I would say it looks like Brown Hair Algae, let me know what you think.
Tank facts...
- RS 170, ULNS w/one Talbot's Damsel, SPS dominated
- Eight months old in this location but ~2.5 years running (transition to new apartment was smooth)
- NO3 tests at 5-10 ppm (Nyos kit)
- PO4 tests at 0.00 ppm (Hannah)
- Coral Box D300+ Skimmer (on 24/7, have also played around with running it at night only and with not running one at all)
- Mitras/T5 lighting (bulbs recently changed)
- 2x MP10s (85% reef crest)
Context:
- I feed the damsel 1-2 times a day (PE flakes) and feed the coral once a day (e.g. Coral AB+, EasySPS gel, Vitalizer)
- I have biological media in the sump with a lot of mature surface area and sponges
- RODI water (clean filters)
- 15% water changes every 7-10 days (ReefCrystals)
This brown hair algae has become more of a pest over the past 4-6 months. It hasn't changed based on which coral food I try.
I dose about 1.2mL of NeoPhos a day. I stopped dosing NeoNitro a few weeks ago to see if it would help. I was using both NeoNitro and NeoPhos previously, before hair algae became a thing. I started dosing the Brightwell products due to my low bioload, and low nutrient issues (pale corals, little cyano when phosphates hit zero).
I plan to add a fish or two and stop dosing NeoPhos as well. I just need to be careful about having food for the coral.
The algae isn't the end of the world but I think it does irritate some of the coral (and obviously doesn't look great). It makes me perform water changes more frequently to enjoy the tank (and my nutrients are low as is).
Tank facts...
- RS 170, ULNS w/one Talbot's Damsel, SPS dominated
- Eight months old in this location but ~2.5 years running (transition to new apartment was smooth)
- NO3 tests at 5-10 ppm (Nyos kit)
- PO4 tests at 0.00 ppm (Hannah)
- Coral Box D300+ Skimmer (on 24/7, have also played around with running it at night only and with not running one at all)
- Mitras/T5 lighting (bulbs recently changed)
- 2x MP10s (85% reef crest)
Context:
- I feed the damsel 1-2 times a day (PE flakes) and feed the coral once a day (e.g. Coral AB+, EasySPS gel, Vitalizer)
- I have biological media in the sump with a lot of mature surface area and sponges
- RODI water (clean filters)
- 15% water changes every 7-10 days (ReefCrystals)
This brown hair algae has become more of a pest over the past 4-6 months. It hasn't changed based on which coral food I try.
I dose about 1.2mL of NeoPhos a day. I stopped dosing NeoNitro a few weeks ago to see if it would help. I was using both NeoNitro and NeoPhos previously, before hair algae became a thing. I started dosing the Brightwell products due to my low bioload, and low nutrient issues (pale corals, little cyano when phosphates hit zero).
I plan to add a fish or two and stop dosing NeoPhos as well. I just need to be careful about having food for the coral.
The algae isn't the end of the world but I think it does irritate some of the coral (and obviously doesn't look great). It makes me perform water changes more frequently to enjoy the tank (and my nutrients are low as is).