What is this?

[Kailas narendran]

I've got this Algae growing all over my aquarium.

160 Display / 40 Fuge
~10 medium fish. 1 clam, 5 small corals
- was feeding once per day, changed to once every other day a week ago
- 0 nitrate and 0 phosphates. also run ROX and GFO reactor (but media are due for change)
- only RODI water

I think it's brown slime agae (dinoflagellates) but not sure. I've been trying to remove by hand, but it's really difficult since it's coated the rocks.

Suggestions as to identification and treatment?

 

[Mr.Asbury]

I had slime like that on my back glass & on my rocks. I started taking a toothbrush to the rocks during water changes, and it slowly went away. I also increased my flow slightly and started dosing some phyto that I'm growing every 3 days. I noticed the most change after the phyto, but I'm not sure if it's just a coincidence.

 

[Kailas narendran]

did you determine what it is? i was hoping for a solution other than water changes as there's a ton of water volume there!

 

[saintsreturn]

I cannot help with what it is, but one option you have if you do not want to do water changes is this... I have done it several times over the year:

Take a heavy micron filter sock and put it in you sump. Take a clear hose and put it in the filter sock. suck the algae up and keep the water by running it through the sock. Watch for overfilling and keep the return pump on. once "done," kick up the flow.

 

[sfin52]

th

I cannot help with what it is, but one option you have if you do not want to do water changes is this... I have done it several times over the year:

Take a heavy micron filter sock and put it in you sump. Take a clear hose and put it in the filter sock. suck the algae up and keep the water by running it through the sock. Watch for overfilling and keep the return pump on. once "done," kick up the flow.

Thats a great idea. I did it into a five gallon bucket and dumped the water back in. Thats one of the ways I treated my dino problem. I dont see a reason it won't work with this

 

[Mr.Asbury]

did you determine what it is? i was hoping for a solution other than water changes as there's a ton of water volume there!

I did not. I just associated it with my "ugly" stage of the tank cycling, and didn't panic since doing that showed improvement. I did not do water changes solely to eliminate this issue, and instead added the toothbrush clean to the usual WC routine. Saintsreturn's method sounds like it accomplishes the same goal without needing to use additional water, it may be worth a try!

 

[saintsreturn]

th

Thats a great idea. I did it into a five gallon bucket and dumped the water back in. Thats one of the ways I treated my dino problem. I dont see a reason it won't work with this

Did it over a dozen times and works great. the cons are pretty clear up front, but i learned them the hard way lol... 1) Keep an eye on the sock so the hose doesnt slip or the sock doesnt clog. 2) make sure the return pump will handle the extra flow into the sump 3) Watch out for nipping fish

 

[Kailas narendran]

Nice! thanks for the suggestions! will give the tank vac a shot! probably some incremental water changes as well. will update how it goes