Algae Problem

[kamikaze483]

I am new- got my RSM 650 back in May. I have an algae problem and I'd like to see if anyone can help me positively id the algae so that I can properly treat it. My air was out for two weeks- tank got hot- did everything I could to keep it cool, including ice cubes in the sump. This was a nightmare- tank was gross. I think I ended up with diatoms and algae because the nasty brown slime on the sand ended up going away, but I am left with this algae.

LFS was out and suggested it was dinos. I'm not so sure- and frankly neither were they. We blacked out for three days then scrubbed the rocks as best we could but there is still algae.

By the way, I have fish and live rocks, two anemones and a cup coral.

See pics as attachments. Suggestions appreciated.

 

[DePinchGonze]

doesnt look like it has fern like growth, so I'm thinking GHA, would need a microscope to further identify. What are your nitrates and phosphate levels?

 

[kamikaze483]

doesnt look like it has fern like growth, so I'm thinking GHA, would need a microscope to further identify. What are your nitrates and phosphate levels?

Nitrates Zero with my test and confirmed by LFS. Phosphates have always been zero- but then- I see algae.

 

[fishgate]

Set up an ATS. Algae will be gone within a month and won't come back.

 

[cincyjim]

Really can't say with those pics. Maybe you can provide a closer pic. What type of CUC do you have?

 

[ReefEco]

Looks to be hair algae - not dinos. Zero nitrate and phosphates can be deceiving, as the algae can just be uptaking the nutrients so the tests read zero. If you blacked out the tank with this kind of algae (as opposed to dinos), what may have happened is, well, nothing, or some may have died off, and when they did, just put those nutrients back into the water. Lights then were turned on again the cycle begins at square one.

Stabilize the tank, make sure you are using RO/DI water, a good skimmer - run some GFO if you haven't already. The algae will keep coming back as long as it has the nutrients to grow. Manual removal is good, but without getting the nutrients down in other ways, it is a losing battle.