What is this algae?

mrcoffee2 · Feb 11, 2014

It is hard to scrape off and comes back after a few days.

There has to be an easier way to deal with it other than scraping it every 3 days.

TJ's Reef · Feb 11, 2014

To me it looks like a nutrient problem, not necessarily being over fed but a lack of Live Rock /biological filtration to deal with it. Increased WC's, additional LR or mechanical filter media will help immensely.

Cheers, Todd

Reefing Madness · Feb 11, 2014

If its hard to scrape off, its called GDA or Green Dust Algae.

mike007 · Feb 11, 2014

Most all these nuisance algaes are caused by excess nutrients . Have you tested for nitrates and phosphates? Are you using rodi water?

mrcoffee2 · Feb 11, 2014

mike007 said:
Most all these nuisance algaes are caused by excess nutrients . Have you tested for nitrates and phosphates? Are you using rodi water?

Yeah I am using RODI water. My nitrates are between 5-10PPM. I will check phosphates soon

NanaReefer · Feb 11, 2014

Is it on just that one side?

mrcoffee2 · Feb 12, 2014

Its on both sides of the tank and a little bit on the front.

Reefing Madness · Feb 12, 2014

Its more of a phosphate issue and not of the Nitrate form.

NanaReefer · Feb 12, 2014

Do you have windows near this tank?

mrcoffee2 · Feb 12, 2014

I do have two windows near the tank, however they are covered by blackout curtains. Some of the light gets threw the curtains but does not directly hit the tank.

Reefing Madness · Feb 12, 2014

Thats not it. I have direct sun on my tank in the mornings and dont have any algae. Gotta get your phosphates in line.

mrcoffee2 · Feb 12, 2014

Hey RM

Any tips on how to lower my phosphates in an 8G?

Reefing Madness · Feb 12, 2014

I use SeaKlear. If you used that, you'd probably only use 1-2mls and it would drop them to 0

mrcoffee2 · Feb 12, 2014

What kind of seaklear do you use? Can you share a link?

Reefing Madness · Feb 12, 2014

Seaklear Phosphate Remover CR 1 Quart | eBay

$T2eC16dHJIQE9qUHuFd1BRhCiMWFk%21%7E%7E60_57.JPG

Mike J. · Feb 12, 2014

Reefing Madness said:
Thats not it. I have direct sun on my tank in the mornings and dont have any algae. Gotta get your phosphates in line.

Natural sunlight being bad for a tank is one of the myths that needs to be done away with in this hobby.

Reefing Madness · Feb 12, 2014

Mike J. said:
Natural sunlight being bad for a tank is one of the myths that needs to be done away with in this hobby.

mrcoffee2 · Feb 13, 2014

Do you think I am feeding too much? I feed Mysis every day at the moment. I spot feed everything in my tank so I know its not floating around.

I was reading an article that said I should only feed twice a week in an 8 Gallon tank

Mike J. · Feb 13, 2014

Feed as much as your fish will eat in 2 - 3 minutes, making sure everything gets eaten. Like you are doing - spot feeding. It is a standard reply in the hobby, "You need to feed less." That's another "bad advise" I'd like the hobby to address. Every time I read one of those posts I think, poor fish are being starved to death.

My tanks get fed two times, sometimes three times, a day.

I should also address your issue of excess algae. You do need to address your nutrient export problem as evidenced by the quick growth on algae on your glass. Stepped water changes, dosing with vinegar or vodka, kalkwasser, bio pellets, stepped up skimming, or GFO to lower your phosphates.