Help get rid of some type of algae covering my sand

[seldin]

My reef tank has nice purple Coraline algae all through out.

I also have 4 inches of live sand. However, on top of the live sand, I noticed clumps of sand and algae that will cover over left over food

This layer of algae some times rises and is thick enough to bring sand to the top of the tank.

So I need to know what this is and how to get rid of it. My guess is I am over feeding my frozen food. However, my critters seem to take it away fast enough.

Thank you,

 

[MIKE NY]

really don't need to know what type it is..they all need a fuel source to grow which is probably high phosphates,silicates etc....cut down the feeding, bio-load etc.. maybe run a phosban reactor, ro/di make up and changes ... and your algae should disappear unless it's the dreaded dinos which are harder to eradicate...took me almost six months to get rid of it.

 

[seldin]

Mike,

Do you have a full name for the "dreaded dinos". I wanted to look this up.

Thank you for the tips.

 

[qy7400]

Dinoflagellates

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

 

[snguyen77]

more flow would help a lot.

 

[seldin]

Joe,

Based on the URL, it looks like I have Dinoflagellates. I have many bubbles on the bottom of my tank within the Algae.

However, I have a sensitive Nitrate test and my nitrates are 0. The article states I can raise PH to 8.6.

Do you know if this will harm coral?

Snguyen77,

I have a lot of flow (almost 40gph turnover per hour).


Thanks much,

 

[MIKE NY]

personally I don't like to mess with the PH....too quick a swing up or down will kill.... I lowered the photo period and siphoned it out every two days replacing with clean change water. I also borrowed a sea hare....it probably took longer to get rid of it this way, but it seemed to me to be a safer approach....

 

[seldin]

Mike,

Thanks for your input.

 

[MIKE NY]

your welcome.... and also very important to run extra carbon 24/7 changing it often due to the toxins released by the dinos which are harmful to inverts and snails.