Algae problem (Hairy, Cyano and another one)

[leeransetton]

Hi,

Recently, a friend of mine experienced a burst of green hairy algae.
After he tried to take a brake with TLF Bioplastic, he found out about API AlgaeFix Marine, he used it for a week and the aquarium looked clean again.
During the time he fought that algae, I experienced it as well, but on a very smaller scale.
The only difference is that I got some Cyano as well and some other algae that I could not identify (pics attached).

Some background:
I am using Orphek Nilus LED fixture. It was very close to the water (3 inches), but I raised it (it's about 10 inches from the water surface now). My turbo snails died (thanks, hermit crabs, and congrats on your new home!) and for some reason my TLF Bioplastic stopped moving in it's reactor (fixed it).
I used to feed my corals twice a week and feed my fish frozen food also twice a week (I washed the food under tap water to remove everything that is not the shrimps before feeding).
Most of my SPS corals don't last more than 2-3 months, and those who survive don't grow that much (I have a stag frag for more than 7 months. It's initial size was 2 inches, now it is 3 inches and started dying).
I bought T5 fixture (8 bulbs X 24W each) because I think the growth problem is because of the lighting.

My current values:
KH - 9.75 (tested with Salifert) - a bit high, I wanna lower it to 8
Ca - 390 (tested with Salifert) - a bit low. That's because I wanna lower the KH
Mg - 1245 (tested with Salifert) - same as CA
NO4 - 0 (tested with Salifert)
PO4 - 0 (tested with Hanna)
Salinity - 32 ppt 1.024 SG (tested with Milwaukee digital refractometer) - a bit low. I acclimated Turbo snails and a new fish. Will add salt when I finish writing this post.

Algae pics:

And this soft coral came out of nowhere. Can you identify it?

Thanks for helping!
I'm really frustrated!

Leeran

 

[Reefing Madness]

What you have there may be Dinos. Kinda hard to tell but thats what I'm guessing, especially with your paramters being so good.

 

[leeransetton]

I think I should add that I have sand bed - about 1/2 inch of it.

The way I could explain the look of this algae to a friend of mine on the phone was to tell him that it looks like purple short thinning male hair. Perhaps this could help you.

Is there anything I can do to remove this algae?

 

[Reefing Madness]

But the stuff on the rocks looks dark brownish and hairy with some bubbling in it, thsts what led me to think Dinos.

 

[leeransetton]

Taking pictures under led isn't that easy (for me, at least)
perhaps brownish-purpleish, hairy (short) and with bubbles.
can you post here a good pic of Dinos?

 

[juggalogentry]

 

[juggalogentry]

they come in alot of different colors and are toxic and can be harmful to the aquarium

 

[leeransetton]

Is that Dinos?

If so, that's not how it looks like. I will try to take a good photo tomorrow with a better camera.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Algae help:

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/equipment-lighting-hardware-aquarium-filtration/86207-lowest-cost-easiest-way-eliminate-green-hair-bubble-turf-slime-algae-your-aquarium-hopefully-permanently.html

:bigsmile:

 

[leeransetton]

That's a great idea.
Can you tell me what are the differences between UAS and a refuge?

 

[leeransetton]

New pics with a better camera (still a really awful photographer )

Thanks guys!!

 

[Sully]

I feel your pain. I'm battling this right now. Good luck to you.

 

[leeransetton]

You too, mate.

 

[THEACOX88]

What can you do to get rid of Dino algae if it is that? I have similar looking algae and did a 72 hour black out that didn't get rid of it

 

[Reefing Madness]

Ya gotta do the 3day lights out with hydrogen peroxide solution dosing.

 

[THEACOX88]

Personally I keep shrimp and I heard that would kill them all

 

[leeransetton]

Reefing Madness, 3 days light out won't harm the corals?
THEACOX88, I have 2 fire shrimps, 1 lismata, 4 Turbo snails, 3 hermit crabs, 1 nasarius snail and 3-4 brittle Sea Star.

 

[saltyphish]

I wrap my tank to keep ambient light out and turn tank lights out for 72 hrs. Tank never looks so clean when I remove the towels and kick lights on

 

[THEACOX88]

Leeransetton I've done the lights out with my corals and didn't harm them. My thing is the peroxide I heard kills shrimp.

 

[leeransetton]

ok, I'll do it!
tnx guys