Algae help

[turbois300]

Ok. ANother general question...........:confused::rolleyes: well actually 2. Go to the bottom for the questions.. the middle is filler info....sorry

I really haven't done anything to the tank in about a month or so other than the auto topping off and very light feeding.

I've noticed some redish algae starting to appear. It seems to be in high flow areas and it's starting to get onto some of my corals.

My fuge hasn't been pruned in quite some time and the 20L is totally filled up with chaeto.....actually there is some of that red stuff starting to grow in there too...

I have also noticed that my sand is clumping like crazy. there isn't algae on it but it is like stuck together if that makes sense...

I haven't tested levels and I think only my Alk test kit is still good..

QUESTIONS:

#1 - what should I do to combat the algae

#2 - will testing my alk help me discover the clumping mystery

Of course any suggestions are what I'm here for. Thanks in advance and sorry for the wierd post... :)

 

[Sambo]

clumps in the substrate seems to be more common in high alk and kalk drip situations. I would test your alk.

The red algae, if its like bristle and really tough.. well.. you're in for a haul until you find a fish that enjoys it. I'm going to assume thats what it is, because its common in the area. I battled this stuff for a while and tried all kinds of snails with no luck - even turbos. Emerald crabs devour it, but you would have to have a bunch or get them soon to stop the spread. Alex had a purple tang that ate it up. It isn't a water quality issue, it likes clean water and high flow IME. Rabbitfish, tang, or a bunch of emeralds.. it shouldn't bother your corals.

Good luck

 

[turbois300]

thanks sam. it's actually kinda slimy (the algae) the stuff on the rocks and near the corals actually looks like streamers in the wind (wind being current). it just rubs off but I didn't know if I should release it into the water column to get filtered out??? I can tooth brush it...

Should I pull out the clumps of sand? I used to dose reef builder and reef complete but haven't done wither in over 2 months. could the clumping be related to that? it is a recent occurance so mabe the Ca level is down and Alk too high????

 

[turbois300]

just wanted to add that there isn't much of the algae it is just starting to appear in more places that it first did a week or 2 ago.....

 

[jonbar1]

Could use a better description of the algae, is it branching? I had a bout with Asparagopsis about a year ago, and I am hoping that isn't what you have, but if it is, you need to catch it early.

 

[turbois300]

its more like a slime or ground (and rock) covering. It's like cyano but not....or maybe it is. It seems to be more on the rock work than the sand. it doesn't have much body to it...... it's again more like a slime. I don't have a good camera or I'd take a pict. Sorry