What is this?

[Gulfsurfer]

Is this bubble algae? It also looks like all my purple on my live rock has been replaced by this and everywhere there is green algae there are fine bubbles like this- they appear clear though?

<a target='_blank' href='http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0380nvk.jpg'><img src='http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6751/img0380nvk.th.jpg' border='0'/><br>
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<a target='_blank' href='http://img16.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0382x.jpg'><img src='http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3158/img0382x.th.jpg' border='0'/><br>
<a target='_blank' href='http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0383i.jpg'><img src='http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7089/img0383i.th.jpg' border='0'/><br>

 

[LoyalConvict]

Short answer....No

 

[Gulfsurfer]

so its okay to have this?

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

Is this relatively a new tank set up? Usually those bubbles appear when 1st starting up a tank. There not bubble algae, bubble algae is green and then tend to grow. These bubbles will float to the top once they are agitated.

Not sure if you took these pictures with your pumps turned off but the 2nd picture posted doesn't really have a lot of water movement at the surface. You might want to add a power head in there if the water is getting stagnant.

 

[drummereef]

Looks like diatoms and possibly the beginnings of a dinoflagellate issue. Can you list your current water params including pH? I would try and get some more flow in there asap. Here's some useful reading on the subject.


http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

 

[Gulfsurfer]

its been up for for about 5 months total, but i bought this tank off my buddy about 3-4 weeks ago so its new for me haha, i have a koralia 3 powerhead in there and its a 46 bow so there should be plenty of water movement in there

 

[LoyalConvict]

ooops.... srry almost double post

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001162#post15001162 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
its been up for for about 5 months total, but i bought this tank off my buddy about 3-4 weeks ago so its new for me haha, i have a koralia 3 powerhead in there and its a 46 bow so there should be plenty of water movement in there

OK, so how bout them water params.

 

[Gulfsurfer]

As of yesterday afternoon:

Salinity: 1.023

pH: 7.9-8.0

Ammonia: undetectable

Alkalinity: 3.5

Nitrate: 10

Nitrite: 0.5

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

IMO I dont think one koralia 3 is not enough flow but thats just my 2 cents

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

Nitrates are kinda high which is most likely giving you brown diatoms.. I would do WC on the tank. Are you using RO/DI water?

 

[lombard0]

Those are byproduct of photosynthesis from algae... oxygen.

 

[PRDubois]

Do you have hight phosphates and/or nitrates
Looks like Algae but not bubble

 

[drummereef]

Nitrates ideally should be 0. I'd start there and figure out where the source of the nitrate issue is coming from. If it were me, I'd slowly raise the salinity to 1.025 or even 1.026. Salinity of natural seawater. Also, weather permitting, open some windows to let some fresh air hit the tank to get the pH up a bit. 7.9-8.0 is acceptable, but might be playing a role in your algae issues.

On another note, hopefully the nitrite test is inaccurate or you might be going through another cycle for some reason. Albeit unlikely since the tank has been set up for 5 months. Have you added any live rock recently or done anything to cause a cycle? Sometimes nitrite test will be off.

 

[Gulfsurfer]

Im using RO water, umm what would cause a cycle? I wish I could open my windows, but unfortunately I live in Florida and its like 90 out haha

 

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

how often do you feed your fish? and what do you feed them? some foods contain a good % of phosphates in the formula. Excess nutrients in your tank could be giving you a bloom as well

 

[Gulfsurfer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001246#post15001246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by YE||0W TA|\|G
how often do you feed your fish? and what do you feed them? some foods contain a good % of phosphates in the formula. Excess nutrients in your tank could be giving you a bloom as well

Twice a day and Im feeding them marine A pellets and green algae for my tangs

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001242#post15001242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
Im using RO water, umm what would cause a cycle? I wish I could open my windows, but unfortunately I live in Florida and its like 90 out haha

RO or RO/DI? Are you testing the TDS of the water? Again, ideally should be 0. As for the cycle... that's why I asked if you added any live rock lately. I'm guessing not, but thought I would ask.

I looked up the specs on the Koralia 3. That's giving you less than 20x turnover which is bare minimum in my opinion. I would add more flow. A Koralia 2 would be good. I'm running a Koralia 3 and a Tunze Nanostream 6025 in my 40g at the moment.

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15001255#post15001255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gulfsurfer
Twice a day and Im feeding them marine A pellets and green algae for my tangs

How many fish do you have in there? And what are they....

 

[Gulfsurfer]

Well I hope this is okay haha, but i go to those glaceau filling station at like grocery stores and stuff and it says its RO water... Well I have been messing with the rock a little bit, but I dont know if that would be sufficient enough to cause a cycle? So you're saying add a koralia 2 with my 3