Please help - insane algae problem

[Cleverbs]

I have had this algae outbreak for a few weeks now. I’m not new to the hobby as I have 10 years in it but Iv never had anything close to this. Honestly I’m not even sure what type of algae this is. It’s so thin and almost bacterial like cyno but it’s not the right color and Iv seen plenty of cyno. Chemiclean had zero impact.

the algae is just overtaking everything. Iv scrubbed the rocks clean and did a 20% water change twice in the last two weeks. Two days later it looks like this again.

took a fresh set of parameters for this post. All taken with Red Sea tests or Hanna test. RoDI water is used that shows 0 TDS, using Red Sea for my salt.


Tank 93g - ~110g total volume
NH3-4 - O
No2 - O
No3 - 2.3ppm
Mg - 1400
Alk - 9.4
Ca - 442
Po4 - .02
Ph - 8.09
Temp - 78

Tank was started 10/15/2021

Nothing but dry rock was used. No live rock has been in the tank. Sand is ocean direct sand that was bought new.

lighting - eco tech xr30 g4 with two reef bright strips. Set at 40% on soft/lps setting and 6.5 hour light cycle.

 

[GaryE]

post pics with white lights please..

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have had this algae outbreak for a few weeks now. I’m not new to the hobby as I have 10 years in it but Iv never had anything close to this. Honestly I’m not even sure what type of algae this is. It’s so thin and almost bacterial like cyno but it’s not the right color and Iv seen plenty of cyno. Chemiclean had zero impact.

the algae is just overtaking everything. Iv scrubbed the rocks clean and did a 20% water change twice in the last two weeks. Two days later it looks like this again.

took a fresh set of parameters for this post. All taken with Red Sea tests or Hanna test. RoDI water is used that shows 0 TDS, using Red Sea for my salt.


Tank 93g - ~110g total volume
NH3-4 - O
No2 - O
No3 - 2.3ppm
Mg - 1400
Alk - 9.4
Ca - 442
Po4 - .02
Ph - 8.09
Temp - 78

Tank was started 10/15/2022

Nothing but dry rock was used. No live rock has been in the tank. Sand is ocean direct sand that was bought new.

It is literally impossible to see anything with these very dark blue images
Please retake under white lighting
Also, what test kits are you?

 

[Cleverbs]

It is literally impossible to see anything with these very dark blue images
Please retake under white lighting
Also, what test kits are you?

Photos have been updated with only Whites on.

Test kits are Red sea for - NH3-4, No2, No3, Mag
Hanna for - Alk, Cal, Po4
Neptune Controller for - PH, Temp

All test kits are within expiration date and should be accurate.

 

[Cleverbs]

post pics with white lights please..

Done

 

[GaryE]

As your tank was setup 8 months in the future, it's hard to say what it is...

just kidding, it looks nasty, but likely just new tank syndrome..

 

[Cleverbs]

As your tank was setup 8 months in the future, it's hard to say what it is...

just kidding, it looks nasty, but likely just new tank syndrome..

lol oops, fixed that typo.

I mean...Iv started many new tanks. Iv just never seen this before. I find it shocking its just "New tank".

Some Cyno, diatoms and whatnot I would get. Infact right before this started I had the Cyno phase. It went away and the tank was looking great and clean. Few days later this started.

I hope you are right, I hope it just passes. I just thought it would be best to put this out in front of other who have maybe delt with something similar.

 

[Lavey29]

Seems like normal ugly stage algae on a new tank. Your numbers aren't bad. Raise nitrates and phosphate slightly. Keep your light cycle if you have corals. If not shut your lights off and let your tank build biodiversity. Get a good cleaner crew in there too.

 

[GaryE]

I started a tank a year and a half ago with dry rock and have fought all kinds of nasty in that tank.. Still having GHA problems.. About to throw in the towel.

 

[polyppal]

maybe throw in some large turbo snails and see if they make a dent? Be careful about adding harsh additives they can often cause more problems than they solve

 

[Wasabiroot]

maybe throw in some large turbo snails and see if they make a dent? Be careful about adding harsh additives they can often cause more problems than they solve

This and 2 or 3 small short spine or tuxedo urchins will probably help.

