Algae ID in mature tank

metro6775

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I have neglected my tank over the last couple of years. I kept the tank going for the fish.

Beginning March 18 I began the process of getting the tank back into a healthy range for corals and other inverts.

Parameters on March 18 was 75+ Nitrate, 0 Phosphate, 9 dKh alkalinity. I have successfully reduced them to 17 Nitrate and still 0 Phosphate. I've tried dosing phosphate but stopped. I have tested for it with Hanna and Salifert and both register zero. I test around 9pm, dose 4-5 ml zeophos, test 24 hours and it is zero.

I am fighting one nuisance algae that just won't go away. In blue light it is reddish brown fuzz that covers the rocks and will start growing on the bare bottom of I let it go a couple of weeks. In white light it is more brownish. I will load photos below. If I let it go it'll cover all my rocks and then start holding on to tiny bubbles. Also sporadically mixed in little tufts of white fuzz starts showing up. It is easy to remove. I think it may be some type of turf algae. What is it and how I defeat it?


Below is 15 days since I last scrubbed my rocks.

Regular blue light:

IMG_20240720_180600495~2.jpg



100% white light

IMG_20240720_180737226.jpg
 

Dan_P

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I have neglected my tank over the last couple of years. I kept the tank going for the fish.

Beginning March 18 I began the process of getting the tank back into a healthy range for corals and other inverts.

Parameters on March 18 was 75+ Nitrate, 0 Phosphate, 9 dKh alkalinity. I have successfully reduced them to 17 Nitrate and still 0 Phosphate. I've tried dosing phosphate but stopped. I have tested for it with Hanna and Salifert and both register zero. I test around 9pm, dose 4-5 ml zeophos, test 24 hours and it is zero.

I am fighting one nuisance algae that just won't go away. In blue light it is reddish brown fuzz that covers the rocks and will start growing on the bare bottom of I let it go a couple of weeks. In white light it is more brownish. I will load photos below. If I let it go it'll cover all my rocks and then start holding on to tiny bubbles. Also sporadically mixed in little tufts of white fuzz starts showing up. It is easy to remove. I think it may be some type of turf algae. What is it and how I defeat it?


Below is 15 days since I last scrubbed my rocks.

Regular blue light:

IMG_20240720_180600495~2.jpg



100% white light

IMG_20240720_180737226.jpg
Photo is not quite in focus. I cannot see distict filaments and am leaning towards this growth being dominated by Chrysophytes or cyanobacteria.
 

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