What is this? Such algae, much mystery

[GSep]

Hey everyone. I've had my 30 cube setup for over a year now, and over the past few months I've been battling this type of algae on my rocks. Not sure what it is, thought it was GHA but now not so sure. Here's my parameters:

Temp: 78f
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Phosphate: 0.04 ppm
Nitrate: 2 ppm
Calcium: 450 ppm
Alkalinity: 10.5 dKH
Magnesium: 1380 ppm

Currently running Carbon and GFO in a BRS dual reactor. Tried AlgaeFix for 3 weeks with no reduction. I did once pull the rock and scrub off as much as I could but that didn't seem to do anything. Reduced my light timing by 1 hour today, so lights are on for 11 hours total, with a 3 hour ramp up and down.

On to the pics





This is with only the white LED's on in my AI Hydra.

 

[zn00py]

That's hair algae.I heard Kent TechM has some ingredient that kills it.I would raise your magnesium with that and see what happens.A range of about 1550-1600 should be okay

 

[crusoe]

I'm starting to get the same type of algae starting on my 1 month old tank, looks like I'll be needing to try the mag as well

 

[ZorroV]

Your parameters look good. But the algae may be consuming it and not showing up on your test kit. Pulling them out by hand water changes will help. Can you also post your settings of the AI Hydra. Having the red and green high will also contribute to the algae.

 

[Tarawa]

those are some really nice pics =D

 

[Sapelo]

What is your livestock like? My tang LOVES hair algae, sometimes I actually wish I had more to feed it.

 

[GSep]

That's hair algae.I heard Kent TechM has some ingredient that kills it.I would raise your magnesium with that and see what happens.A range of about 1550-1600 should be okay

I've read up on that before, and while I believe that it works, I know that it's not the root cause of my algae issue.

Your parameters look good. But the algae may be consuming it and not showing up on your test kit. Pulling them out by hand water changes will help. Can you also post your settings of the AI Hydra. Having the red and green high will also contribute to the algae.

I believe that's what I need to start doing again during my water changes. I do about 10% weekly, siphon my sandbed at the same time. Looks like the toothbrush will be coming out again.

Also replacing my current 4 stage RO/DI system with a BRS Universal 6 Stage system. Just ordered it a few minutes ago. My old system I bought it used off of a friend, replaced my filters a year ago, but I would rather have the piece of mind of the larger system.

Hydra is running with about 1% green and red right now.

those are some really nice pics =D

Thank you. Just use a tripod, turn the pumps off, and manual focus.

What is your livestock like? My tang LOVES hair algae, sometimes I actually wish I had more to feed it.

Current livestock is 2 clowns, 1 orchid dottyback, 3 blue/green chromis, pistol shrimp, 2 fighting conch, some nerite and nassirus snails (need a refresh)

Coral:
Branching Hammer
Duncan
Acans (2 types, don't know the names)
Toadstool
Some sort of yellow polyp, not zoas or palys

I try to feed enough that they can get everything in 2 minutes. Feed my acans and duncans rotifers and mysis about 1-2x a week. I sometimes miss daily feeds for the fish, and I do not feed extra because I missed, just try and get the same amount every time.

 

[ZorroV]

The TDS from you water system may also be high. May also want to check that also.

 

[Portsie]

Just to clear something up, I have never heard of tech m or any other mag supplement being an effective method of control for hair algae. It has been discussed as a cure for bryopsis, and worked on it in my tank.

 

[GSep]

The TDS from you water system may also be high. May also want to check that also.

I've suspected that as well so I have a new RO/DI system on order since my previous one I got for free and only replaced the filters. Figured I'd get a 6 stage system with a triple TDS meter. Also it comes with a float valve, no more worrying about it I turned the water off anymore!!!

 

[CapnReefer]

Just take a rock out, toss it in a peroxide dip for 30 seconds, rinse in a bucket with water from the tank and put it back in. Do a rock every day, unless you have sand then you can do more than one. It's probably just phosphate leaching from the rocks. (don't scrub your back glass, leave it to the algae)

 

[crusoe]

What's the reasoning for not scrubbing the back glass?

 

[GSep]

Just take a rock out, toss it in a peroxide dip for 30 seconds, rinse in a bucket with water from the tank and put it back in. Do a rock every day, unless you have sand then you can do more than one. It's probably just phosphate leaching from the rocks. (don't scrub your back glass, leave it to the algae)

Been doing some reading up on the peroxide since you've posted this. Seems like an alright idea. All of my rock is stacked so it is easily removed. I have one small piece up top that I can try this method on this weekend if I get some time. Just gotta find peroxide in a large quantity now so I can incorporate this while I do a water change.

 

[ShannyG]

Other than aesthetics, is hair algae a bad thing? I have it in my tank but my emerald crab loves it and even the hermits pick through it. It seems like a natural addition to an environment we're trying to recreate nature in.

 

[danil]

Other than aesthetics, is hair algae a bad thing? I have it in my tank but my emerald crab loves it and even the hermits pick through it. It seems like a natural addition to an environment we're trying to recreate nature in.

it's not a bad thing it's as you mentioned aesthetically unpleasant. The good thing about HA It's tasty for many creatures in our tank. So we do have tools to keep it in check. It's not true for some other type of algae like bryopsis, dinoflagellata or even bubble. Few creatures can eat it if any..

 

[Portsie]

I had gha choke out several smaller frags when I first started in the hobby. So it can be more than just an aesthetic problem.

 

[GSep]

So I tried the peroxide dip on one rock during my water change last night. Did about 25% peroxide, 75% tank water (3% peroxide from Walmart used).

Before I took the rock out of the water I brushed off all of the snails that I could see on it so they would survive. Dipped it into the solution for about 2 minutes while scrubbing the algae off with a toothbrush. Then dunked it a few times in another bucket with more old tank water to rinse off and then replaced back in the tank.

After about an hour it started to look like my coral were all starting to close up way before they usually do. Probably has to do with some peroxide still in the water column. Currently at work now and will check on it first thing when I get home. Hopefully they are more opened up than last night.

In other news, noticed this morning when the moon lights were on that my bristle worm is about 5" long and he knocked over my hermit shell that had some yellow polyps on it. Gonna have to fix that when I get home haha.

 

[wom001]

WoW, much algae, very hairy, such eye sore, parameters off, +1 to all doge and helpful replies.

 

[GSep]

Woot! Came home and everything has opened up and looks good. Kinda sad about the loss of a few bristle stars when I did the dip, but I'm sure that they will populate the clean rock now and get to work again.

Also moved my MP10 to the middle of the glass so create more flow over the rocks. I think that was one problem I had as well: not enough flow over my rock to keep detritus off.