whole life that hasn’t been changed. I wonder if it makes a difference. I have a theory that the algae in it (and the tank) outcompeted the bacteria & that’s the reason why the tank is behaving strange. But if this doesn’t do anything then I’m really out of ideas.

 

[ScottB]

First, your corals look pretty good to me and your rocks are clean. And your chaeto is growing and large. Really not too sure I understand the problem. Are corals dying? Yeah, I see the algae on the back so you could probably afford to gradually lower your nutrient levels to slow the algae growth and gradually reverse it.

Removing you refugium is going to spike your nutrient. Are you sure you want to do that? It will likely be consumed now by the nuisance algae in your display.

Do you have snails, algae blenny, or any (juvenile size) zebrasoma tangs for algae control?

 

[LC8Sumi]

First, your corals look pretty good to me and your rocks are clean. And your chaeto is growing and large. Really not too sure I understand the problem. Are corals dying? Yeah, I see the algae on the back so you could probably afford to gradually lower your nutrient levels to slow the algae growth and gradually reverse it.

Removing you refugium is going to spike your nutrient. Are you sure you want to do that? It will likely be consumed now by the nuisance algae in your display.

Do you have snails, algae blenny, or any (juvenile size) zebrasoma tangs for algae control?

Thanks for your input!
Yes, I have a zebrasoma, and a handful of snails as well. They don’t really eat the fuzzy algae though, only the algae-dust off the glass.
My issue is the green algae on the glass, which if not removed in 1-2 days, bakes on proper good, and it is a good 2hr procedure to remove it with a razor. Also I don’t get quite the PE and coralline in my DT.
And the other problem is red cyano, which is not visible on the pictures because I’ve just did a chemiclean trip, but it is already comming back 2 weeks later

 

[reef lover]

I agree do not remove the chaeto...trim maybe but not remove. The nutrients will rise and the algae will grow two fold.

 

[LC8Sumi]

I agree do not remove the chaeto...trim maybe but not remove. The nutrients will rise and the algae will grow two fold.

Too late, I’ve removed it 2 days ago.

 

[reef lover]

I would def stop dosing the nitro then.

 

[ScottB]

Thanks for your input!
Yes, I have a zebrasoma, and a handful of snails as well. They don’t really eat the fuzzy algae though, only the algae-dust off the glass.
My issue is the green algae on the glass, which if not removed in 1-2 days, bakes on proper good, and it is a good 2hr procedure to remove it with a razor. Also I don’t get quite the PE and coralline in my DT.
And the other problem is red cyano, which is not visible on the pictures because I’ve just did a chemiclean trip, but it is already comming back 2 weeks later

OK to be of any help, I think we need to understand your plan as at least I don't yet understand it yet. You have a lot of nutrient input and are reducing the nutrient export (refugium). Are you fighting dinoflagellates? Otherwise, my logic would predict an algae explosion.

Chemiclean to me is a nuclear option. Last resort. Nobody knows what is in it -- the guess is erythromycin -- which is not something I want in my systems as my tanks need bacteria to process waste and feed sps.

That all said, you have been doing something well. Your corals look pretty good in that picture, Don't understand all these nuclear changes to solve small nuisance troubles ( some GHA and some cyano with otherwise healthy corals).

I guess I would have recommended staying the course you had and introducing a bit of Vibrant (bacteria) gradually to slowly work off the excesses of algae/nutrient.

Good luck!

 

[LC8Sumi]

@ScottB, my theory is that chaeto was limiting the bacterial diversity - or whatever it is needed to give a healthy microfauna. It sure grew like weed, and bottomed out the nutrients easily - that's why I started to dose them. Keep in mind, I have been running the chaeto for almost 3 years. So it's not about a new addition & impatience.
Interestingly enough, since pulling it, my skimmer produces way less skimate. It's almost like the chaeto was "poluting" the water the most. I can also see that it might have pulled out "good things" from the water as well as the bad things (if we consider NO3/PO4 to be bad).
I'm pretty sure it is way more to an algae free tank, than just NO3/PO4 levels, so I have to experiment, because nobody really knows what is going on.

 

[LC8Sumi]

Bump