Algae Identification? (pictures)

[shawnriv]

Hi Everyone,

I've been having issues with algae for a while now and can't seem to crack the code. I am currently "carbon dosing" using Red Sea's NOPOX and am running GFO/Carbon. I feed frozen mysis and clams once per day (rinsing out the food prior to it entering my tank) and I change 15% of the water weekly. Also my SPS corals have not been thriving either; mainly my red Acroporas and lack of color. My current levels are as follows:

Calcium: 420
Alkalinity: 7.7
Magnesium: 1230
Nitrates: 0
Phosphates: 0.0

I use the Red Sea Salt (not Pro) and am running two Radion XR30 Pro Gen 3's. Please see the pictures. You can see this hair like algae that's brown in colors but is not in places with high flow; you can see it really well on one of my snails - actually all my snails are carrying it on their shells. Another picture is of my strawberry shortcake acropora. Absolutely no color. This is true for all of my red corals; they're all a dull dark brown/purple color.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/TaawWz][img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3753/33577903725_afdf42ba7c_c.jpg[/url]Untitled by Shawn Rivard, on Flickr

Untitled by Shawn Rivard, on Flickr

Untitled by Shawn Rivard, on Flickr

Thank you.

 

[bobbravo2]

Looks like green hair algae

 

[mcgyvr]

Cut back on GFO and carbon dosing..
Let those nitrate and phosphate levels creep up some and your SPS coloration should improve..

See if you can get nitrates to 1-2 and phosphates to .04-.08 or something like that.. Just a measurable amount and see how it goes..

 

[shawnriv]

Looks like green hair algae

Anything I can do to fight it off besides carbon dosing and/or GFO?

Cut back on GFO and carbon dosing..
Let those nitrate and phosphate levels creep up some and your SPS coloration should improve..

See if you can get nitrates to 1-2 and phosphates to .04-.08 or something like that.. Just a measurable amount and see how it goes..

I fear if I let nitrates and phosphates level rise, I'll have algae growth. Do you think I should supplement the tank with additives?

 

[nereefpat]

How long has the tank been running? rocks & sand look pretty white.

 

[mcgyvr]

I fear if I let nitrates and phosphates level rise, I'll have algae growth. Do you think I should supplement the tank with additives?

All tanks will have algae growth of some sort.. Having undetectable nitrates/phosphates has been show to be a problem for many..
Those nutrients are needed for growth/life to occur.

Many new people get confused by the fact that we always keep stating.. Get those nitrates/phosphates down and think that 0 is the only acceptable target.. Its not

"additives"? please define what you mean by that..

Also.. your tank is new (not sure how new yet) so time may be all thats needed here...

As I stated I think you are overdoing it with carbon dosing/GFO..
My mixed reef sits around 2-3ppm nitrate and .04 or so phosphates..
I have let those creep up just slightly from that and coloration/growth is improving..
But I have seen where nitrate levels above 10 start to make some SPS lose color/brown out.. So there is a balance.. too little or too much isn't good

 

[shawnriv]

How long has the tank been running? rocks & sand look pretty white.

The tank has been running for about six months.

All tanks will have algae growth of some sort.. Having undetectable nitrates/phosphates has been show to be a problem for many..
Those nutrients are needed for growth/life to occur.

Many new people get confused by the fact that we always keep stating.. Get those nitrates/phosphates down and think that 0 is the only acceptable target.. Its not

"additives"? please define what you mean by that..

Also.. your tank is new (not sure how new yet) so time may be all thats needed here...

As I stated I think you are overdoing it with carbon dosing/GFO..
My mixed reef sits around 2-3ppm nitrate and .04 or so phosphates..
I have let those creep up just slightly from that and coloration/growth is improving..
But I have seen where nitrate levels above 10 start to make some SPS lose color/brown out.. So there is a balance.. too little or too much isn't good

The tank has been running for about six months. The additives I am talking about are amino acids. For example, Red Sea's ABCD+, Acropower, or ZeoVit.

 

[wildman926]

You have a excess nutrient issue. The most effective and natural way to remove it, IMO&E is an algae turf scrubber. Grow the hair algae where you want to, and keep it out of the display tank.

 

[FoxFace Fish]

Its simple..... GET A FOXFACE.... but seriously just let the Nitrate levels creep up like said earlier and try to wipe it off and give it time

 

[mcgyvr]

The tank has been running for about six months. The additives I am talking about are amino acids. For example, Red Sea's ABCD+, Acropower, or ZeoVit.

Ok.. yep.. New tank.. It will more than likely go away as the tank matures more provided you keep just doing what you are doing.. Could just be a bit of phosphate bound in the rock,etc... thats leaching out.. Lots of stuff happens during the first 6 months to a year as the tank is maturing and things always get "better" in that time and not "worse" provided you just keep with the same maintenance regimen.

I still would let the nutrients rise slightly to just detectable levels and maintain that..

You can also try coral foods/aminos,etc.. if you want.. Don't expect magic though.. Corals are usually just fine with nothing at all added like that..