Help! SPS BLEACHED? ALGAE INVASION?

[Johnacharles93]

Hello everyone,

Over the past couple weeks I've been having a lot of trouble with my fish tank. A lot of algae started to grow on all the rocks, sand, and on the side of the glass. I test for nitrate and phosphate but it shows up as 0. My alkalinity is on average 11dKH, and my calcium is around 425.

I have 3 SPS. One of my favorite pieces looks like its dying or bleaching. Can anyone confirm that it's dead or alive. Could it still be able to come back?

I'll attach some pictures but I really need the help. I appreciate it thank you in advance.

 

[bigbpro916]

what is your mag at?

 

[brett7768]

what are you using to test n03 and po4? that algae needs nutrients to grow. i doubt your levels are at 0. whats your photo period?

 

[Johnacharles93]

Sunrise is at 6 30 and sets at 530. Just reduced intensity from 90 to 50 percent. I haven't tested for Mag. The fish store tested it I'm not sure what brand.

 

[trueblackpercula]

LEDs are strong I learn the hard way as well.

 

[-=DieselDave=-]

The algea is using the nutrients as they are produced. Lower your Alk to 7-8 until you get the algea under control, that may help save the sps corals.

 

[trueblackpercula]

The algea is using the nutrients as they are produced. Lower your Alk to 7-8 until you get the algea under control, that may help save the sps corals.

Can you please explain this some more why lower Alk will kill or stop algae ?
Thanks

 

[Johnacharles93]

Yeah iv heard higher pH but never lower alk. I built a refugium and will be installing it tomorrow. Will this help any

 

[Ptyochromis]

Looks a bit like poor photo-acclimation, raise your lights.

Raising your water level could help with the light stress. What is your salinity at?

As long as the coral isn't in contact with the algae you should be fine.

What's in that HOB filter? IF it has filter media in it, you need to clean it out 2x a week. Clean all mechanical filtration at least 2x a week.

But yes, it looks saveable.

Edit: how old is your tank? Having zero nitrates and phosphates is literally not possible. Re-test and follow the directions to the T, don't skimp on shaking the bottles. Also post all the parameters you can test for.

 

[trueblackpercula]

I am sorry but I disagree. I have been fighting zero nitrates and very very low phosphates 0.01 and I have algea build up on my sand bed.

I use two different test kits one being lamotte

 

[ssscuz]

What is your water change regime?
Looks like you have a nutrient issue, your test kits may not show but you must have phosphates to grow algae like that.
When you say "average 11dkh" how much does it fluctuate? An all swing will kill off sps fast and looks like that branching pocci is suffering from rtn.
If it was your lights you would have a bleached top, I don't think it's possible with your lighting to do that.
Do you have a lot of random flow for the sps?

 

[Johnacharles93]

I use salfarite tests. Phosphate and Nitrate show up as 0. Two LFS have tested for it and get b the same results.

Alkalinity is between 9 and 11. Working on setting up a 2 part Doser to keep it steady.

I have a lot of flow.

I change 10℅ of vwater biweekly.

Only have phosphate absorber and cheato in the HOB filter.

 

[Jcreefer1]

What is your water change regime?
Looks like you have a nutrient issue, your test kits may not show but you must have phosphates to grow algae like that.
When you say "average 11dkh" how much does it fluctuate? An all swing will kill off sps fast and looks like that branching pocci is suffering from rtn.
If it was your lights you would have a bleached top, I don't think it's possible with your lighting to do that.
Do you have a lot of random flow for the sps?

I would agree with the above ......

 

[Ptyochromis]

I am sorry but I disagree. I have been fighting zero nitrates and very very low phosphates 0.01 and I have algea build up on my sand bed.

I use two different test kits one being lamotte

Your test kits just aren't sensitive enough for it to show on a test. Get a test that will give you a result in ppt. Don't forget that nitrogen is the largest constituent of Earth's atmosphere, something like 70%.

 

[cumbeje]

Are you using GFO?

 

[trueblackpercula]

Your test kits just aren't sensitive enough for it to show on a test. Get a test that will give you a result in ppt. Don't forget that nitrogen is the largest constituent of Earth's atmosphere, something like 70%.

I don't see the need to test that low and again why should I be testing at that level again?

 

[jlafou1]

Could be bleached from strong lighting

 

[Johnacharles93]

No I'm not using any kind of reactor

 

[Dapg8gt]

I'm gonna take a shot and guess the above comment about lowering the alk to do with the bleaching vs the algae. At least that's what I've noticed and read.

If the alk is high 10+ and nutrients are low people including myself have noticed corals bleach easier and are all around more sensitive.

I had great results lowering my alk to 8 - 8.5 and letting the nitrates and phosphate creep up from the notorious 0 it was said to run your parameters at these last year's. I personally have better colors with nitrate of 7-2 and p04 of. 08 to. 03. ( I know there is a margin of error on most if not all hobby test kits so 0 may be 0 or it might not =).

I had my gut feeling come true when I tried to up my gfo and what do you know my Myagi tort decided to bleach on me over the course of a week or two.. Could very well be a coincidence but I changed nothing else in the tank other than too much gfo. So a too low concentration is imo no Bueno.

As for the explosion of algae I can only guess it's a husbandry issue and maybe cleaning the rocks with a power head or baster with every water change will start to knock it out along with keeping the parameters low but not 0.

I also feel the bleaching is due to the light the op stated he went from 90 to 50. Just throwing corals under 90‰ power of any decent fixture without the proper acclimation will lead to the pretty much death or a long road to recovery imo ..