What? Why? Expert advice needed!

[Daniel92481]

So, I’m wondering why I’m seeing this brown, nasty looking algae. It appears to be stringy, covering some of my zoa/Paly polyps preventing them from opening all the way, maybe even “suffocating” some including my beloved GSP and palm tree polyps. (See pics). This stuff is even creating a diatom look on the substrate. It seems to get better when I vacuum, only to return the next week along with the stringy stuff. I suction out with a turkey baster, but seems to come back. What could be causing this?

Parameters are as follows...PH 8.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5, Phosphates <0.25, (API test kit) Calcium 400, dKH 8, Magnesium 1395, salinity 34PPT/1.025, Temp 78.7

I’m running a bag of carbon in the pump section of my IM Lagoon 25, as well as Phosgard in the same section. The only other media I’m using is filter floss. I have been using BRS 4 stage RO/DI since day one and the tank is now 3 months old. I have a couple other zoa frags in the tank that seem to be doing well so I can’t seem to figure this out. As far as CUC, I have approximately 10 Astrea snails, none of which have died because of this stuff, 5 hermits, and one emerald crab who is about the size of Rhode Island.

I am not running a skimmer, just diligently performing regular weekly 5 gallon water changes with Fritz RPM and have the lights on a schedule of 16hrs on, 8hrs off at 65% intensity.

I do want to add a regugium to the back to help battle the nutrients. Would this be a good idea, or help with this brown stuff?


I’m stumped here, please help!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Looks like a stringy diatom or a dino.

Not sure what your led ramp intensity is, but I’d shorten the time for a number of reasons.

Avoid coral foods and aminos etc. and carbon dosing.

Looks like a young ish tank. So not uncommon to have a unique ugly phase.

A Refugium or just chato might help yes.

Doing all the above and maybe a black out for a few days might do the trick as well.

 

[Daniel92481]

I have a Kessil 160 with the spectral controller so I can dial it in. Any ideas to how long I should set it? Maybe down to 12 hours a day or less? I appreciate your input on this.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have a Kessil 160 with the spectral controller so I can dial it in. Any ideas to how long I should set it? Maybe down to 12 hours a day or less? I appreciate your input on this.

Not sure how much you can controll the ramp on those.
I run pretty long. But it’s low intensity for the most part and the peak is only about six hours.

I’m at about 13, but the first hour and last hour blue is almost moon Light.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Try one piece of live rock. A fuge will help. How is the flow in your tank?

 

[Daniel92481]

It’s pretty much total control with 6 customizable settings. I’m going to cut it down to 12 hours and see how that works. I’m thinking I can start the intensity at 30% and only peak at 60% for 3 hours or so to see if that helps. I have a small hammer frag that has shriveled a bit along with a small bubble coral doing the same. Not sure what this is about, but the other couple of frags I have are doing great with full extension. I will definitely keep an eye on it.

 

[Daniel92481]

Try one piece of live rock. A fuge will help. How is the flow in your tank?

I have 2 spinstream nozzles hooked up for the return as well as a wave maker on setting three. Basically half power.

 

[Daniel92481]

Just an update on the tank...I cut back on my lights to a 12 hour schedule, adjusting the ramp, as well as the color and intensity...

I cut back on the coral feeding and have performed my regular water change while vacuuming the substrate.

The tank is crystal clear of the brown, stringy algae, and my corals seem to be thriving with good extension and color.

I will soon be getting my Chaetomax light to set up my refugium in the back chamber. Thanks y’all for the input. I knew I could count on R2R!

Happy reefing!