battling weird algae

[ZchryOB]

Hey guys, to start off let me tell you what kind of tank i have, its a 28 gal nano cube with a hydra 26 LED a nano reef systems skimmer and two little fishes 150 reactor with 20 pounds of Marco rock and live rock in the sump part in the back i have had it for about a year.

i started it off a year ago with live rock from my LFS but then decided that i wanted a better looking aquascape so switched it with the Marco rock and have had nothing but problems i am using Seachem phosgaurd in the reactor but i don't think its working. I never had this much algae before! it only has a clownfish and two shrimp in the tank this is a picture of the algae

nitrate-10
phosphate-.25
DKH-8
Ph-8.4

 

[cloak]

It looks kind of like Dinoflagellates IMO. Check this out.

http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

 

[BleuFish]

I agree looks like dinoflagellates. Try picking up a decent size clean up crew, then after that go 3 days lights out. After the 3 days do a large water change, blow off all the algae off the rocks and take it out. Wait 3 weeks and do it again untill its gone, might have to rescape a few times to get it all out. A turkey baster would be helpful sucking it out and blowing it off the rocks. Took me I think it was 3 or 4 lights out to rid of it in my 75, make sure the tank isn't getting any direct sunlight.

 

[GilliganReef]

Your dealing with DINOS. Don’t tear your system down cause it will come back unless you figure out how to defeat it in the first place.
1. Shorten your lighting period
2. Extended out your w/c
3. Run GFO
4. Siphon every other day out as much as you can into a filter sock.
5. Do lights out 2-3 days at least once a month.

Also you can try adding beneficial bacteria into the water column.
Good Luck!

 

[GilliganReef]

Don’t go buy snails or anything that eat algae. DINO will KILL them. Its like eating poison for them.

 

[ZchryOB]

Thanks for the replies so manual removal if I take it out the rock and scrub it do you think it would help

 

[FraggledRock]

put the old rock back?

 

[ZchryOB]

I would but I gave it all to a friend lol i hope he doesn't end up with this its sounds like this algae is the kiss of death I read everybody just restarts after they get it, does that mean once a tank has it its contaminated for good?

 

[GilliganReef]

Getting rid of DINO is figuring out what feeds it. It’s not an algae but bacteria in your water. Which with lights, phos, nitrates, and extra nutrients in your w/c help feed it. If you battle it correctly people wouldn’t have to tear down their set ups. Most people who end tearing down their systems end up with having DINO again, because they didn’t solve the answer prior. I’d think giving rocks to a friend with DINO in it would spread it.

 

[BleuFish]

lol u gave your friend the dinos. Once you get rid of it, it shouldn't come back. I let mine get extremely bad for a few months. My rocks were covered in it. Haven't seen dinos since literally going to war with it (6 months ago). It's just a pita to get rid of.

 

[ZchryOB]

So the beneficial bacteria like the bacteria I used to start my tank?

 

[coralsnaked]

beat thing is to let competing algae and cyano out compete it for growth. it gets ugly but it will get rid of dinos then utilize normal means for getting rid of algae

 

[GilliganReef]

I'd use either microbacter7 or prodio biodigest w/Bioptim. Something to help the beneficial bacteria out eat the negative bacteria.

 

[ZchryOB]

Ok so im going to pick up some microbacter and am wrapping my tank in black garbage bags with light off for few days will update then. I also won't do any water change this month I was doing it once a week before but I need to replace the water getting skimmed out I assume that will be ok

 

[lazydaze73]

I think I may have Dino's too. I'm only 12 days into my cycle though but the algae seems to be making air bubbles. Check out my build pics.

 

[GilliganReef]

I think I may have Dino's too. I'm only 12 days into my cycle though but the algae seems to be making air bubbles. Check out my build pics.

Now this is what Dino looks like. Snot with air bubbles in it. Does your algae look like this? It's hard to believe you have Dino's 12 days in. I believe it prob just a diatom bloom.

 

[GilliganReef]

Funny thing is this brittle came with a LR i bought and all he had was one long arm. This pitcure is the first time he finally came out of the LR. Now he is large and in charge.

 

[bighead]

I had Dino's it was suggested to do a 5 day lites out (if your corals can handle it) then start vodka dosing it took a while but I won took a while but I was very patient just my opinion

 

[lazydaze73]

Now this is what Dino looks like. Snot with air bubbles in it. Does your algae look like this? It's hard to believe you have Dino's 12 days in. I believe it prob just a diatom bloom.

After looking at dinos pics a lot more, im pretty confident its not that. Looks more like a brown hairy powdery algae/diatoms. At least thats what i hope.

 

[GilliganReef]

After looking at dinos pics a lot more, im pretty confident its not that. Looks more like a brown hairy powdery algae/diatoms. At least thats what i hope.

I figure you have diatoms also since it so new.