Algae ID help

[turbo2oh]

need some assistance Identifying the algae in my tank. I’m attaching some white light photos. If I scoop it up it does kind of hold together in that it’s kind of stringy doesn’t feel mucus or slimy.

My tank parameters are:
Calcium: 421
Alk: 8.2
mg: 1213
Phosphate: 0.13
Nitrate: 0

I know I should try to get nitrate up general but would like to ID the algae first. I did recently have some GHA that’s mostly gone. Not sure if this is remnants of that or something else. My yellow eye Kole tang does pick at it some.

 

[Science/G]

It's some sort of filamentous turf algae

 

[turbo2oh]

It's some sort of filamentous turf algae

Any advice other than manual removal? It’s pretty persistent

 

[Science/G]

Emerald crabs, pitho crabs and hopefully your tang gets to work.

 

[turbo2oh]

What’s interesting is it’s only on the sand and unchecked for a few days it really takes over

 

[turbo2oh]

Im considering adding a 1/2 cup phosguard to a media bag

 

[BryanM]

What's phosguard going to do for this problem?

If your current livestock doesn't touch it, I would add something that does, along with manual removal.

 

[winzig]

nitrates at 0 also can be a problem

 

[turbo2oh]

What's phosguard going to do for this problem?

If your current livestock doesn't touch it, I would add something that does, along with manual removal.

My thinking is to bring phosphate down some. It’s obviously there and if it’s a little high with this algae that’s what isn’t being absorbed. Might switch up food too.

 

[turbo2oh]

nitrates at 0 also can be a problem

Yeah not sure how to address that without pushing up phosphates more.

 

[Isaac Alves]

I would siphon out the algae on the sand bed in sections over a few weeks. And replace that area with new sand that matches your current grade. Basically manual removal.

 

[BryanM]

My thinking is to bring phosphate down some. It’s obviously there and if it’s a little high with this algae that’s what isn’t being absorbed. Might switch up food too.

Your phos is already decently low, and even if you lower it I don’t think it will help your algae issue — and if you bottom it out it very likely will make things worse.