I'm loosing the algae battle. PIC

S

SanDiegoreefer

New member
After 8 mo.s this is what I have to show for my work. All parameters appear to be okay.


133235DSC00763.JPG


:mad: :( :eek1:

I'm pretty sure this is the dreaded Briopsis. Should I just start over or what? If I do, what are the chances this will happen again?
 
Algae needs a couple things to grow, nutrient and light.

Need to know what exactly you have in the tank (bioload)
Exactly what are your water parameters? (parameters appear to be ok says nothing)
What is your water change schedule?
When was the last time you tested TDS on your RO/DI unit.
How and what are you feeding the tank (nutrient import)

Starting over will only put you 8 months behind where you are now. The idea is to find what wrong, fix it and then feel the joy of success :)
 
Looks like hair algae. Randall James has some really good questions for you. I'd suggest you have a massive phosphate problem, either from too high a TDS in your water source, or because of a whole lot of feeding pellet and flake, or something yet more exotic. There's several fixes: ro/di, a must; phosban or rowaphos, a good idea; a lawnmower blenny, turbo snails, or a tuxedo urchin...WITH phosban, because blenny poo probably releases the phosphate and you need something to get it out.
 
It's a 46 Gal tank. I have a pair of black clowns, yellowtailed damsel, long nosed hawk, bicolor blennie, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, crabs/snails (about 25 each).

Filter Guys RO/DI unit. Change out a 5 gal bucket/wk.

Magnesium=1500 ppm
nitrate=0
phosphate=0
76 degrees
Ph=8.6
alk=normal



133235DSC00768.JPG
 
It took a pretty good amount of time for this problem to occur so do not expect it to go away overnight...

Water changes.. I am pretty steadfast about 20%+ weekly changes in my tanks. I would step yours up to this level and be consistent about doing them.

Phosphate readings are misleading, although it says 0, odds are that the algae is consuming them as they are being produced.

How do you feed your fish and what do you feed them? (I think this is the root of your problem as your bioload is not that high)

I suggest that turning off the circulation pumps during feeding time and removing uneaten food prior to restarting them is a big help in a tank with algae issues. After a few days of this routine, you will know how much food the fish can eat in 3 or 4 minutes and will not have to vacuum the uneaten out as there will not be any.

Phosphate removers: I do not use and have never used them but a lot of people do and they seem to have success using them. I think after you get the nutrient import under control (feeding) it would become unnecessary (but would probably help now).

PH: I think you need a new test kit, 8.6 is unnaturally high and without adding kalk or some other PH modifier, it is most likely a bad reading. Keeping the PH that high has been shown to help in algae issues however.

I would bet that after a month or 2 of controlled feeding you will start to see some improvement.


EDIT:
You posted before I did, I think you are feeding at least twice as much as the tank needs. a 1/4 to 1/2 cube a day should be way more than enough.... Even if the fish eat this entire amount in the 3-4 minutes it is too much IMO
 
buddy u need to get rid of that live rock you have and just start completly over keep the fish but the live gots to go i used to have a huge problem with algae (not that big) and just said [profanity]spent the cash bought more rock i used to live in sd what fish store you go 2??
 
Last edited by a moderator:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10072464#post10072464 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by allenpantino
buddy u need to get rid of that live rock you have and just start completly over keep the fish but the live gots to go i used to have a huge problem with algae (not that big) and just said f!*$k spent the cash bought more rock i used to live in sd what fish store you go 2??
Click to expand...
The only thing you are going to do by dumping the live rock is export the alage that is on them. Rather a waste IMO... (and really expensive) I think an attack on the root cause is a better idea than throwing away a symptom
 
true but did you see that pic. unless you really scrub all that algae off its never gonna go away. ive had the same problem. easier said then done
 
There's no way Phos and nitrate is at 0 in that tank.
All that alge is eating the phos and nitrate before your test kit can meause it.
ESP if you are using frozen foods and NOT Rising it!
They ARE LOADED with PHOS. put a cube in RODI water and then let it thaw, stir, then let it settle to the bottom, then take water sample from the top of the cup and you will have off the chart Phos.

I would do a fuge, and a phos ban ASAP.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10072506#post10072506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by allenpantino
true but did you see that pic. unless you really scrub all that algae off its never gonna go away. ive had the same problem. easier said then done
Click to expand...
It really will all go away in time. It did not happen overnight and it will not go away any faster. As it thins out, you will find snails will start to go after it. The nutrient dries up, so does the algae. Does take a good dose of patience is all..
 
TRUE BUT DID U SEE THAT PIC? GETTING TO THE ROOT AND ACTUALLY GETING RID OF ALL OF THAT ALGEA IS EASIER SAID THEN DONE. I HAD THE SAME PORBLEM SCRUBED THE HECK OUT OF IT, USED SOME SOLUTION MY LFS RECOMMENDED NO LUCK.THAT IS MAJOR BUILD UP
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10072531#post10072531 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SanDiegoreefer
Maybe I should cure some additional live rock to help keep the tank clean. That couldn't hurt, right?
Click to expand...
would not hurt but I think I would concentrate on the nutrient issues first. Get the outbreak under control before adding anything else to the tank would be my first move.
 
Ive herd UV-Sterilizers will help (read the Testomonials on the Turbo-Twist UV Sterilizers on drsfostersmith) hope it helps:) Later
 
I'm gonna try cutting my actinics back to 7 hrs (was 10) and the full spectrum for 5 (was 9) for a little while and see what happens. Which reminds me. I also have some Zoas and mushrooms. Hope they'll be okay with that.
 
A UV did nothing to help that on my tank.

It's a nutrient problem, plain and simple.
It can't live without them, remove them and it will die off. (period)
 
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