Weird strand algae

[MoonBite]

Hello everyone, I have a 7 month tank with which I always had an issue keeping my nutrients at a normal level, they were always low. About 2 weeks ago I started noticing what I believe was a type of algae I have not had before. Its ridgid and it really attached itself to the rock and now it covers most of my rock work. Any idea what this could be and how to get rid of it? tank is a 50gal with 2 clowns and 2 tuxedo urchins. Here are my water parameters:

Alk: 9.1
pH: 8.3
Cal: 425-435
Mag: 1550
NO3: 1-2
PO4: 0.07

 

[Dan_P]

Hello everyone, I have a 7 month tank with which I always had an issue keeping my nutrients at a normal level, they were always low. About 2 weeks ago I started noticing what I believe was a type of algae I have not had before. Its ridgid and it really attached itself to the rock and now it covers most of my rock work. Any idea what this could be and how to get rid of it? tank is a 50gal with 2 clowns and 2 tuxedo urchins. Here are my water parameters:

Alk: 9.1
pH: 8.3
Cal: 425-435
Mag: 1550
NO3: 1-2
PO4: 0.07

Most of what seems to be algae is not in focus

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Most of what seems to be algae is not in focus

They’re long and skinny, translucent green bubbles (not a traditional bubble algae like Valonia).

 

[Dan_P]

They’re long and skinny, translucent green bubbles (not a traditional bubble algae like Valonia).

Sounds interesting!

 

[Blake509]

If fern like structure then bryopsis if not then normal green hair algae but I can't see that in photo

 

[MoonBite]

Thank you for everyone's reply I have attached a link where the image is not compressed. It seems that it has dark green tips, but does not look like a fern. Just cleaned the rock today so we will see how long it will stay like that.

 

[pbjorlin]

It’s looking like brown hair algae starting to grow, does it ever have bubbles on it? If it does then check out if it’s Dinos.

 

[MoonBite]

no bubbles. I will try to do a blackout for a couple of days and see if that will help

 

[pbjorlin]

no bubbles. I will try to do a blackout for a couple of days and see if that will help

Are you making your own water?

 

[Blake509]

Manual removal and bump up clean up crew

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

This is what you see if you zoom in on the algae in the pic (translucent, green, bubble tubes, basically):

 

[pbjorlin]

This is what you see if you zoom in on the algae in the pic (translucent, green, bubble tubes, basically):

It’s almost like noodles, I don’t think a blackout will help. Maybe try to use a toothbrush and siphon it out. And let me know what your parameters are.

 

[MoonBite]

Are you making your own water?

Yes I have an RODI machine with a TDS of 0, could old media start releasing particulates into the water causing this? because nutrients are super low

 

[MoonBite]

It’s almost like noodles, I don’t think a blackout will help. Maybe try to use a toothbrush and siphon it out. And let me know what your parameters are.

Cleaned about 90% with a toothbrush today and got most of it off. My urchins are not really interested in it and would rather eat the coraline off the walls. Parameters:

Alk: 9.1
pH: 8.3
Cal: 425-435
Mag: 1550
NO3: 1-2
PO4: 0.07

 

[pbjorlin]

Yes I have an RODI machine with a TDS of 0, could old media start releasing particulates into the water causing this? because nutrients are super low

Generally no, the hardest part about TDS is it may read 0 but sometime particulates that are microscopic still go through. It’s rare but possible. So follow up question, how many stage RODI unit? And what is the TDS going in?

 

[pbjorlin]

Cleaned about 90% with a toothbrush today and got most of it off. My urchins are not really interested in it and would rather eat the coraline off the walls. Parameters:

Alk: 9.1
pH: 8.3
Cal: 425-435
Mag: 1550
NO3: 1-2
PO4: 0.07

What I see is an imbalance with PO and NO3. Try running some chemipure blue and lower your phosphate to like .03 or less.

 

[MoonBite]

Generally no, the hardest part about TDS is it may read 0 but sometime particulates that are microscopic still go through. It’s rare but possible. So follow up question, how many stage RODI unit? And what is the TDS going in?

Its a 4 stage aquatic life unit 100gpd, and my input TDS is 105ppm

 

[pbjorlin]

Its a 4 stage aquatic life unit 100gpd, and my input TDS is 105ppm

Okay, if it’s coming out at 0 that’s great. I would recommend lowering your Phosphate and for your next water change do 30%

 

[MoonBite]

Okay, if it’s coming out at 0 that’s great. I would recommend lowering your Phosphate and for your next water change do 30%

Thank you doe the suggestions, I will buy some chemi pure blue tomorrow. Should I shorten my lighting schedule as well? I have a radion xr15 running at 90% with the LPS setting from 10am to 6pm

 

[pbjorlin]

Thank you doe the suggestions, I will buy some chemi pure blue tomorrow. Should I shorten my lighting schedule as well? I have a radion xr15 running at 90% with the LPS setting from 10am to 6pm

Can you give me the full tank shot, so I can see how stocked it is.