Should i just restart?

[danreef55]

Hi tobster,
Just curious what percentage solution did you use and how long did you let it sit before rinsing?

 

[tobster]

Hi tobster,
Just curious what percentage solution did you use and how long did you let it sit before rinsing?

I initially sprayed the rocks down with about 20-30% solution and it worked for about a week.
I let it set about 5 minutes and then gave it a good rinse.
There are corals on the rock that I couldn’t remove so I didn’t want to leave it out too long.
I then tried on another rock with no coral and actually just applied straight peroxide and let it set for 5-10 minutes. It killed the algae but it was back within a couple weeks.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

something isn’t adding up. You have the right equipment, right approach to lighting, and low nutes. Do you have a CUC? Have you tried pods and phyto? Mexican turbos will mow down that algae like there is no tomorrow.

 

[danreef55]

I initially sprayed the rocks down with about 20-30% solution and it worked for about a week.
I let it set about 5 minutes and then gave it a good rinse.
There are corals on the rock that I couldn’t remove so I didn’t want to leave it out too long.
I then tried on another rock with no coral and actually just applied straight peroxide and let it set for 5-10 minutes. It killed the algae but it was back within a couple weeks.

Thanks for the feedback
regards
Dan

 

[Pvtgloss]

I initially sprayed the rocks down with about 20-30% solution and it worked for about a week.
I let it set about 5 minutes and then gave it a good rinse.
There are corals on the rock that I couldn’t remove so I didn’t want to leave it out too long.
I then tried on another rock with no coral and actually just applied straight peroxide and let it set for 5-10 minutes. It killed the algae but it was back within a couple weeks.

I did the same thing with the same results.

 

[Pod_01]

Wow, very nice. What fish do you have in there?

Sorry missed the question,

Tomini Tang
Aiptasia eating file fish
Nemo (clownfish)
Melanurus wrasse
Falco hawkfish
PJ cardinal
Springeri Damse

For what is worth I still remove algae manually once a week. Sometimes there is more, other times lot less. Over time it has become lot less.

Stones fully covered with corals like this one that is covered by GSP has zero agae:

Anything that is exposed and not claimed by corals can have algae.

I was able to have zero algae long ago, clean rocks etc… the problem was I also had dead/ dying corals.

Good luck,

 

[Pvtgloss]

something isn’t adding up. You have the right equipment, right approach to lighting, and low nutes. Do you have a CUC? Have you tried pods and phyto? Mexican turbos will mow down that algae like there is no tomorrow.

I agree. I don't know what's going on.
I add pods regularly. Last time I added 64oz from reef legends. That's a lot of pops! Lol. Phyto seemed to have raised the nutrients.
I've added 5 Mexican turbos several times. Last time I added 5 at once. They didn't touch it and eventually died. I don't know if they starved or hermits got them.
This is the cuc I've added in the past year trying to tackle this algae. I already had a diverse cuc when adding these.

6/2/23
sea hare (died)
7/2/23
sea hare (replaced the one that died and then died shortly after)
9/11/23
2Cortez Cerith
6 Florida Cerith
5Astraea Snails
3Blue Leg Hermit Crab
20Dwarf Cerith
2Emerald/Ruby Mithrax Crab
1Indo Turbo Snail
4Nassarius Vibex
5Nerite Snail
1Smooth Turbo Snails
1/24/24
emerald crab (replaced one that died)
1/28/24
5 Blue Legged Hermit Crabs
5 Red Legged Hermit Crabs
5 Black Margarita Snail
10 Cerith Snail
10 Trochus Snails
3/20/24
1 Tuxedo Urchin (stays on glass and seams)
10 Astrea Snails
5 LARGE Mexican Turbo Snail
6/25/24
1 Lettuce Nudibranch (moved off of rocks and found the glass)
1 Pencil Urchin (have not moved much since adding him)
2 Fuzzy Chitons (they moved off of the rocks and found the glass)

The only thing CUC really helps with is the glass. I never have to clean glass, lol.
But eventually they die and i have a sandbed full of shells.

