Algae Control!

[borrowedthemoon]

Hello fellow reefers,

I have an outbreak of some type of algae in my tank, and my clean up crew can’t keep up with it!

Fluval evo 13.5 with protein skimmer updated return pump hugger wavemaker intank chamber 2 w filter floss carbon and ceramic rings, 4 frags, LTA, 2 benggai cardinals, emerald crab, and 1 cerith 1 nassaris, 1 nerite. Nitrates are roughly 10, alkalinity slightly elevated (12.5-14) phosphates a little high (.1 sometimes higher!) I am trying to water change frequent to keep that level low. All other parameters are normal. Is phosphate causing this and if so how do i reduce it? And while figuring that out, how do i rid the algae right now asap?

Please please help! Thank you all.

 

[Stephen8169301]

Drop some blue claw hermits in there
What type of water do you use to mix your salt with

 

[EricR]

Just a suggestion:
Pull some out and get close-up (better focus) pictures in a small amount of water.
*if someone IDs it, there might be ideal solutions for that strain?
*kinda looks branchy/fern-like-ish to me but pics are blurry to my eye

In general, I'd vote aggressive, manual removal as often as possible as first step.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

that looks like a brand new tank, in which its normal to go through an algae cycle, your tank is just adjusting to new life and new light, its called new tank syndrome.

Don't panic, learn to control your parameters, scrub it with a toothbrush and syphon it out, increase the clean up crew. If you have no corals you can turn your lights down or limit the duration.

 

[borrowedthemoon]

Are any of these good enough resolution to identify?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

the brown one in the sand is aptaisia. Unfortunately, if its in the sand, its probably somewhere else too.

 

[borrowedthemoon]

the brown one in the sand is aptaisia. Unfortunately, if its in the sand, its probably somewhere else too.

Recommended plan of action?

 

[Stephen8169301]

Recommended plan of action?

Peppermint shrimp?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello fellow reefers,

I have an outbreak of some type of algae in my tank, and my clean up crew can’t keep up with it!

Fluval evo 13.5 with protein skimmer updated return pump hugger wavemaker intank chamber 2 w filter floss carbon and ceramic rings, 4 frags, LTA, 2 benggai cardinals, emerald crab, and 1 cerith 1 nassaris, 1 nerite. Nitrates are roughly 10, alkalinity slightly elevated (12.5-14) phosphates a little high (.1 sometimes higher!) I am trying to water change frequent to keep that level low. All other parameters are normal. Is phosphate causing this and if so how do i reduce it? And while figuring that out, how do i rid the algae right now asap?

Please please help! Thank you all.

Lift this up with a net and scrape bottom. Then reduce white light intensity and number of hours of white lighting and add some snails such as :
Astrea
cerith
turbo grazer
trochus

A Pencil urchin

8-10 Caribbean blue leg hermits

Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?
What is your phosphate level?
Is tank at or near a window?

 

[fish farmer]

That algae looks like bryopsis.

 

[borrowedthemoon]

Lift this up with a net and scrape bottom. Then reduce white light intensity and number of hours of white lighting and add some snails such as :
Astrea
cerith
turbo grazer
trochus

A Pencil urchin

8-10 Caribbean blue leg hermits

Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?
What is your phosphate level?
Is tank at or near a window?

RODI from LFS, phosphates roughly .1 im trying to get that under control researching best ways to lower it w.o killing everything. Yes it is near a window, and near my plant grow light…

 

[prodbot7]

Recommended plan of action?

Aptasia x or kalk paste injected into mouth will kill aptasia. Don’t pull at them as it can cause them to spread. Peppermint shrimp is a decent biological control but often if there’s only one they may overlook it.

 

[prodbot7]

Unsure if the algae is green hair or briopsis…. If each strand is a frond (like a fern) it is briopsis…. In that case id recommend mannual removal unless it gets out of control, then use reef flux (flucanazole)… same goes with green hair Fluconazole will work, however, your tank is new and it is natural to cycle through this stage. I would only treat if the algae is activating coral.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Wierd to see aiptasia in new aquarium but all above is best help possible

 

[vetteguy53081]

RODI from LFS, phosphates roughly .1 im trying to get that under control researching best ways to lower it w.o killing everything. Yes it is near a window, and near my plant grow light…

I suspected window why I asked and likely the culprit of your algae. Grab a sheet of black construction paper from walmart stationery section and place on side of tank that faces the window and you will see a drastic reduction. The power of UV is strong and will penetrate shades-blinds-curtains

 

[vetteguy53081]

Are any of these good enough resolution to identify?

Are any of these good enough resolution to identify?

This is Derbesia often confused with Bryopsis. This requires manual removal and is one of the more challenging of algae due to need of its complete removal. Removal is best accomplished by taking the rock out of tank and placing in a container of tank water. Then you will want to pull as much as you can by hand and discard. With a dental pick or small crochet needle, pull the roots off the rock. YOU MUST GET EVERY ROOT OR IT WILL SIMPLY RETURN !!
After you are done return rock to tank and reduce white light intensity and even hours of white light and add the following cleaners which will help with control. These guys Below will consume it but not as fast as this can can grow - They will never keep up.
Pin cushion urchin, Chiton snails, pitho crabs, and larger astrea snails

This procedure is not as bad or time consuming as it seems. Assure phosphate levels do not become elevated which helps feed this algae

 

[MariahP]

I had a single aptasia make it’s way into my tank on a rock. I got a peppermint shrimp and it was gone the next morning. My lil shrimp is still in there and very entertaining to watch!

 

[borrowedthemoon]

Thank you everyone for your replies. This is overwhelming.. I will try all of your ideas, and post updates as I have them.

 

[littlefoxx]

Hello fellow reefers,

I have an outbreak of some type of algae in my tank, and my clean up crew can’t keep up with it!

Fluval evo 13.5 with protein skimmer updated return pump hugger wavemaker intank chamber 2 w filter floss carbon and ceramic rings, 4 frags, LTA, 2 benggai cardinals, emerald crab, and 1 cerith 1 nassaris, 1 nerite. Nitrates are roughly 10, alkalinity slightly elevated (12.5-14) phosphates a little high (.1 sometimes higher!) I am trying to water change frequent to keep that level low. All other parameters are normal. Is phosphate causing this and if so how do i reduce it? And while figuring that out, how do i rid the algae right now asap?

Please please help! Thank you all.

Gahhh!!! Green hair algae. My tank just had a huge outbreak and I didnt get on top of it right away… had to get a sea hare to get it down. A lawnmower blenny would love that stuff!