red/brown hair

[xclintonx]

So my tank has been up and running for four months. Everything was looking great and then this stuff has taken over. Some of it is attached the gravel and some on the rocks.

Trying not to panic. Turned off the white lights completely (on day one of that) hoping that it will help. When I have time (after work tomorrow) I will vacuum as much out as I can.

I was told there would be some uglies and I am assuming this is one.

Thoughts?

 

[xclintonx]

duplicate

 

[vetteguy53081]

Picture is very dark blue. Please retake with/under white lighting, but appears that youre describing cyano which is a bacteria
Are you using RODI water or Tap water from faucet?
What is your phosphate and nitrate readings ?

 

[xclintonx]

Under white and blue light

 

[xclintonx]

Picture is very dark blue. Please retake with/under white lighting, but appears that youre describing cyano which is a bacteria
Are you using RODI water or Tap water from faucet?
What is your phosphate and nitrate readings ?

I am testing now. My last tests are a week old. Will post soon.

 

[xclintonx]

Nitrate with the nyos was between 1-3
Phosphorus with the hanna checker was 8ppb (.024 ppm)

Seems low to me. Maybe turn off the skimmer for a bit too?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nitrate with the nyos was between 1-3
Phosphorus with the hanna checker was 8ppb (.024 ppm)

Seems low to me. Maybe turn off the skimmer for a bit too?

You can continue to skim. This is diatoms and hair algae
My recommendation- Pull as much of this stuff out you can by hand and then do a good siphoning of the remaining stuff.
reduce white light intensity a little for about three days.
Add the following cleaners/snails:
3 turbo
3 astrea
3 trochus
4 nassarius
3 nerite
6-8 blue leg hermits

Also add a pouch of Chemipurte blue or Elite and your tank should look great in a few days !!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Are you suing tap or RODI water ?

 

[xclintonx]

Are you suing tap or RODI water ?

Using RO/DI from my bulk reef supply 4 part system I bought.

And I have some clean up crew already.

4 Trochus
about half a dozen blue legs
a few nassarius snails

I will go get some more this weekend

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nitrate with the nyos was between 1-3
Phosphorus with the hanna checker was 8ppb (.024 ppm)

Seems low to me. Maybe turn off the skimmer for a bit too?

Nitrate is up a little which Can contribute to this. Ideal is .25 with a Max of 5. Youre in the middle.

 

[xclintonx]

Nitrate is up a little which Can contribute to this. Ideal is .25 with a Max of 5. Youre in the middle.

Thanks for the advice.

I knew this stuff was coming. I did nano tanks YEARS ago and always used live rock. This is my first tank in a decade and I went with Marco.

Trying to be very patient. It is tough!

 

[xclintonx]

Also, our water here is very low TDS. It is 26 out of the tap. It is zero all the time when I use the 4 stage.

Just to be safe, I cleaned out my brute and will rinse it with RO before my next batch.