overrun with algae success stories?
- Thread starter turbo2oh
- Start date
karimwassef
Active member
Before:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/2C7E8740-3044-44B3-AAEA-C85FCF36333C_zpsinqdoq6l.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/2C7E8740-3044-44B3-AAEA-C85FCF36333C_zpsinqdoq6l.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2C7E8740-3044-44B3-AAEA-C85FCF36333C_zpsinqdoq6l.jpg"></a>
I used LaCl and crashed the algae that created a Dino infestation. Cleared that with UV and an algae scrubber... several scrubbers:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/78FE1D57-7636-453B-9A19-54A08E9158BF_zpskkw5fsqx.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/78FE1D57-7636-453B-9A19-54A08E9158BF_zpskkw5fsqx.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 78FE1D57-7636-453B-9A19-54A08E9158BF_zpskkw5fsqx.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/62AF83E1-FE30-48D0-9648-B0D556F15A77_zps8gmqd8ff.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/62AF83E1-FE30-48D0-9648-B0D556F15A77_zps8gmqd8ff.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 62AF83E1-FE30-48D0-9648-B0D556F15A77_zps8gmqd8ff.jpg"></a>
To get to this:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/6E29B26D-2600-4113-B0A1-59B27EFFB170_zpsvg18k5et.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/6E29B26D-2600-4113-B0A1-59B27EFFB170_zpsvg18k5et.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6E29B26D-2600-4113-B0A1-59B27EFFB170_zpsvg18k5et.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/E8E530A4-52C3-40D4-94EC-C2A071B28620_zpsvsulpzal.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/E8E530A4-52C3-40D4-94EC-C2A071B28620_zpsvsulpzal.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E8E530A4-52C3-40D4-94EC-C2A071B28620_zpsvsulpzal.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/4A261F16-3008-4CFA-B046-391D6D9C3977_zps6ftrjkvz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/4A261F16-3008-4CFA-B046-391D6D9C3977_zps6ftrjkvz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4A261F16-3008-4CFA-B046-391D6D9C3977_zps6ftrjkvz.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/2C7E8740-3044-44B3-AAEA-C85FCF36333C_zpsinqdoq6l.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/2C7E8740-3044-44B3-AAEA-C85FCF36333C_zpsinqdoq6l.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2C7E8740-3044-44B3-AAEA-C85FCF36333C_zpsinqdoq6l.jpg"></a>
I used LaCl and crashed the algae that created a Dino infestation. Cleared that with UV and an algae scrubber... several scrubbers:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/78FE1D57-7636-453B-9A19-54A08E9158BF_zpskkw5fsqx.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/78FE1D57-7636-453B-9A19-54A08E9158BF_zpskkw5fsqx.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 78FE1D57-7636-453B-9A19-54A08E9158BF_zpskkw5fsqx.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/62AF83E1-FE30-48D0-9648-B0D556F15A77_zps8gmqd8ff.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/62AF83E1-FE30-48D0-9648-B0D556F15A77_zps8gmqd8ff.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 62AF83E1-FE30-48D0-9648-B0D556F15A77_zps8gmqd8ff.jpg"></a>
To get to this:
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/6E29B26D-2600-4113-B0A1-59B27EFFB170_zpsvg18k5et.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/6E29B26D-2600-4113-B0A1-59B27EFFB170_zpsvg18k5et.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6E29B26D-2600-4113-B0A1-59B27EFFB170_zpsvg18k5et.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/E8E530A4-52C3-40D4-94EC-C2A071B28620_zpsvsulpzal.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/E8E530A4-52C3-40D4-94EC-C2A071B28620_zpsvsulpzal.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E8E530A4-52C3-40D4-94EC-C2A071B28620_zpsvsulpzal.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/4A261F16-3008-4CFA-B046-391D6D9C3977_zps6ftrjkvz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/4A261F16-3008-4CFA-B046-391D6D9C3977_zps6ftrjkvz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4A261F16-3008-4CFA-B046-391D6D9C3977_zps6ftrjkvz.jpg"></a>
GimpyFin
Active member
I wouldn't say mine was completely overrun, but it did get it pretty bad. Lots of large bunches that I was pruning probably once a week. Nitrate has generally been low running biopellets, but I typically didn't use anything specifically for phosphate removal.
