How to remove/reduce this algae?
- Thread starter cpllongjk
- Start date
reefgeezer
Active member
I have an issue similar to the OP's right now. It is very bad right now. This was caused by a reduction in carbon dosing & GFO in an attempt to get an ATS started. The algae in the ATS never took off, but it sure did on the rocks in the DT. That's not intended as a flame on ATS viability in general. Obviously the one I built sucks!
Now that I've removed the ATS, my plan of attack is to resume carbon dosing, get a little aggressive with the GFO, do some big water changes, AND take the rock that has no corals attached out of the tank and scrub it in dilute peroxide to remove all of the algae. I'll also take out the rock that has corals on it out, but simply scrub off as much algae as possible without using peroxide near the corals.
Now that I've removed the ATS, my plan of attack is to resume carbon dosing, get a little aggressive with the GFO, do some big water changes, AND take the rock that has no corals attached out of the tank and scrub it in dilute peroxide to remove all of the algae. I'll also take out the rock that has corals on it out, but simply scrub off as much algae as possible without using peroxide near the corals.
Reef Frog
New member
What are you measuring the phosphates with? If these results are accurate, they explain why the algae mass is expanding. .10-.15ppm is a heavy level and is algae heaven. You are not changing out the Rowaphos soon enough. The output water of a Phisphate reactor should read 0.0 ppm AT ALL TIMES.
This large swing also suggests that your rocks are saturated with PO4. Treating them with lanthium chloride is a more inexpensive and possibly faster option but IMO it's best done out of the tank, away from living animals.
In any event, keep your PO4 levels below .02-.03ppm. Growth should slow and almost stop. Remove excess detritus on the rocks through water changes & blowing the rocks & exporting crud manually. Once growth is slowed or stopped, remove what you can by hand & an in tank hydrogen peroxide treatment will help slowly disolve what's left.
It's a multi pronged approach with nutrient control at the center of the strategy. It will take some time so be patient. Algae blooms at your tanks age are very common. Do yourself a favor and buy a large quantity of standard or high capacity GFO instead of Rowaphos. You'll save a ton and be more willing to change it out as needed (which may be quite frequent at your levels). This is the key. If you let levels get high again you're back to square one. Get the levels in a low range and KEEP THEM THERE. Good luck.
