Help with algae epidemic

[jerkyjunky]

Pic of algae issue...

Tank is 120g with 70g sump/refugium, 13 months old, LED lights set to an always on display/sump switching cycle. Params: pH= 8.4, 0 nitrate, 9dkh, 420 ppm calc, and 78 deg.

Problem: This hair algae started taking over a month ago. Started as a few inch sized patches in 2 spots, and I kept pulling it as best I could. Seemed manageable until 2 weeks when pretty much ended up spreading even to the sand. I did a water change of 36g last week and it hasn't gotten better. Purchased 5 emerald crabs and a dozen red legs along with 15 astrea snails to try to eat it, but they seem to ignore it. My scopas tang ignores it. Nothing seems to want this and it is everywhere and getting worse.

Thought: I think my RO/DI filters might be bad, but I'm not sure that could be the problem. Thoughts? Could a bad sediment filter cause this problem so drastically or should I look elsewhere?

 

[rfgonzo]

Check your phosphates?

 

[gone fishin]

Heavy stocking or feeding maybe?

Any tank upsets around the time it started?

How long are the lights on/ new lighting?

If your RO/DI is putting out high TDS water it certainly can be the cause. It all depends on what is in that high TDS.

IME a lot of things will not bother with the algae once it gets really long.

at this point manual removal is your friend until you can figure out what is fueling the growth.

 

[jerkyjunky]

Heavy stocking or feeding maybe?

Any tank upsets around the time it started?

How long are the lights on/ new lighting?

If your RO/DI is putting out high TDS water it certainly can be the cause. It all depends on what is in that high TDS.

IME a lot of things will not bother with the algae once it gets really long.

at this point manual removal is your friend until you can figure out what is fueling the growth.

I have 4 cardinals, 2 clowns, the scopas, 2 tiny yellow gobies, and the cleanup crew. Not too much... and I feed about 1 frozen cube a day.

Nothing new as far as upsets go around the time of when it started. It might have been when the tang came in, but I had also just lost some fish so it balanced out.

Lights are on for 11 hours a day + half hour dim up and dim down. Sump is on 12 hours + the same dimming.

I don't have a TDS meter, but the sediment filter is looking brown. I plan to replace it anyways cause it clearly needs it, but I didn't think that could be the cause of this. Obviously first time dealing with a spent cartridge.

 

[jerkyjunky]

Check your phosphates?

I don't believe my kits have a check for phosphates. :-(

 

[Jeff210]

Check your phosphates?

Do you run a GFO reactor?

 

[gone fishin]

I would change out your cartridges for your RO/DI. Maybe consider getting a dual inline TDS monitor for your RO/DI. I don't think they cost to much my unit came with one.

May try cutting your lighting cycle a few hours.

More than likely with your algae if you test for phosphates they would come up zero or close to it.

 

[syngraves]

You could try to go lights out for about 3 days after you remove as mush of that algae by hand. if you can remove the affected rocks, scrub them with a toothbrush in a bucket of RO or saltwater. as mentioned above definitely change out your RO unit filters. GHA and many other types of algae are usually a problem when high levels of nutrients are present.

 

[jerkyjunky]

I don't run any reactors currently though I'm thinking about it now. I'm just not sure if it is needed. Should the problem be the cartridges, replacing them should solve the problem and the reactor would be wasted hardware right?

I'm looking at getting a TDS meter and probably going to overnight one with my replacement cartridges, so I can research and find out what it is reading in a day or two.

gone fishin, why would you have a hunch about 0 phosphates? Just curious if it would be because they would be eating it up or if you think it isn't the cause?

I could go lights out, but I'm worried about my corals not taking too kindly to that. However, removing the rocks is tricky cause it literally is on every single rock. I feel that would be far too disruptive.

I've also heard that it could be solved with a few days at elevated mag? Any input on that?

 

[bravanc]

get new filters for your RO unit turn off the lights for a few days and cut back on the hours you have them on. water change with the new water from new filters and get a UV too.

 

[gone fishin]

Typically with a large outbreak phosphate and Nitrate will appear very low.
The algae is consuming them and growing. IMHO that is why manual removal is good, you are at least pulling what it is already locked up in the algae. If all that algae starts to die it would end back up in your system. Just my 2 cents.

I would think something happened about a month ago that created a tipping point for your system. Either an influx of or a slow buildup of nutrients that gave the algae the edge it needed.

Did you increase the output of your LED's around the time outbreak.

Usually nutrients + light = algae.

 

[dfm34]

Nothing new as far as upsets go around the time of when it started. It might have been when the tang came in, but I had also just lost some fish so it balanced out.

.

How many fish have you lost? If you have not removed them from the tank that could be adding to your nutrients and feeding the algae.

I had a small out break in my tank lost a fish and suddenly it exploded. I believe my rocks were leaching po4 then combined with the extra nutrients from the death = gha exploration. That's my humble opinion.



GFO will be your best friend

 

[gone fishin]

It is possible if you lost a few fish and they were not removed then adding a larger fish like a tang may have been the trigger. A tang can put a lot of waste into a system.

 

[jerkyjunky]

I have a dozen nass snails, a serpent star, and crabs... when fish die I never find a body. About a month ago I've lost a lawnmower blenny... it was young and pretty small. Replaced an algae eater with an algae eater...

I lose snails now and again, but same deal I only find empty shells. Very rarely I might see a pile of nass snails over a fallen just dead snail, but that is only for about an hour then everything is empty again.

The new cartridges and an inline TDS meter are on order for Wednesday. I also got a phos test kit to try when I get home. Going to test the tank and a bucket of top off water from my rodi.

These are my original filters though and the algae has been getting worse over a period of say 4-6 weeks. So I'm thinking it is a buildup and not a sudden event like a dead fish. Could be wrong though... we shall see!

 

[gone fishin]

I have a feeling you will see results after the RO/DI gets sorted out. It may take a little time so try not to get frustrated.

 

[ExpertMarine]

What LED lights do you run, and how are they programmed?

 

[jerkyjunky]

What LED lights do you run, and how are they programmed?

I'm using the kit from Steve's LEDs. It is a 56x 3w led kit with half cool white and half blues. I'm running about 50% of the power I could be and use a Reef Angel controller programmed for 30 min dim up, 11 hours on, 30 min dim down.

 

[jerkyjunky]

So phos in the top off bucket after RODI (still with bad filter) is reading .25ppm. Not sure if that is like OMG INSANE or is it just meh?

 

[Sk8r]

Should be 0 TDS.

Run GFO in a reactor. It'll take care of the problem in your tank. And change the ro/di filter.

 

[woodnaquanut]

So phos in the top off bucket after RODI (still with bad filter) is reading .25ppm. Not sure if that is like OMG INSANE or is it just meh?

For TO and mix, I'd call that OMG INSANE! Of course it might just be the test kit! What test kit brand do you have? It might not give the correct reading in RO/DI water. If you really are adding .25ppm phosphate with every TO or WC, you'll never catch up.

You might want to add other grazing fish. I have a Starry Blenny, Kole Tang and One Spot Foxface in my 120. They all seem to like different grazing surfaces. I also think there might be a 'he ate it, I'll have to try it' competition going on. I had a tank covered in the same HA and within a week of adding the three it was gone. Some of the biggest fish poops I'd ever seen!

I disagree with the statement 'Tangs add a lot of waste'. They don't add, they just convert. In the process of converting they consume some for bodily functions. So much of what they eat is not completely digestible and well, passes thru.