Dusting of algae

[Poomba]

So I awoke yesterday morning to all of my polyps being half closed with a light dusting of brown film algae on them. I havent changed anything with the tank, other than starting to run some gfo and carbon on it. I grabbed a squirt bottle and blew it off all the polyps cleaning them off. I took two of the worst off ones, and used a q tip covered with hydrogen peroxide and swabbed them down. This morning its all back!

The tank is a 75 gallon with ATI 6X54w and two MP40w/ES so flow isnt an issue. Its really irritating as after Christmas Break I have to leave for some military schooling. Anyone have any ideas of what I can do?

Salinity is 1.026
Temp 78.3
Nitrates are 15
Phosphates .2 (why I am running GFO)

Im assuming that water quality is ok, as I have a bunch of fan worms all over the place, and they are doing fine.

History note: I used a new water container about a month ago, which introduced something to the tank that killed an angelfish and closed up the zoas, but I ran fresh carbon and it cleared it up.

 

[A. Grandis]

Try to remove the GFO.

Grandis.

 

[Tahoe69]

this happened to me before i just kept blowing off the algae. Eventually the polyps opened back up and ive never seen it on them since

 

[Poomba]

what would the gfo be doing?

 

[A. Grandis]

GFO should be used only in the last case.
The problem with algae is normally related to exessive nutrients in the water.
If you use GFO and can't find out what's going on, you are just covering your on going problem.
Nutrients that causes algae problems are normally nitrates, phosphates and silicates.
A combination of 2 or more of those could be the case.

You need to find out what's causing the problem.
If phosphates are the only problem you'll never know what's causing it because you'll be masking the problem with the removal of (GFO) it and introduction of it too (water/ food)!!!
The nutrients get in the system through food and water.
Fresh water (replacing evaporated/ syntetic) or even natural ocean water could do that.

People think GFO could be used all the time, but it isn't really necessary.

We all know that... just to remind you...

Besides, I've seen some negative reports about GFO in the past, like bleaching the corals...

Grandis.