Help with Algae!

[GilliganReef]

Ok I have been dealing with Hair algae and cyano algae for little over 4 months now. This algae problem became an issue 1 month after my GBTA died. <thank you Hydor> For four weeks after the death of the GBTA I was doing 10% changes 2 times a week with a 20% once a week. I did everything to try and find out what the source of the problem is. From 3 days of darkness with a 25% w/c which would get rid of 80% of the algae. Next day it would be back in the tank. I have tried pulling rocks out and scrubbing. I have done everything I could do without tearing down my tank. I finally bought Media Reactor 2 weeks ago. I added 1 cup of GFO. I only have notice is the algae is not growing back the massive rate it was. I haven’t notice it declining. I currently doing another 3 days of darkness, will do a another 25% water change, and replace the media.

My question is? Should I add more GFO in the reactor when I replace the media this week? Or what other options do I have?

40B Reef w/ 20g sump - Coral Reef Skimmer needlwheel 75g, aqua lunar t5 light fixture, 2 Hydor 850

Ph - 8.3
NH4 -0
NO3 -0
NO2-0
KH – 9
Cal – 480
Sal – 1.024
PO4 - 0

 

[Reef Frog]

You're on the right track IMO. I would just keep doing the water changes and keep using the amount of GFO that you are using. Remember to change out the GFO frequently in the beginning, as it's common for it to get depleted quickly when you first start using it. Meanwhile just remove what algae you can during the water change. Since you said new growth is under control, you should be in good shape in short order.

 

[Dan_P]

I assume the aquarium is less than year old, yes?

You could go the antibiotic route. RC has many threads on this subject. You can decide if it is for you. My personal preference is to minimize antibiotic use in general, so, I would never use it.

You have used lights out for three days and that has not worked for you. That is a hint that the trigger for red slime mats is still present in your system. And what is that trigger? The gospel is "high nutrient levels". I think it might be more complicated than that but I practice minimizing nutrient levels all the same and suction up the cyanobacteria when it gets on my nerves.

I would not bother with lighting. Cyanobacteria are awfully good at adapting to any light condition. Make sure you have adequate flow, whatever that is. Again, a lot of posts on RC with good viewpoints.

If the aquarium is new, the red slime might be out competing the other bacteria for nutrients. Some aquarists swear by bacteria additions to counter this, that is probiotics. This might be the missing piece of the puzzle for your tank.

Carbon dosing and biopellets have been accused of red slime out breaks. A reasonable conjecture.

Water changes may also stimulate aggressive red slime growth, possibly from the presence of ammonium in the salt mix. Just experienced this myself.

The issues will end, just not fast enough.

Good luck!

 

[Titans_Reef]

I had an electric blue hermit that took care of hair algae on frags. I would just dump the frag into my fuge after it acclimated and the hermit will go to town on it that withing 10 min it got cleaned. For cyano, its alot of factors that can make it grow. It can be the sun hitting your tank, high nutrients lol, low flow, light bulbs may be old and need replacing. I would try to find out whats going on first and then fix it. I had cyano before which the first time it was because I moved across town and I had to set it up again so the setting it up again released everything that was in my sand and I had to use chemiclean. The second time was because the sun was hitting the tank since my wife left the blinds to the glass sliding door open and since I work graveyard, I didnt notice until I woke up early one day and saw the sun hitting it. Once I closed it and told my wife to keep it close, it went away.

 

[GilliganReef]

I figured out one issue with my algae. I had my timers set up on my tank a little long. So I shorten them from 10 hours down to 6 hours for few weeks. That with also my GFO reactor has really helped with my Algae. Did back to back weeks 25% water changes and just scrubbed most of the algae out while doing the water changes. Now just gotta give more time. I love coming home from work and not seeing the algae over taking the tank.

PH 8.2
NH4- 0
NO3 - 0
NO2 - 0
KH - 11.3
Cal - 500
Sal - 1.024
PO4 - 0