 

[Cleverbs]

maybe throw in some large turbo snails and see if they make a dent? Be careful about adding harsh additives they can often cause more problems than they solve

I started a tank a year and a half ago with dry rock and have fought all kinds of nasty in that tank.. Still having GHA problems.. About to throw in the towel.

Seems like normal ugly stage algae on a new tank. Your numbers aren't bad. Raise nitrates and phosphate slightly. Keep your light cycle if you have corals. If not shut your lights off and let your tank build biodiversity. Get a good cleaner crew in there too.

I can try to get some clean up crew in there. Honestly I dont know why I havent done this yet. In the past iv always done it when I started a new tank but had some die off in the early stages. Maybe its time for a cleanup crew.

I do have some corals. Thats why I reduced my light % and the time.

Iv always only ran dryrock and have never had major algae issues with it. But, If there is anything iv learned, the way one tank cycles is not the way another does.

 

[polyppal]

Are you sure your RODI is working correctly? That the TDS meter is accurate?

 

[Cleverbs]

Are you sure your RODI is working correctly? That the TDS meter is accurate?

I am sure. I installed the TDS meter 3 months ago and it was new from BRS. I also replaced all the filters and resin at that time. I also have a hand held TDS meter that reads the same.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I will get to a screen larger than my phone but appears as early stage Dino (was hoping for brighter white intensity)

 

[Cleverbs]

I will get to a screen larger than my phone but appears as early stage Dino (was hoping for brighter white intensity)

haha sorry thats 100% in my white channels, Appreciate your time and efforts though. LMK if there is any other information you need.

 

[vetteguy53081]

haha sorry thats 100% in my white channels, Appreciate your time and efforts though. LMK if there is any other information you need.

Ok - home and able to look at a larger screen. Appears to be hair algae and dying algae. May be due to inadequate white intensity.
Is this tank at or near a window?
What test kits are you using ?

What shall I do ?
I recommend- pull as much as you can by hand. After that- lower or turn off white lights. Siphon up the area and add some cleaner crew if you dont have any or any of the following:
Turbo grazer
astrea
cerith
nerite
trochus

8-10 Caribbean blue leg hermits (theyre real tiny)

No urchin - will likely not touch this stuff and go hungry

 

[damsels are not mean]

You put some sterile rocks in a glass box of water and high intensity lights, and then provided a consistent source of nutrients (tangs love to poop a LOT). What else did you expect? I don't think you are doing anything wrong, but maybe turn the lights way down and add some snails since you have no corals or anything at all to compete with the algae. IMO the best are trochus or ninja stars. Urchin if you'd like but that may be counterproductive because it will eat coralline too. A conch or a bunch of ceriths will clean the sand. Remove as much as possible by hand maybe even just take the rocks out and scrub.

 

[Cleverbs]

Thank you all for your input.

I feel I can be confident it’s not due to a lack of husbandry that I’m overlooking.

I put in an order to reefcleaners. Got a good mix of snails. Hermits I don’t have good experience with plus I’m sure my 4 wrasses will make short work of them anyway.

I’ll do another manual removal. Just before I get them and maybe they will be able to keep it in check.

 

[Tamberav]

I can try to get some clean up crew in there. Honestly I dont know why I havent done this yet. In the past iv always done it when I started a new tank but had some die off in the early stages. Maybe its time for a cleanup crew.

I do have some corals. Thats why I reduced my light % and the time.

Iv always only ran dryrock and have never had major algae issues with it. But, If there is anything iv learned, the way one tank cycles is not the way another does.

You have NO clean up crew? That is certainly a problem. They have a harder time when the algae gets long... probably need an urchin, crabs, bigger snails (turbo? and trochus for sure) at this point.

Light and no CUC and algae will always grow uncontrollably and some algae is a good thing, a healthy reef needs algae... just also needs lawn care from a CUC.