Macro algae spreading

[BlackTip]

Alkalinity: 9dkh
Calcium: 440
Mag: 1400
Phosphate: .03
Nitrate: 2 parts

I change and vacuum sand bed every week. The water is crystal clear. Nothing growing on the glass. Diatom and cyano are gone weeks ago.

I have macro algae spreading through the rock. Small patches everywhere. Manual removal causes more problems, because I believe they spread faster this way. Some of the algae looks like bryopsis algae, and other type is similar but more stalky. I ordered Kent Magnesium couple of weeks ago, and I am still waiting on delivery.

My question: Why are they spreading, if there is very little nutrient in the water? How can I stop or slow the spread?

Thanks,

 

[gone fishin]

Some algae is very adept at getting by on very low nutrient levels. I had some bryopsis a few years ago on a rock. I pulled the rock and killed it off then put the rock back in.

 

[chimmike]

.03 phosphate and that nitrate is feeding them.

Vacuuming the sandbed is okay. Don't stir it around, though.

 

[BlackTip]

Some algae is very adept at getting by on very low nutrient levels. I had some bryopsis a few years ago on a rock. I pulled the rock and killed it off then put the rock back in.

I wish I did that the first time I saw it. I thought it could be food for herbivore. It is too lat for me now. They are everywhere...

 

[ScienceRulez]

I wish I did that the first time I saw it. I thought it could be food for herbivore. It is too lat for me now. They are everywhere...

I wouldn't necessarily say that. It all depends on what kind of tank and what the residents of said tank are. You can always pull the rocks out one at a time over the course of several days (weeks?), and kill off the algae on that rock.

 

[chimmike]

what macroalgae are you talking about?

Or do you mean hair algae or cyano?

 

[Sounds Fishy]

IF it happens to be macro algae in your aquarium,(and not the nuisance type algae),and you want it removed ,most Fox Face rabbitfish ,will eat it.

 

[jrr98002]

Running GFO to get rid of the phosphate or carbon dosing to get rid of both nitrate and phosphate will help. Low nutrients will still spread nuisance algae. Only 0 nutrients won't. If it's bryopsis, which it sounds like it might be, you're already on the right track by ordering the Mg. Raise that up to 1550-1600 or so for a bit and that should help kill it off.

 

[BlackTip]

Thanks guys.

What I have are Bryopsis and another type that look like Bryopsis but without the leafs. I just couldn't identify it, and get a photo proved to be too difficult.

I do run GFO. I am at the end of the life cycle of this patch, so the phosphate is a little higher. New patch is going in next week, but I don't think this will change anything. The phosphate and nitrate are already in the low side. I know some believe 0 reading for both is ideal. I don't think .03 and 2ppm is a big deal, however. I have LPS, SPS, and softies.

My next group of fish will have either a tang or a foxface, but that will take at least 3 more month. I already have fish in the QT, so I have to wait until I move them to the DT, and then get more fish.

 

[RobTheReefer]

Order a bunch of turbo snails and scarlet reef hermits, and grow chaeto if you don't want to carbon dose.