Raising ALK to kill off algae

[techhnyne]

so i have a slight algae issue, my rocks have a green algae that looks like green coralline and purple algae does not grow anywhere except on bare bottom glass or wherever the green algae is not,and also have some turf algae in some spots and someone brought to my attention that by raising the ALK on my tank to 11 it could kill off this algae.
I was wondering if anyone else has dont this before and if they do suggest it?

 

[Raising Reef.]

I personally keep my alk at 9-10 and I find if my alk lowers for any reason the algae that forms on the glass appears much quicker when alk is lower so I could appreciate this being a possible solution for you but I have no definitive evidence only my personal experience on this.
Worth a try just don’t up your alk to quickly as corals won’t like it at all 0.5 DKH a day is a safe rate.

 

[mtfish]

Personally I would never raise my ALK that high if you are growing corals. I also do not know of any correlation between ALK and algae. Usually algae grows faster with higher NO3 and PO4.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Raising alkalinity does not, by itself, kill algae. The best that might be said of such an approach is it may make some hard corals grow faster, possibly outcompeting algae for nutrients.

 

[techhnyne]

My no3 is 0 and my po4 is very close to it.
My tank rocks are green. I have some faint spots or turf algae. I wanna try clean up the rocks so they can start growing purple coraline and kill off any turf algae in tank

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My no3 is 0 and my po4 is very close to it.
My tank rocks are green. I have some faint spots or turf algae. I wanna try clean up the rocks so they can start growing purple coraline and kill off any turf algae in tank

IMO, undectectable nutrients might detergreen algae, but risks really bad pests like dinos. I personally would not approach your situation this way.

 

[techhnyne]

IMO, undectectable nutrients might detergreen algae, but risks really bad pests like dinos. I personally would not approach your situation this way.

I was going to raise alk and re introduce no3 and p04.
Do you have any other suggestions??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was going to raise alk and re introduce no3 and p04.
Do you have any other suggestions??

If growing coralline as a goal, seed coralline with rocks from fellow reefers tanks, and make sure magnesium is at least 1300+ ppm. You clearly already have some coralline, but perhaps not the optimal species for all light levels (different ones grow in bright vs dim light, for example).

 

[mtfish]

I have used fluconazole in the past to kill bryopsis, worked like a champ. Have no idea if it would work on the algae you have. I have read (no personal experience) that vibrant can kill macro-algae. Like Randy said, coralline likes higher Mg. Good luck.

 

[techhnyne]

If growing coralline as a goal, seed coralline with rocks from fellow reefers tanks, and make sure magnesium is at least 1300+ ppm. You clearly already have some coralline, but perhaps not the optimal species for all light levels (different ones grow in bright vs dim light, for example).

Mmy issue is the green out competes the coralline. So i will increase my alk and maga

I have used fluconazole in the past to kill bryopsis, worked like a champ. Have no idea if it would work on the algae you have. I have read (no personal experience) that vibrant can kill macro-algae. Like Randy said, coralline likes higher Mg. Good luck.[/QUOTE

I am running a fuge with cheato so im not looking to kill macro algae just nuisance. i heard vibrant too i was gonna try some of that

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Try switching to Tropic Marine balling.
You’ll grow so much pink corraline you’ll away switch back. Lol. Seriously.

Also , the deeper purple corralines like in the back wall seem to prefer lower pars.
Corraline is also an alage , so it likey needs more plant like spectrums found in most MH and t5 rather than most common led settings.

 

[techhnyne]

Try switching to Tropic Marine balling.
You’ll grow so much pink corraline you’ll away switch back. Lol. Seriously.

Also , the deeper purple corralines like in the back wall seem to prefer lower pars.
Corraline is also an alage , so it likey needs more plant like spectrums found in most MH and t5 rather than most common led settings.

i am actually using triton method right now

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

i am actually using triton method right now

Balling is actually just fancy two part. Cal alk and mag.

 

[vetteguy53081]

much different than Triton as I use Triton which is merely higher Amino and fuel along with the three essentials.

 

[aquariumworks]

Raising alkalinity does not, by itself, kill algae. The best that might be said of such an approach is it may make some hard corals grow faster, possibly outcompeting algae for nutrients.

Also coralline algae’s would benefit from higher Alk and compete for nutrients.
In my experience, if have brown diatoms, I would not raise the Alk.

 

[Ellery]

If you are running Triton, are you removing chaeto regularly? From what I have found to work for me on top of the usual recommendation of exporting nutrients better.
1. Bryopsis - fluconozale
2. Green slime algae on glass - raise system ORP
A. Run ozone to skimmer
B. Dose hydrogen peroxide into skimmer.
3. If running any type of carbon dosing, you'll start getting algae when NO3 is depleted PO4 starts going up. Add a nitrate component. Feeding heavily will raise both no3 and po4 so not the best choice.
4. RUN a UV sterilizer on the system.
5. Always keep herbivores in the tank to keep things in check.