These unknowns are ruining my tank!

[Pado]

Hi, does anyone know these algae, I never had them and I can't get rid of them. They are well attached to the rocks, I can't solve the problem, I even did a course of fluconazole out of desperation, but they don't die any way.

 

[Formulator]

Looks like some kind of hair algae. Its still short so get yourself a couple turbo snails, trochus snails, and/or an urchin. That looks like a pretty new tank. Try not to resort to chemical methods so quickly next time. That’s a great way to really mess up your tank.

What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[Pado]

Looks like some kind of hair algae. Its still short so get yourself a couple turbo snails, trochus snails, and/or an urchin. That looks like a pretty new tank. Try not to resort to chemical methods so quickly next time. That’s a great way to really mess up your tank.

What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

Sorry I wasn't very precise, it's just that I'm confused because I'm trying everything! The tank is a 50 gallon, temporary, I am waiting for the new bigger one that I will mount in November. I assembled it in December to get me ahead with the live, mainly to have the rocks ready.
That is why it is sparsely populated, only a few acropora and 4 small fish. It is a little lean but the values are quite good.
I am managing it with zeovit base bacteria + the 4 coral system KZ products.
Ca 500
Kh 8/9
Mg 1310
No3 0.5
No4 0
Ph 8.1/8.3 night/day
salinity 35‰
temp 77 (25°)
TDS and conductivity: 0

if I try to pull it off with fingers it's a little hard but the whole little clump comes off, but it's unthinkable to pull it all off because in some places where it's grown I can't reach. If I put it in the shade it regresses, the mespilia and the snails don't touch it

 

[Formulator]

I don’t see phosphate in your parameters. Do you test?

 

[Pado]

I don’t see phosphate in your parameters. Do you test?

Sorry, Po4: 0, i wrote No4

the problem however I do not think is so simple, I have to try to identify this black algae, hoping to find someone who has had it. In the Italian community, it seems that no one knows it, I was hoping in your community since it is larger, but I have done many tests, I am an old aquarist, I have tried all the classical steps such as Po4 tests, or perfect osmosis water TDS, they even passed the fluconazole test, I believe it is something worse than simple filamentous algae, and I don't know how they could have gotten into my tank

 

[Formulator]

Sounds like you have some experience, so I won’t lecture you about the low NO3 and low PO4. I’m sure you know that can lead to problems like dinos…. That aside, maybe @vetteguy53081 can help with ID.

 

[Pado]

Sounds like you have some experience, so I won’t lecture you about the low NO3 and low PO4. I’m sure you know that can lead to problems like dinos…. That aside, maybe @vetteguy53081 can help with ID.

they are strange algae, black, small tufts very hard to remove with fingers, when I detach them, the whole tuft comes off, they are like many silky balls. The issue of nitrates being too low I think comes from the fact that I use Zeovit system and the tank is 8 months old, full of these algae that, i imagine, they absorb everithing. The fauna is fine, only the calcium is a little high because I have few acropora and with the calcium reactor running, it is difficult to lower it, but it keeps the KH and PH stable, so if it is not necessary, I keep it to a minimum but do not turn it off.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi, does anyone know these algae, I never had them and I can't get rid of them. They are well attached to the rocks, I can't solve the problem, I even did a course of fluconazole out of desperation, but they don't die any way.

Turf algae and a nuisance in itself. High nutrients often support this and you want to scrape it off the structures in a container of tank water and add peroxide t any remnant left over and add snails such as Astrea, nerire, cerith and astrea, Pitho crabs and even tuxedo urchin. If using tap water, it will promote this.
Reduce white intensity for a couple of weeks and also - Is your tank at or near a window?

 

[Pado]

Turf algae and a nuisance in itself. High nutrients often support this and you want to scrape it off the structures in a container of tank water and add peroxide t any remnant left over and add snails such as Astrea, nerire, cerith and astrea, Pitho crabs and even tuxedo urchin. If using tap water, it will promote this.
Reduce white intensity for a couple of weeks and also - Is your tank at or near a window?

Hi, thanks for the answer, very interesting, so for the water I rule it out, I only use very well controlled osmotic water with resins and TDS always at zero. I have phosphates and nitrates practically zero also in the thank and lately I am also testing the water from the changes. I use Zeovit System.
I have a lot of snails and 2 weeks ago I inserted a super tiny tuxedo urchin, so far it doesn't seem to have eaten much, but maybe I have to wait.
But It is true that the aquarium is next to a balcony, from where light also comes in at night from the lamps that illuminate the street. I use a Reef Flare Pro M with the blues at 100% and the whites at 40%, the reds and greens at 0%. In your opinion, is it better to completely eliminate the whites for a few weeks?
can you just be more clear about the use of hydrogen peroxide? What percentage should I dilute it with water? or directly with a syringe on the algae?
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Outlaw Corals]

If i were you i would get a algae scrubber asap

 

[Pado]

If i were you i would get a algae scrubber asap

You're right, unfortunately I don't have the space in this tank, but as soon as I install the new one, with a larger sump, it will probably be the first modification I make.

 

[Outlaw Corals]

You're right, unfortunately I don't have the space in this tank, but as soon as I install the new one, with a larger sump, it will probably be the first modification I make.

You can get a external one doesn’t have to be in the sump