Algae or bacteria problem
- Thread starter jonnyu
- Start date
What kind of skimmer and what size tank? This is one of those 'new tank' type problems, and careful water maintenance plus efficient skimming is your best course right now. I've seen this stuff happen in a very well set up but NEW set up tank, and it just went away with time.
jonnyu
New member
I'm not running my skimmer as I was trying to build nitrates and phosphate as nitrate 1 and phosphate 0.00 with Hanna. I will turn on my skimmer if you think it will help clear it up. It's a 330 with a vertex alpha 200 skimmer.
Tank is about 3-4 weeks running
I am middle of building bar
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jonnyu
New member
makers marc
New member
Id like to keep this discussion going. Hopefully Sk8r and others can chime in..
My 180g upgrade is going on 2 months wet. Quick background: Used dry pukani and dry reef grade sand to start fresh.
In addition, I soaked my pukani in Lanthamum Chloride for a month (so no phosphates) and have been running 1 cup of BRS HC GFO and 1 cup of GAC since day 1. Skimmer is on 24/7 and collects a half a cup of skimmate each wk. No other dosing.
I feed relatively heavily 3x a day for my 10 small fish right now.
A month ago, the expected diatom bloom occurred. Weeks later, the diatoms converted to green algae that can be blown easily off the rocks. Now, the rocks are covered in a similar white, stringy bacteria that looks like clumps of dust.
The rest of the tank looks too clean and I only need to clean the glass weekly. Even what grows on the glass is clear/white.
So I just turned off my GFO reactor for now, as Im concluding my phosphate:nitrate ratio is unbalanced?
Any thoughts ? Just let it mature more? Is this bc po4 limited bacteria?
My 180g upgrade is going on 2 months wet. Quick background: Used dry pukani and dry reef grade sand to start fresh.
In addition, I soaked my pukani in Lanthamum Chloride for a month (so no phosphates) and have been running 1 cup of BRS HC GFO and 1 cup of GAC since day 1. Skimmer is on 24/7 and collects a half a cup of skimmate each wk. No other dosing.
I feed relatively heavily 3x a day for my 10 small fish right now.
A month ago, the expected diatom bloom occurred. Weeks later, the diatoms converted to green algae that can be blown easily off the rocks. Now, the rocks are covered in a similar white, stringy bacteria that looks like clumps of dust.
The rest of the tank looks too clean and I only need to clean the glass weekly. Even what grows on the glass is clear/white.
So I just turned off my GFO reactor for now, as Im concluding my phosphate:nitrate ratio is unbalanced?
Any thoughts ? Just let it mature more? Is this bc po4 limited bacteria?
I think you should get the biggest UV sterilizer and run it 24/7. I can’t tell you the name of your algae, but it is spreading thru the water column. Have you used a turkey blaster. Is it slimy to the touch. There are many differrent color cynobacteria.
This is a good link on nuisance algae, but does not identify what you have.
https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_algae
Very nice finished carpentry worrk. Your tank will standout with the way you designed your room
This is a good link on nuisance algae, but does not identify what you have.
https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_algae
Very nice finished carpentry worrk. Your tank will standout with the way you designed your room
jonnyu
New member
It really looks like this. I was told ROWA is best plan of action. I'm going to order some and see if it helps.
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MrNurse
Jedi Master
Good luck! If that doesn’t do it, I would seriously consider marine algaefix since I’ve seen it work as well.
jonnyu
New member
Well RO unit was taken down for 3 months so felt safer putting all new membranes and filters
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So what does the TDS meter say today?
Tanks started with dry rock and sand are prone to issues with odd bacterial blooms. That looked like algae, based on the hair look to it, but I strongly recommend you buy some varieties of bottled bacteria and dose them for a while. Or get some good live rock or sand to help seed the diversity.
Really cool scape by the way.
Really cool scape by the way.
makers marc
New member
I have a similar bloom as OP. Started at the 2 month mark after diatoms disappeared.
Also started with dry pukani and sand, the former was soaked in LC for a month so its not a phosphate issue. Seeded with one bottle of Seachem stability bacteria.
Seems this type of bacteria bloom happens more nowadays based on forum observation. Its reducing as im scrubbing the pukani and changing filter socks.. i even pulled the GFO offline the last.2 weeks in case its related to a nitrate phosphate imbalance?
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