I feel like I've tried everything.
When I replaced the tank I used new sand that I rinsed for like 8hrs! I rip cleaned the rocks with h202, brushes and picks.
Fluconazole treatment after Fluconazole. Single dose, double dose, back to back doses. Micro dose.
I've tried all the bottled bacteria.
The only thing I haven't tried yet is vibrant.

 

[danreef55]

Grasping at straws here but how long has it been since you replace your bulbs?

 

[Pvtgloss]

Grasping at straws here but how long has it been since you replace your bulbs?

I just installed a Neptune sky in april. Overkill for the tank but it's turned down to 16%. It's putting 100par on sand bed and maybe 160 par on the top rock.
7 hours on with a hour ramp up and ramp down. I have only the royal blue and violent lights on.

 

[danreef55]

Very puzzling..... have you removed a piece of rock and placed it in new saltwater and test for phosphate after a few days? Something is feeding the rapid algae growth. A plausible explanation may be that the rock is leaching phosphate at a rate that it can be consumed by the algae thus masking test results. A bit far fetched but they are getting nutrients from somewhere. Sorry you are going through this.

 

[Pvtgloss]

Very puzzling..... have you removed a piece of rock and placed it in new saltwater and test for phosphate after a few days? Something is feeding the rapid algae growth. A plausible explanation may be that the rock is leaching phosphate at a rate that it can be consumed by the algae thus masking test results. A bit far fetched but they are getting nutrients from somewhere. Sorry you are going through this.

I really want to but every rock has corals on it and I feel like I've been stressing them too much as its. From all the fluconazole, removing and scrubbing. I've lost quite a few during the flux treatment.
Lately, Ive been scrubbing while siphoning. I'm about to start here in a few minutes.
I do use gfo and maintain decently low po4, .04 to .06 usually.

 

[danreef55]

Suggest taking out a piece of rock and chisel a small piece off and give it a try.

 

[Pvtgloss]

I spent yesterday scrubbing the rocks.

My nutrients are:
N03 15.1
Po4 .03
They stay stable. I don't really want to lowered them much more.
The new nudibranch and chitons still have no interest in the rocks. I put them back on the rocks after scrubbing and when I woke up they were back on the glass.
I'll do another update next weekend.

 

[danreef55]

Excellent job. You must be tried of this royal pain. Best of luck

 

[Pvtgloss]

Excellent job. You must be tried of this royal pain. Best of luck

Thanks @danreef55
In do hey tired of it. But once I scrub it all out its still rewarding and I'm still totally obsessed, lol.

 

[danreef55]

Do you have a fuge?

 

[Pvtgloss]

Do you have a fuge?

I did, but I ended up taking it offline when I ripped cleaned the tank. It was full of this algae. I removed the sump scrubbed it with bleach.
My nutes rarely go above no3 15 and p04 .03-.06.
Im only a couple years into this, so I'm not an expert. But I feel like nutrients are not my problem.
If I lower my nutrients to ultra low levels would the algae still survive while the corals suffer?

 

[danreef55]

Did you have the algae problem in the display tank when the refugium was connected? Realize you had it in the sump. Try checking phosphate before the algae has a chance to grow. This is a tough one. Your water parameters are good, just changed the bulbs, you have decent flow, and you aren't overfeeding. Still thinking this is a phosphate being leached back into solution. Maybe ask Jay and Randy they are far more qualified than I am that is for certain.
Hang in there bud there will be a root cause the problem is find it. I am really interested in what is happening and would really like to learn from your experience.

Regards
Dan

 

[Pod_01]

Fluconazole treatment after Fluconazole. Single dose, double dose, back to back doses. Micro dose.

Maybe stop with this, obviously it is not working and in my opinion can cause more instability in reef tank. I don’t think corals use Fluconazole in the ocean.

Just y opinion.

 

[vabben]

Have you tried dosing phyto? I dose 30ml per 10 gallons of Tetraselmis phyo nightly, I still have some GHA but only little patches that urchins hit or I hit with a toothbrush when it pops up.