Long, red strands only on red macro algae

[testuser]

Anytime my phosphates and nitrates get too low (every few days), I get long, red strands on my dragon's breath macro algae. What are these things strands? After dosing nitrates and phosphates, they go away again and the cycle repeats. Any ideas? More curiosity than anything. It may be difficult to see, but it's on the upper right side of the picture.

 

[jsker]

I would need a close up pictures to help

 

[testuser]

I would need a close up pictures to help

Sure, let me know if this helps. It just came back again.

 

[jsker]

Looks like Cyano. Nitrate come from fish waste, and Phosphate usually come from food. I would suggest feed more until you have steady nitrates of phosphates in the system.

May I ask the type of lighting you have. If Led's I would suggest adjusting your spectrum.

 

[testuser]

Looks like Cyano. Nitrate come from fish waste, and Phosphate usually come from food. I would suggest feed more until you have steady nitrates of phosphates in the system.

May I ask the type of lighting you have. If Led's I would suggest adjusting your spectrum.

Yeah, it normally seems to happen when I don't dose enough of nitrates and phosphates. I've never had any luck with feeding corals having any impact on those numbers. Thanks for confirming!

For the light, I have a NICREW 30w currently set both white and actinic lighting to 50%. What are your thoughts or suggestions on lighting? I don't think that my zoas like it lower than that, but do you think that a balance between white and actinic lighting is best for growth? As far as duration, I run them from 8am to 7pm.

 

[jsker]

I find with the LED's that I am running, to run less white, red, and green spectrum to lessen the canyo. I also run carbon dosing of vodka to keep the canyo in check.

 

[testuser]

I find with the LED's that I am running, to run less white, red, and green spectrum to lessen the canyo. I also run carbon dosing of vodka to keep the canyo in check.

It's interesting, I lowered the white light and kept the blue light the same, and my hammer became extremely puffy and plump, which I take to be a good thing. Thanks for that tip!

Separately, I have these little round work things (I forgot the name) multiplying like nobody's business. It's especially bad back by the filter. The rest of the tank has them sparingly on the glass, but all over the rock. Any idea how to get rid of them, or are they no big deal?

 

[jsker]

It's interesting, I lowered the white light and kept the blue light the same, and my hammer became extremely puffy and plump, which I take to be a good thing. Thanks for that tip!

You are welcome.

Separately, I have these little round work things (I forgot the name) multiplying like nobody's business. It's especially bad back by the filter. The rest of the tank has them sparingly on the glass, but all over the rock. Any idea how to get rid of them, or are they no big deal?

Colonist Snails

 

[testuser]

You are welcome.


Colonist Snails

So judging by that thread, it sounds like that they are technically not an issue (dangerous to the reef) but can be considered a nuisance, but otherwise no big deal. Do you know if ways to remove them safely, or is it just scraping them off and waiting for them to die out?

 

[EricR]

When you said "little round worm things", I assumed spirorbid (which aren't harmful unless they start clogging up equipment) but can't see the pictures very clearly.

 

[testuser]

When you said "little round worm things", I assumed spirorbid (which aren't harmful unless they start clogging up equipment) but can't see the pictures very clearly.

Yeah, they look like what you described. I'll keep an eye on cleaning those up near moving components, thanks!