Terrible algae outbreak

bknapp · Aug 9, 2013

I've gotten this nasty algae outbreak and I am unsure of why, I am considering a couple of days of lights out. Phosphates are at .02 per Hanna and nitrates are undetectable per Salifert, flow shouldn't be an issue I have dual MP40's, I am running ecoBAK and an ATS. My halides are four months old, all of my acros (besides newly acquired frags) have great color. Any thoughts?

Reefing Madness · Aug 9, 2013

Im wondering if thats a Dino outbreak.
How I beat dinoflagellates, and the lessons I learned ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

bknapp · Aug 9, 2013

Hope it's not Dino's, I syphoned as much of the funk as I could. Help this helps.

mike007 · Aug 9, 2013

Excess nutrients overfeeding or phosphates.

gmoney243 · Aug 9, 2013

mike007 said:
Excess nutrients overfeeding or phosphates.

Did you even read the post or just the title.

schooleyosis · Aug 10, 2013

We need to compare that Hana checker to another test kit. We've done this before and I personally don't agree with the Hana results.

schooleyosis · Aug 10, 2013

Sorry for multiple posts. Did you change something? Feeding? Flow? More pellets? Filter cartridges in your RO DI? Just throwing it all out there...

gmoney243 · Aug 10, 2013

Are you missing any fish? I noticed my slime started around when.one of my wrasses disappeared. It seems to be dying off finally

Mike J. · Aug 10, 2013

Reefing Madness said:
Im wondering if thats a Dino outbreak.
How I beat dinoflagellates, and the lessons I learned ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

My first thought when I saw the photo, also.

schooleyosis · Aug 10, 2013

And one more thing I thought of. Did you quit adding Microblift or some form of bacteria that I thought you were adding/dosing?

bknapp · Aug 10, 2013

I have added more pellets, the Hanna phosphate is regarded as the best test kit for phosphates, which test do you use for phosphates? No fish have gone missing, although it seems that my conch has died and since he was never very active to begin with it took me a few days to realize that and I removed it yesterday. Also added a bunch of snails from reef cleaners and I am unsure of how many lived so I vacuumed up a bunch of those while I was removing the funk from the sand bed. I dosed MB7 a while back but haven't been for a while, I've been wanting to start using Special Blend but haven't made it to Petco to get any.

thejoshdavis · Aug 10, 2013

What RO are you using? I had a small issue and it turned out to be my RO filters needed to be changed. Just a thought. I tested my phosphates with the Hanna, API, and Sailfert one night. The Hanna and API were basically the same, the sailfert was a little high.

schooleyosis · Aug 10, 2013

Agreed about the RO cartridges. I use RedSea Pro test kits for everything. Remember when we compared the API, RedSea pro, and Hanna that the two matched but the Hana was different???

bknapp · Aug 10, 2013

Ryan, I don't think we tested phosphates that day. It was mainly the calcium test that was off and most people (myself included now) don't trust the Hanna for calcium but rely on it for alkalinity and phosphates. I think the RedSea tests are great for the calcium, magnesium and, alkalinity (although I prefer the Hanna for alkalinity.)

I think it maybe the RO/DI filters and cartridges, I've been using BRS five stage. How long go the RO membranes last? I usually change out all filters and resins every three months or so, guess I need to check those dates. How long does everyone else's filters last them?

gmoney243 · Aug 10, 2013

Ro lasts 3-5 years. Test the output to see if its still good. Number should be 1% of tds from tap.

Zef004 · Aug 10, 2013

I have this same trouble in the past and it was my ro/di unit needed changing. How long does people's ro membranes last.

.AcroKiller. · Aug 10, 2013

Is it dark brown

bknapp · Aug 10, 2013

iiluisii said:
Is it dark brown

It's a redish-brown, almost rust color. If its cyano it looks like no other cyano I've seen.

Alabamareef · Aug 10, 2013

Whatever it is it could skew your p04 results, jut a thought. Have you changed you light schedule?

bknapp · Aug 10, 2013

Alabamareef said:
Whatever it is it could skew your p04 results, jut a thought. Have you changed you light schedule?

Nope, lighting schedule is the same. I've never read phosphates over .06 since the pellets have been colonized, the only real recent change is adding some previously colonized pellets from a tank break down.