Algae id and help needed

[chrisgy08]

Hey guys
Im struggling with some algae that appears brown under blue lights but has more of a green look under whites. It seems to be growing mainly out of the sand and I am able to scoope it out i ln little bundles

130 litre tank around 3 months old started using dry rock and live Caribbean sand

Ph 8.2
Sal 1.025
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrate 0
Phos 0
Cal 380
7 dkh


Running pop bloom 90s with blue and no whites . Have attached some pics and a video

Any thoughts and help would be great guys

Thanks

 

[Savage Henry]

I had a number of different types of algae like that thrive and then die back as the tank cycles. I would siphon it off, but wouldn’t worry too much about it.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It looks like normal green hair algae to me. Do you have powerheads in the tank? Algae growing on the sand like that is often due to lack of flow along the sand bed. Seeing it grow in the corner is usually a dead flow spot. My first guess is there is not enough flow in your tank.

What do you have for filtration on the tank? How many fish? Do you have snails and other algae grazers? Are you dosing anything into the tank?

 

[chrisgy08]

It looks like normal green hair algae to me. Do you have powerheads in the tank? Algae growing on the sand like that is often due to lack of flow along the sand bed. Seeing it grow in the corner is usually a dead flow spot. My first guess is there is not enough flow in your tank.

What do you have for filtration on the tank? How many fish? Do you have snails and other algae grazers? Are you dosing anything into the tank?

Yea I have a sicce 2000 on the right hand side and a jebao sw4 on the left . Its growing all across the sand bed front and back and on the rocks and tanks sides .
Filtration is a seachem tidal 55 hob
I have 3 snails in the tank
Currently not dosing anything
The tank is only 130 litres and I couldn't see any tangs that would be suitable for a tank that size

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Your filtration is a mechanical filter to polish the water, but it does not export any nutrients or dissolved organics from the system. How often are you doing water changes? How is your feeding schedule? Your system has more nutrient input than nutrient export. No you can't put tangs in the tank but turbo snails are awesome algae grazers, urchins, etc... It looks like the tank is started with dry rock, which also takes more time to develop good bacteria, the first 3-6 months are what we call the ugly stages, I suggest increased water changes during this time.

 

[chrisgy08]

Your filtration is a mechanical filter to polish the water, but it does not export any nutrients or dissolved organics from the system. How often are you doing water changes? How is your feeding schedule? Your system has more nutrient input than nutrient export. No you can't put tangs in the tank but turbo snails are awesome algae grazers, urchins, etc... It looks like the tank is started with dry rock, which also takes more time to develop good bacteria, the first 3-6 months are what we call the ugly stages, I suggest increased water changes during this time.

The filter has a bag of ceramic media in it aswell as sponges .
Water changes have been a bit sparse . Maybe every 2-3 weeks of about 20 litres
Yea dry rock and live sand .
Ill try do the same amount weekly and see how it goes. How many snails you think for a tank this size ? I kind of thought 3 wasn't enough

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

For your algae problem I would get 10-12 snails, hermit crabs can also help, emerald crabs will eat it if you trust them. Its not just not about removing algae but need to remove detritus from the system as well, detritus harbors bad bacteria which grows algae.

I would perform weekly water changes, my tanks are several years old and I still do weekly water changes. I would remove the sponge, it is a detritus trap. If you have rock in your tank, then the rock is the biofilter, the ceramic rings again are detritus traps. I use those filters with rubble (for copepod housing) and activated carbon.

Like I said, you are in a normal period so don't get discouraged, it happens to everyone. Now is the time to practice good husbandry and you will eventually overcome it. I'm sure others will have more advice for you. Good luck

 

[chrisgy08]

For your algae problem I would get 10-12 snails, hermit crabs can also help, emerald crabs will eat it if you trust them. Its not just not about removing algae but need to remove detritus from the system as well, detritus harbors bad bacteria which grows algae.

I would perform weekly water changes, my tanks are several years old and I still do weekly water changes. I would remove the sponge, it is a detritus trap. If you have rock in your tank, then the rock is the biofilter, the ceramic rings again are detritus traps. I use those filters with rubble (for copepod housing) and activated carbon.

Like I said, you are in a normal period so don't get discouraged, it happens to everyone. Now is the time to practice good husbandry and you will eventually overcome it. I'm sure others will have more advice for you. Good luck

Thanks for the encouragement and appreciate the details replies. Thanks guys

 

[Savage Henry]

Just be wary of overdoing it at this stage given your tank is going through stages where you will get different algae coming and going. For instance, don’t overload with snails (particularly if the snails aren’t the type that are going to venture onto your sand hint hint).

I would siphon off what algae you can from the sand once a week or so.