What algae?

[SpencerT82]

Does anyone have an explanation on why this algae keeps coming back my phosphates are 0.02 and nitrates are 1.6? I have my Fuge and fleece roller tubing no skimmer right now. My tank is 1 year old.

 

[blaxsun]

If it's diatoms (can't tell with all the blue), that's fairly common. You need some cleaning crew to turn over your substrate.

 

[theMeat]

Silicate can be a food source for diatoms. Not to say that’s your cause, just saying. Would also get your nitrates up closer to 10-20. Again, not that it’s your cause.
Would vacuum about 1/4 of the sand bed per week or so. At a minimum mix up about a 1/4 a week. Some sand sifters will help too

 

[SpencerT82]

If it's diatoms (can't tell with all the blue), that's fairly common. You need some cleaning crew to turn over your substrate.

Do you want a picture with an orange filter or white lights? Would either be helpful

 

[SpencerT82]

Do you want a picture with an orange filter or white lights? Would either be helpful

Also this problem came up probably a month ago I would say and I kind of just left alone besides my weekly water changes and dosed 10 ml of vibrant. I would just like to not use chemicals as well as want to find the root of the problem to stop it from coming back.

 

[SpencerT82]

If it's diatoms (can't tell with all the blue), that's fairly common. You need some cleaning crew to turn over your substrate.

First pics are blue with filter others are whites only no filter

 

[theMeat]

It looks like diatoms to me too. If it shrinks up at night with light off, it’s diatoms.
Usually they in new tanks after cycle is the most reliable time for them to show up but anyone with an aquarium has likely seen them pop up from time to time. You don’t have an outbreak by any means. Would check your source water , and mix up sandbed.

 

[SpencerT82]

It looks like diatoms to me too. If it shrinks up at night with light off, it’s diatoms.
Usually they in new tanks after cycle is the most reliable time for them to show up but anyone with an aquarium has likely seen them pop up from time to time. You don’t have an outbreak by any means. Would check your source water , and mix up sandbed.

I have a 4 stage brs 100 gpd rodi filter with 0 tds readings

 

[blaxsun]

Also this problem came up probably a month ago I would say and I kind of just left alone besides my weekly water changes and dosed 10 ml of vibrant. I would just like to not use chemicals as well as want to find the root of the problem to stop it from coming back.

I stopped dosing Vibrant for... reasons (*), and everything seems much healthier as a result. As @theMeat and I mentioned, a good sand-sifting cleaning crew will work wonders: Cerith and nassarius snails and a few conches.

 

[SpencerT82]

I stopped dosing Vibrant for... reasons (*), and everything seems much healthier as a result. As @theMeat and I mentioned, a good sand-sifting cleaning crew will work wonders: Cerith and nassarius snails and a few conches.

Yea I saw some negative results on my coral one algae while dosing vibrant which is why I stoped. Unfortunately I did have a diamond goby but I went on vacation for a week and he didn’t survive. Also unfortunately my legs never sell nasarius snails only turbos and astreia snails and trocus and no conches but eventually when I go to tsa every month or so I will get some.

 

[blaxsun]

Yea I saw some negative results on my coral one algae while dosing vibrant which is why I stoped. Unfortunately I did have a diamond goby but I went on vacation for a week and he didn’t survive. Also unfortunately my legs never sell nasarius snails only turbos and astreia snails and trocus and no conches but eventually when I go to tsa every month or so I will get some.

Nassarius are great as they bury during the day and come out at night to forage - but they're great for moving sand around. Spiny astrea will mainly stick to the rocks and conches will make a point of cleaning the top surface of your sand.