Algae Bloom in Tank

[gabriellar]

My tank is one year old. It's been stable until I upgraded my light (previously around 70 par now 150 par with a acclimation duration of 30 days) and then I noticed this algae bloom. A lot of algae growing in the tank like crazy (hair algae, film algae, cyanobacteria...even find bubble algae start to show up with a few, which i don't have before). Along with this, I also noticed my nutrients go down way faster than before.

I'm dosing Nitrate, fusion 1 and fusion 2 on a daily basis now, because per days with no dosing will consume about 1ppm of nitrate and 0.5dkh alkalinity. I'm not sure about my exact phosphate level at the moment, used API test before but that thing has low precision, now waiting on my hanna checker to arrive. I also added macro algae to fight with the micro algae (just added in for 3 days).

Right now, thankfully all the corals still look happy in my tank (mainly LPS and softies), but I don't want to test their limit. I want to ask what is the best way for me to adapt my tank through this period to get back to normal faster.

 

[BryanM]

More info on tank... We got age and some tank parameters.

Size, filtration, flow.

If the only thing that has changed is the light, it could be that your old light was woefully underpowered adn the new light is giving "fuel" to all of this new growth.

A video of the tank, posted to youtube and linked here, would enable more people to try and help.

 

[slingfox]

What clean up crew do you have? To I create chances of getting better help you need to post more info about your system. Pictures also help.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The growing algae - and macro algae - is consuming the nitrate, I would not dose nitrate/phosphate in this case, just me personally.

It sounds like you had your tank in the dark previously and your tank is now maturing with the light. Me personally I would keep nutrients low and stay on course through this phase. Increase the cuc and the water changes in the meantime. IMO. good luck

 

[Azrael83fr]

I would treat this more as the tank reacting to a big light change than as a sudden failure.

Going from ~70 PAR to ~150 PAR is a major increase in usable energy for the whole system, not only for corals. Algae, cyano and even macro algae can all respond quickly, and that can also make nitrate look like it is being consumed faster.

Before making big changes, I’d try to separate a few things: actual nutrient availability, algae uptake, and export. I wouldn’t chase nitrate too aggressively until you have a better phosphate reading, especially since visible algae can hide what is really happening in the water column.

For now I’d keep alkalinity stable, manually remove what you can, avoid big lighting or nutrient swings, and let the macro algae settle for more than 3 days before judging it.

Could you share tank size, filtration/export method, flow, clean-up crew, light schedule, and a photo of the bloom?

 

[gabriellar]

More info on tank... We got age and some tank parameters.

Size, filtration, flow.

If the only thing that has changed is the light, it could be that your old light was woefully underpowered adn the new light is giving "fuel" to all of this new growth.

A video of the tank, posted to youtube and linked here, would enable more people to try and help.

What clean up crew do you have? To I create chances of getting better help you need to post more info about your system. Pictures also help.

size is a 40 gallon tank
filter is Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Aquarium Power Filter, 50-gal
protein skimmer is Aqualready Bullet-3 Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer
pump is Sicce Voyager 2 (800GPH)

clean crew has: 2 trochus snails, one urchin, 5 hermit crabs, one emerald crab.

I can post a video of my tank later today. And yes, the light is the only change in the past month.

 

[BryanM]

I agree with Mojo above, tank appears to be maturing due to the new, increased light - Which long term appears to be what you needed anyway, but you're going to have to weather the storm for a bit, so to speak.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

size is a 40 gallon tank
filter is Marineland Bio-Wheel Penguin Aquarium Power Filter, 50-gal
protein skimmer is Aqualready Bullet-3 Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer
pump is Sicce Voyager 2 (800GPH)

clean crew has: 2 trochus snails, one urchin, 5 hermit crabs, one emerald crab.

I can post a video of my tank later today. And yes, the light is the only change in the past month.

In my opinion, get yourself a second wavemaker. algae loves low flow. My own 40 gallon has 2 gyres plus a jebao wavemaker behind the rocks plus the return flow.

Also beef up your cuc, get some mexican turbo snails, those things mow down algae. Get some nassarius snails for your sandbed. IMO. good luck

 

[Sophie"s mom]

In my opinion, get yourself a second wavemaker. algae loves low flow. My own 40 gallon has 2 gyres plus a jebao wavemaker behind the rocks plus the return flow.

Also beef up your cuc, get some mexican turbo snails, those things mow down algae. Get some nassarius snails for your sandbed. IMO. good luck

Agree 100% here!

 

[gabriellar]

Thank you so much guys for all the advice!

I'll definitely get more snails and second pump, also do a water change once every four days for now (let me know if I should change water at a even higher frequency tho).

 

[slingfox]

Thank you so much guys for all the advice!

I'll definitely get more snails and second pump, also do a water change once every four days for now (let me know if I should change water at an even higher frequency tho).

No need to do water changes more frequent then that, albeit there is little harm in doing so. Standard water change schedule is 10% once a week or larger water change less often.