Algae ID?

T

tomreefer

New member
I have been battling this algae for a very long time. I am thinking its GHA but its red looks like anyway. My cleanup crew consists of 3 Turbo Snails added a week ago, 4 trochus snails, tiger tail cucumber, 4 hermit crabs not sure what they are, 4 astrea snails, about 30 dwarf ceriths, 6 florida ceriths, 6 Nerite Snails, 8 Nassarius snails that is rough estimate of my cleanup crew. My tank is a Red Sea Max E 170.

My Parameters:
Salinity 35ppt
Calcium 400
Alk 9.5
PO4 0.01
NO3 2.5ppm -- this is probably issue correct?

I will try to take pics. What is best to take pic when tank light is on white or?
 
Excessive blue light will destroy proper color rendition and often times make it difficult for your phone to focus properly..
Its best to turn the blue channels off or way down with identification pictures as proper focus and color rendition can be important..

Algae is going to be in any tank.. Don't assume that because you have measurable nutrient levels that you have some "problem".. The real problem is that people think that the presence of algae indicates a problem..
One can certainly manage algae though to ensure it doesn't become unsightly/take over everything,etc...
 
Ok thanks [MENTION=38412]mcgyvr[/MENTION] well it's out of control and I cant seem to contain it.

I will get pics later today.
 
How many tanks do you have? Or whats the deal...
You have a few posts around here stating issues with algae and one day you seemed to imply you solved it (using Phosphate Rx or Peroxide,etc..) then the next day you are posting these posts again..
 
Here is pic
 

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Yeah better pics will help..

That actually looks more like a Lyngbya "bacteria" vs an Algae from the out of focus picture I see there.. Better pics will help confirm..

Its the same thing on the back glass right? IME I have rarely if ever seen GHA grow on glass like that so thats why I lean towards Lyngbya bacteria instead..
Scroll down past the middle of this page for it..
https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide
 
Yes that looks like what I have. Sea Hare probably will get rid of it but will die after correct? What can I do to get rid of this?
 
Yes chemiclean will help...as well as all other suggestions for cyanobacteria...3 days lights out plus siphon during water changes, etc...
 
tomreefer said:
I just got new corals today.. would they be ok with 3 days lights out? I had no choice coral club and shipped today
Click to expand...

They should be fine but I'd suggest holding off on adding any more livestock until you get things under control and find the source of your cyano.
 
That sounds like a pretty good clean up crew. Has it been in the tank as long as the algae? If not, maybe give it some time to catch up. On the other hand, not a lot eats cyano. The only thing I've ever personally seen eating cyano is mollies, so you may want to try some of those.

Chemiclean can be very effective. I've had the best luck when I combine it with a very thorough manual removal, chemiclean addition, 3-4 day blackout, and large water change - in that order. Good luck!
 
I did chemiclean and didn't do anything at all looks like. Do I need to do a whole reset? I heard that Lyngbya can go everywhere plumbing etc. Peroxide dosing? I heard can happen with a low N03 and PO4 so how do I raise this? I am going crazy trying to get rid of this.
 
tomreefer said:
I did chemiclean and didn't do anything at all looks like. Do I need to do a whole reset? I heard that Lyngbya can go everywhere plumbing etc. Peroxide dosing? I heard can happen with a low N03 and PO4 so how do I raise this? I am going crazy trying to get rid of this.
Click to expand...

Whole reset... haha Heck no..

Did you siphon some out? 3 days lights out?

Its only been a few days.. Chemiclean isn't guaranteed/super fast acting.

Stop over/hyper reacting..breathe in and out.. in.. and out.. Patience is key to EVERYTHING in this hobby..

I've seen it stick around for months but it can/will clear and can be removed.. Sometimes there isn't an easy button though..
 
tomreefer said:
I just don't know what else to try.
Click to expand...

Did you siphon some/all of it out?
Try 3 days lights out to weaken it more?

Manual removal may be all it takes.. Its not a difficult annoyance to remove..
Put some elbow grease into it and ATTACK it..
 
tomreefer said:
Yes 3 days lights out; I am going to try and remove it today. Take rock out of tank and brush some peroxide on it?
Click to expand...

Personally I would try to do some light scrubbing if necessary and just siphon it out of the tank.. A scraper on the back wall is all thats needed to remove it there..
Toothbrush/siphon should take it off the rock easily..

I wouldn't go to peroxide yet as that will certainly effect the bacterial population which can cause more issues to overreact to..
 
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