Brown Algae Issue

[malx]

I have a small brown algae breakout in my system that I am trying to nip in the butt before it gets worse! Here's the breakdown.

I have an SPS tank and running ZeoVit system.

I dose...
ZEObak
SongePower
ZEOstart
K-Balance Automatic Elements
B-Balance Automatic Elements
Amino acids Automatic Elements

Here's the timing.
Two weeks ago I cleaned out as much as I can by scraping off rocks with a tooth brush. It grew a lot of it back. Added two more snails. I have 5 snails total.

Also two weeks ago I adjusted the flow pattern to be more random, rotating flow between my two MP40s instead of having them both on at the same time. I heard that algae can form in areas where rocks and such get blasted.

Last week I tested my nutrients. Everything was 0. Decided to shut off my lights for 3 days. Turned them on Friday, Blues only 15%. I'm running two Kessil A360W Tuna Blue on a 36x20x20 tank.

Algae notably receded.
Tested nutrients again yesterday.
Nitrates only moved to 2.5ppm. I imagine that because some algae died and broke down into the water Column.

Also noted calcium was 560. I shut off my reactor and will be maintaining Alk with Soda Ash until my Ca drops to the 400 range.

I Fred frozen food once a day. I have 4 fish. I believe that the algae is eating nutrients before it even breaks down in the water.

I believe my Algae is Dino.

Last thing I did was order some CoralSnow from KZ. It's coming Tuesday. Haven't dosed yet.

What else can I do? Let's hear your ideas! Everything I've done has helped a little but but I still need to fight fight fight!!


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[Martin Kuhn]

We can do a first guess if you post pictures
- the coverings itself and where they are. Normal light! Not "blue only"
- a picture of the tank showing also your rock and position of the flow pumps

Best of course is a microscope to check the coverings. Which type of cure makes sense only if you know what you are dealing with !


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[bitwise]

I'm interested to see if this is similar to what I have.

 

[malx]

Here are some pics! Hoping they help!

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[Grimreaperz]

Looks kinda like Diatoms to me. And if the tank is under a year and the rocks are relatively New it could be just the phosphate leaking from the rock. It will die off after its all been leached out. If you bought dry rock and didn't cure it for a couple of months this is most likely the culprit. Even new sand can leach phosphate. And you may say well when I test there is none it's because it's being absorbed before it can enter the water column. I could be wrong but it's what it looks like.

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[malx]

Looks kinda like Diatoms to me. And if the tank is under a year and the rocks are relatively New it could be just the phosphate leaking from the rock. It will die off after its all been leached out. If you bought dry rock and didn't cure it for a couple of months this is most likely the culprit. Even new sand can leach phosphate. And you may say well when I test there is none it's because it's being absorbed before it can enter the water column. I could be wrong but it's what it looks like.

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The tank is 3 months old, the rocks are dry rock but they were cured for 2 months before starting out with an acid bath and then placed in a brute trash can with lid in the dark with heater saltwater.

My phosphates are 0, so if there is anything leaching, they are eating it up right away.


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[Grimreaperz]

Yeah it seems like the new tank uglies mine is about the same age and I'm just letting it do its thing and I have a bunch of that stuff. It could be residual phosphate left in the rock. But as of right now it's nothing to worry about yes it's ugly but it's normal part of a new tank.

Just keep an eye on it they usually come and go with time. That is if it is Diatoms. Which I think it is. Hoping a more veteran member will comment as well

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[Martin Kuhn]

+1
This does not look like a dinoflagellate infection but a slight diatom Coverings


Tanks react often like this if mixed bed resin of a reverse osmosis unit is used up.
If this is the case ..... replace the resin with new one.
Coverings should vanish by themselves



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[malx]

+1
This does not look like a dinoflagellate infection but a slight diatom Coverings


Tanks react often like this if mixed bed resin of a reverse osmosis unit is used up.
If this is the case ..... replace the resin with new one.
Coverings should vanish by themselves



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What is bed resin? My RO/DI is 6 stages and comes up 0 for chlorine/chlorimine and 0 for TDS.


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