I finally bought a small reactor and stared running gfo (Phosfiltrum) in it. It slowly started receding and after a few months, it was pretty much non-existent and has been for roughly 9 months. It's definitely beatable, it just takes some time and patience, IME/IMO. (I didn't really change anything with my lighting either.) I don't have any before pictures with the algae, but here's a shot from about a month ago:
I finally bought a small reactor and stared running gfo (Phosfiltrum) in it. It slowly started receding and after a few months, it was pretty much non-existent and has been for roughly 9 months. It's definitely beatable, it just takes some time and patience, IME/IMO. (I didn't really change anything with my lighting either.) I don't have any before pictures with the algae, but here's a shot from about a month ago:
Wow! Did you just get some bad rock or what? I'm assuming you were using RO/DI water correct?
karimwassef
Active member
I made my own concrete rock and used crushed oysters. I expected the algae and have learned to use it to my advantage now. Algae is really our friend, not the enemy. It acts as a safe zone for pods and worms to grow. It removes inorganic phosphate and nitrate... it's great stuff all around. We think that we hate algae but we really don't. We hate algae's LOCATION. It's a zoning issue. Just need to learn to rezone.
karimwassef
Active member
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/888E4E2E-E921-4836-ADE5-0A80CE22D335_zpsnk2fduzu.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/888E4E2E-E921-4836-ADE5-0A80CE22D335_zpsnk2fduzu.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 888E4E2E-E921-4836-ADE5-0A80CE22D335_zpsnk2fduzu.jpg"></a>
Also, I now recycle my algae back as food into my DT... the fish create ribbons of algae poop that get swarmed by worms, pods, shrimp and cucumbers... and make coral food ... or go to make more algae. Closed loop
Also, I now recycle my algae back as food into my DT... the fish create ribbons of algae poop that get swarmed by worms, pods, shrimp and cucumbers... and make coral food ... or go to make more algae. Closed loop
turbo2oh
New member
Amazing recovery! Thanks for sharing!
karimwassef
Active member
Well... dinos have taken down quite a few valiant reef warriors.. but most things are survivable (struggling with "never") 
Bryopsis for me well before people used Tech M. I manually removed it for years - it was as good as chaeto. Then, when my turbo snails got hungry enough, they finished it off. In another FOWLR tank, it was everywhere but I did not care... I got donated a Magnificent Foxface that was eating LPS and it at every last bit of it in about a week.
turbo2oh
New member
Yeah I suppose it's a personal decision. I don't think I could battle algae for 1+ years not happy with how the tank looks.
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karimwassef
Active member
Lanthanum Chloride
Punchanello
Member
I like this outlook.
mcgyvr
New member
But if you don't take the time to understand the why/what,etc.. its more than likely just going to happen again after you break it all down and start agin..
Do you have another thread about your specific situation with Pics/nitrate/phosphate levels/thinks you've tried,etc...?
billdogg
Well-known member
I kept a 4' Gymnothorax Undulatus (Undulated Moray) in a 150g tank with 50g sump for years. Because of the large amount of food he required and the large amount of waste that was the result, Nitrates and Phosphates were always a huge problem. You have not seen hair algae like I had. I would periodically take out the rocks and scrub them down with a stiff brush to remove it but it would always return. With frequent very large water changes (50g/week, week after week) I could keep the nitrates at the barely readable level (at the top end of the chart that is) and phosphates were always a deep blue. It truly as a (nearly) impossible situation. Then came the internet. I learned about the benefits of a remote deep sand bed (RDSB) and figured I had nothing to lose. I also had a spare 120g tank that I could set up as a refugium/RDSB. It took over #300 of sugar fine aragonite to get the 6"+ that I was after. The first couple weeks it didn't seem to do a thing. Then it came alive. At about the 6 week period, nitrates and phosphates began to drop, even without water changes. At the 3 month mark, Nitrates and phosphates were down to the barely detectable level even going as long a 2 months without a water change, and there they stayed. The ONLY change I had made was adding the RDSB and then letting it do it's thing.
I ended up having the eel for 25 years. I just wish I would have found out about the virtues of the RDSB sooner.
I ended up having the eel for 25 years. I just wish I would have found out about the virtues of the RDSB sooner.
vikinglord13
New member
Ugh cyano is annoying when it gets bad.
Learning that algae can occur when nitrates read 0 primarily because of the nitrates uptake by the algae and the phosphates was a hard lesson for me. I purchased a better light for my refugium and am waiting on the progress report for that.
Karimwassef has a great story. You can follow it in the algae scrubber thread.
Learning that algae can occur when nitrates read 0 primarily because of the nitrates uptake by the algae and the phosphates was a hard lesson for me. I purchased a better light for my refugium and am waiting on the progress report for that.
Karimwassef has a great story. You can follow it in the algae scrubber thread.
I had derbesia covering basically all my rocks for about ~4 months. No amount of pruning ever worked, it would always grow back. It could outcompete anything in my fuge (though I was considering a ATS at that time). Then I decided to dose Fluconazole and all the derbesia died within 3 weeks and hasn't come back (this was ~7 months ago). Nothing else was harmed. Really the whole thing worked so amazingly it is hard to fathom.
Highly highly recommend Fluconazole if you are dealing with derbesia or bryopsis. (relevant thread)
Before:
After:
Highly highly recommend Fluconazole if you are dealing with derbesia or bryopsis. (relevant thread)
Before:
After:
