Unidentified Algae, Bacteria?

[ViciousDlishus]

Tank History
The tank is 9 months old.
Started with all dry rock and sand, didnt rinse sand.
Shrimp to start ammonia cycle.
Bio S added.
Cycle took 2+ months.
Tank sat without bioload for another month or so with the odd sprinkle of food.
Fish went in, no noticeable cycle.
I went through some different algae stages greens, browns (new tank uglies).
Photon v2 light - 12 hr total, 8 hour peak lights at R5/G5/RB60/W24/CB60/V60
40 x 20 x 20 gyre on one side on the ramp setting up to 70% on 24 hours.

I then got an odd hair algae like film that covered the rocks and had no color and was somewhat opaque (like watered down milk) approx 1/2 inch long. I did a couple day black out, scrubbed, basted and it seemed to clear things up, came off quite easy.

No issues for about 1 month.

Then the film returned but seemed to be different (could have been different for all I know). It was browner, shorter (1/8 inch or less), seems to form little brown clumps, doesnt come off with a powerhead but scrubbed with a toothbrush comes off quite easily. It doesnt seem to form on the underside of rocks. No noticeable bubbles however when I turn off all my flow I do notice bubbles seem to rise from the rockwork and bubbles form in the unknown substance, I cant tell if it is being produced by the substance.

Goes away for a few days and then returns within about a week.

Since the issue has presented itself and started recurring I have been putting effort into siphoning the sand. There is a substantial amount of sediment being pulled but majority is coming out clear now.

Corals for the most part seem to be unaffected. I have two hammers that seem to be receding from the stem up which is concerning me, and a blue digi that got covered in the film and took a hit until i brushed it off and seems to be recovering. Torches, sps and zoas are seemingly unaffected.

Alk 8.5
Cal 485 (lowering)
ph 8.16
temp 79
sg 1.025
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ammonia 0
dont have phosphate test

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Photos

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Looks like Chrysophytes.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Looks like Chrysophytes.

Thanks for the help and the detailed thread you have on it. Looks like this is exactly what I'm dealing with.

Will plan on manual removal, 24 hr gfo and blackout while watching alk.

What is the concern with running gfo longer than 24 hours and why am I expecting to see a cyno outbreak after?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Thanks for the help and the detailed thread you have on it. Looks like this is exactly what I'm dealing with.

Will plan on manual removal, 24 hr gfo and blackout while watching alk.

What is the concern with running gfo longer than 24 hours and why am I expecting to see a cyno outbreak after?

The reduction of nutrients can cause more harm than none, on a microbial level, as well as other inhabitants like coral. Typically, plague like algaes grow from an imbalance of nutrients. Keeping gfo online longer than needed can throw things off.

The cyano is a result of die off. The organics build up quickly and cyano jumps in to help correct it.

One thing you can try before going the gfo/blackout, and manual removal route, is dosing nitrates up for a few weeks while manually removing. You might be able to gain organisms to help outcompete the chrysos.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

I've started feeding more hoping to get more Nitrates into the system. I am starting to see cyano come and go throughout the day.

I keep testing nitrates and still undetectable. Any suggestions for Nitrate dosing that doesn't add phosphate? Is it potassium Nitrate I'm looking for?

 

[Neo Jeo]

I had a weird white algae on my rocks in the beginning. Then it went away.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Ya sounds like a common strain however in my case it's outcompeted everything else to a place where its become an ongoing problem.

I had a weird white algae on my rocks in the beginning. Then it went away.

 

[grassy_noel]

At least initially, were you carbon dosing?

I had the white milky slime/algae you described initially from overdosing a carbon source (NoPoX). Learned it was a bacterial bloom. As you described, it was very easy to get rid of by blasting with a turkey baster or turning my power head up all the way. When I reduced my dose it went away. But the slime really clogged up my filter socks and pads for a few days.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

At least initially, were you carbon dosing?

I had the white milky slime/algae you described initially from overdosing a carbon source (NoPoX). Learned it was a bacterial bloom. As you described, it was very easy to get rid of by blasting with a turkey baster or turning my power head up all the way. When I reduced my dose it went away. But the slime really clogged up my filter socks and pads for a few days.

No carbon dosing. I dosed aquaforest bio s at the onset to start cycle.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've started feeding more hoping to get more Nitrates into the system. I am starting to see cyano come and go throughout the day.

I keep testing nitrates and still undetectable. Any suggestions for Nitrate dosing that doesn't add phosphate? Is it potassium Nitrate I'm looking for?

You can go the potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate. I would opt for sodium nitrate for the long run and potassium nitrate for a short term with fish additions. Potassium can build up over the long run and may or may not have an effect on coral. Fish are also a good source for nitrates but takes time for it to build up.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

You can go the potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate. I would opt for sodium nitrate for the long run and potassium nitrate for a short term with fish additions. Potassium can build up over the long run and may or may not have an effect on coral. Fish are also a good source for nitrates but takes time for it to build up.

Are there branded products in the industry for this or am I going the ebay route? If eBay is there a calculator?

Starting to see some tiny patches of green algae on the sand today.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Photos

 

[reeferfoxx]

Are there branded products in the industry for this or am I going the ebay route? If eBay is there a calculator?

Brightwells NeoNitro is a good source for Sodium Nitrate(more expensive). For potassium nitrate(cheaper route) or kno3 i would recommend something for planted tanks suck as gla potassium nitrate or stump remover from a hardware store. There are calculators that can easily be found. If you go the powdered kno3 route, I recommend using digital scales to measure your mixture.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Brightwells NeoNitro is a good source for Sodium Nitrate(more expensive). For potassium nitrate(cheaper route) or kno3 i would recommend something for planted tanks suck as gla potassium nitrate or stump remover from a hardware store. There are calculators that can easily be found. If you go the powdered kno3 route, I recommend using digital scales to measure your mixture.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Im having similar issues popping up in my qt which was set up in much the same way and has no significant nutrient load. I believe this is how it started out in my display. As you can see there is a film everywhere between every square of egg crate and causing zoas to close up.

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Ugh... Canada strikes again. Can't find kno3 due to restrictions.

Brightwell neonitro seems to be just as difficult to source locally or on Amazon. Might have to go the ebay route and wait till mid July for delivery.