Can’t get rid of this algae!

maiseyr2000

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Hello, my tank has been running for just under a year and for the last few months the tank has been covered in diatoms and now the algae looks like the photo i’ve uploaded. My local shop suggested i place a silicate remover into the sump which i did and that seemed to get rid of the diatoms but now the algae looks like this instead. Please could somebody help with which type of algae it is and how I could try to get rid of it?

74706055539__7ED3C773-056F-4477-9929-D8FEDA4A08DD.jpeg
 

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Hello, my tank has been running for just under a year and for the last few months the tank has been covered in diatoms and now the algae looks like the photo i’ve uploaded. My local shop suggested i place a silicate remover into the sump which i did and that seemed to get rid of the diatoms but now the algae looks like this instead. Please could somebody help with which type of algae it is and how I could try to get rid of it?

74706055539__7ED3C773-056F-4477-9929-D8FEDA4A08DD.jpeg
@maiseyr2000

Do you use a gravel vac when you do water changes?

Many advanced reefers dose silicates to control nutrients. If your CUC is mature, they would eat diatoms thereby reclying inorganic nutrients into organic biomass of your CUC.


“Diatoms are a type of planktoncalled phytoplankton, the most common of the plankton types. Diatoms also grow attached to benthic substrates, floating debris, and on macrophytes“.
 
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maiseyr2000

maiseyr2000

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@maiseyr2000

Do you use a gravel vac when you do water changes?

Many advanced reefers dose silicates to control nutrients. If your CUC is mature, they would eat diatoms thereby reclying inorganic nutrients into organic biomass of your CUC.


“Diatoms are a type of planktoncalled phytoplankton, the most common of the plankton types. Diatoms also grow attached to benthic substrates, floating debris, and on macrophytes“.
Hello, thanks for replying

Parameters are:

0ppm phosphate
0-5ppm nitrate
0ppm nitrite
PH 7.8

I have tried the vac it out but it just breaks it up rather than sucks it up, probably need a better one.

I have two snails, a cleaner shrimp and a chalk goby.
 

Subsea

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So, your inorganic nutrients are on the low side.

With low phosphate & low nitrogen, nuisance algae will proliferate at the expense of desirable algae: coralline & zooanthelia

What is your fish load? What corals are in this tank.?

I suggest you feed more and get more janitors. And you are the biggest janitor. When I must do a serious gravel vac, I use hose only and I remove a lot of gravel with the nuisance algae.

Note: When my nitrates get below 5ppm, I dose NH4.


Green Hair Algae

hair algae 300x225
hairalgae2 300x181


Green Hair Algae or "GHA" is really a broad term that covers hundreds of species of green simple filamentous algae. These species tend to be simple, fine in texture, and have few distinguishable features. True species level identification requires a microscope.

Distinguishing it from look-a-likes: GHA is not coarse or wiry, it should break apart easily when pulled, and should lose form quickly when removed from water. If you can make out a root structure, or a stiff branching structure it is probably not GHA.
 
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maiseyr2000

maiseyr2000

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So, your inorganic nutrients are on the low side.

With low phosphate & low nitrogen, nuisance algae will proliferate at the expense of desirable algae: coralline & zooanthelia

What is your fish load? What corals are in this tank.?

I suggest you feed more and get more janitors. And you are the biggest janitor. When I must do a serious gravel vac, I use hose only and I remove a lot of gravel with the nuisance algae.

Note: When my nitrates get below 5ppm, I dose NH4.


Green Hair Algae

hair algae 300x225
hairalgae2 300x181


Green Hair Algae or "GHA" is really a broad term that covers hundreds of species of green simple filamentous algae. These species tend to be simple, fine in texture, and have few distinguishable features. True species level identification requires a microscope.

Distinguishing it from look-a-likes: GHA is not coarse or wiry, it should break apart easily when pulled, and should lose form quickly when removed from water. If you can make out a root structure, or a stiff branching structure it is probably not GHA.
I have 2 clown fish, a mimic file fish and the goby. Only have 2 small zoa frags and a pink gorgonian. I have done that previously and nearly half of my sand is gone now so a bit worried if i keep doing that it wont be long until my sand is gone i have a phosphate remover in the sump, should I remove this? I’ll purchase that and see what happens i
 

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Hello, thanks for replying

Parameters are:

0ppm phosphate
0-5ppm nitrate
0ppm nitrite
PH 7.8

I have tried the vac it out but it just breaks it up rather than sucks it up, probably need a better one.

I have two snails, a cleaner shrimp and a chalk goby.
I would add more clean up crew, some kroe snails, and hermits might help
 
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maiseyr2000

maiseyr2000

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Zero ortho phosphate (inorganic) is not good. Discontinue use of phosphate removal resin.

Feed your reef and increase your CUC.

How deep is your substrate?
Hello, I've taken out the phosphate remover. It's not very deep, only around 1/2 inches. Forgot to mention i also have a hermit crab, so I have that, with 2 snails, cleaner shrimp and goby. My tank is only 120L. What other cuc would be best? Thank you!
 
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Subsea

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2 snails is not enough. Get 20.

Discontinue use of phosphate removal resin as well as silica removal resin. Do you have a sump or a refugium that you could add amphipods & copepods as part of your clean up crew.
 
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maiseyr2000

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2 snails is not enough. Get 20.

Discontinue use of phosphate removal resin as well as silica removal resin. Do you have a sump or a refugium that you could add amphipods & copepods as part of your clean up crew.
I have done, thank you. I have a sump so could definitely add them. Would adding live rock be any help? Dont currently have any in my tank
 

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I have done, thank you. I have a sump so could definitely add them. Would adding live rock be any help? Dont currently have any in my tank
Live rock would help immensely. Also consider adding some live rock to unlite sump to make a cryptic refugium. Add your pods there where there are no predators
 
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maiseyr2000

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Live rock would help immensely. Also consider adding some live rock to unlite sump to make a cryptic refugium. Add your pods there where there are no predators
I’ve been reading more threads and i’m worried about it maybe being dino’s? I’ve attached some photos under white and blue light as i’m not sure
 

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Subsea

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I can’t tell which algae it is, either.

Get some herbivores and let them eat it.
Clean Up Crew: Emerald Crabs, Sea Hares, some Turbos, Chitons, Limpets, Tangs, and Urchins.
 

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I have done, thank you. I have a sump so could definitely add them. Would adding live rock be any help? Dont currently have any in my tank
Diver collected live rock would help immensely because it brings in both competitors & consumers of algae. Here is a list of hitchhikers on


Uncured diver collected live rock also brings in micro fauna & fana that establish different nutrient pathways to feed the higher life forms like amphipods & copepods that feed your corals & fish.

However, before doing a reset, I suggest you do a RIP clean of all your substrate. Drain water from your tank into a tub/barrel. I usually catch fish and janitors when there is 2” of water and put them in a 5G bucket with an air pump. After draining all water, then remove all sand in a 5G bucket and flush with fresh water until clean. Don’t worry about reestablishing microbes. They are on all the surfaces still in the display and in the sump, as well as in the water you drained to the sump & the tub.
 
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maiseyr2000

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When you siphon the sand bed, rinse out the sand that gets sucked up and add it back in. This is the most efficient method to removed uglies from the sand.
I’ve been trying to get rid of the algae with a toothbrush but its like it grows back overnight. Im still not sure if it is hair algae or if it could be dinos? I’ve added two turbo snails but they haven’t really moved much over the last 5/6 days so im still having to manually removed it
 

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