Persistent Algae

[Syntax1235]

I've been battling an algae issue for a couple months since I removed the sand bed from my sump. Can anyone identify this? The algae blows off easily with a turkey baster, but is 100% back a few days..

The tank has been through a lot in the past several months: several rounds of high doses of milbemycin, oxolinic acid, corals removed for multiple dips with all kinds of stuff... been frustrating.... but the tank is rebounding and corals are growing and coloring up.

I have a suspicion that I caused a lot of dieoff with the 10x dose of milbemycin and it may take time for the tank to rebalance.

Anyway, an identification may help me combat this. Of course I'd be open to any suggestions.

Tank Parameters:

13 months up and running
Dry rock seeded with about 50 lbs of TBSW rock

160 gallon lighted with 3 reefbrite mh/xho (2 14k and 1 10k) 6 hours of light for the 14k's and 2 hours for the 10k. XHO's ramp up and down and are on for about 10 hours.

P04: .15 - Been using gfo (rowa and now high capacity brs) in small doses to bring it down with hopes of combating the algae. I bring the phosphate down but it rises in a few days. Phosphate has been as high as .27 after the oxolinic acid treatment.

Nitrate: 10-15
ALK 7.7 (ish)
CA: 440
MG; 1350

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

It's hard to tell the texture... could it be green cyano?

 

[Syntax1235]

It's hard to tell the texture... could it be green cyano?

I'm thinking cyano too.

Edit: The snails and urchins eat it, but they can't keep up. I'm low on snails at the moment. I have three urchins that can clear a patch, but they can't keep up.

 

[MartinM]

Fluconazole is definitely worth a try.

 

[Syntax1235]

Fluconazole is definitely worth a try.

I’ve abused this tank with chemical treatments over the past 6 months and I would really like to avoid using them if possible. I have no doubt it could work. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Syntax1235]

I have had my tank set up for a few months. I have been having issues with diatoms and brown stringy algea. I have 1 Otto, but he doesn't really help all that much. Are there any other freshwater sea creatures I can put in to combat the algeas?

This thread is asking for identification for a specific nuisance algae/bacteria. You may get more responses if you start a thread specific to your concerns.

Just trying to help.