How do I get rid of this?

mtnrunner · Dec 6, 2013

Is this a bacteria or algae? The brown stuff that is somewhat stringy.
I've dosed API Algaefix and also tried Chemiclean and I still have it.

Overall my tank appears fine as shown in the wide photo. I do weekly 12 gal water changes.

90 gal mixed reef
MH/blue actinic
Protein skimmer
Ecotech MP40 circulation
spec gravity 1.025
Alk 9dkh
Cal 420
temp 76
pH 7.9
Nitrite 9 ppb
Phosphate .03 ppm

goodtimes · Dec 6, 2013

Increasing flow will help I believe. Also a 3 day blackout will temporarily help. How long has the tank been setup?

DM1975 · Dec 6, 2013

I have almost the exact thing happening in mine. I was just about to post a thread asking for help. It is starting to effect my corals and I need to get it gone ASAP... I will be following this.

Here is mine. It's starting to bubble up some like yours now...

mtnrunner · Dec 6, 2013

Many years. There is very good water flow where this stuff is.

Do you think it's algae or bacteria?

peterthegamer · Dec 6, 2013

Bad stuff. Bubble algae can get rid of it with emerald crab.

DM1975 · Dec 6, 2013

I don't think that's bubble algae in the picture he posted. That has bubbles in it, but it is just that, bubbles.

mtnrunner · Dec 6, 2013

Agree it's not bubble algae.

DM1975 · Dec 6, 2013

I have been scrubbing mine off. It comes off in clumps and floats around the tank till it's finally skimmed out. I have two 1050's and a 1400 Koralia in my tank so flow has done nothing for mine.

DM1975 · Dec 6, 2013

I tried chemiclean, Ultralife, I run a GFO reactor, UV sterilizer, and all of my bulbs are good and not ready to be changed. I'm at a complete loss. I even did a large water change and vacuumed the sand bed. Nothing...

My skimmer has been working fine and I don't over feed and am not over stocked. It's starting to get on the tips of my pink birdsnest and is causing tissue recession. Also I have zoanthids and palys closing up from it.

dougers31 · Dec 6, 2013

You could try the peroxide treatment... didn't work for me but has worked for many others. Search peroxide to treat dinos.

Basically you dose 1ml. of hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons of tank water per day for 8 days or so. My tank looked better for doing it but the tan slimy/stringy snot is still there :(

mike007 · Dec 6, 2013

Looks like algae to me. Nusiance algaes are caused by excess nutrients in water column. You need a good strong skimmer and lots of flow. But you need to find out the cause of these nutrients. Most of the time it is from overfeeding fish,corals and phosphates. What type lighting are you using?

mtnrunner · Dec 6, 2013

MH and blue actinics - see prams in my post.

I do skim, use RO water. I also try to just feed the fish what they need and not over feed. Mostly seaweed and mysis shrimp.