Algae ID

[Kingy]

Hi all,

I’m in need of some help with an algae/detritus issue I’ve had in my 125 gallon tank for over a year now. I’ve tried many things such as manual removal, scraping the rock with a toothbrush, flux rx and seachem pristine however nothing seems to get rid of it.

The algae/detritus can be removed from the rock by a simply squeeze of the turkey baster but comes back within days, it looks grey in colour. I’m not really sure on what i can try next to remove it for good.

Any help would be really appreciated.

Salinity: 1.026
Ph: 8.2
Ammonia/Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5-10
Phosphates: 0.1
Calcium: 450
Alkalinity: 11 dkh
Mag: 1300

I run a UV steriliser, Skimmer, refugium with cheato, plenty of live rock.

I do also own both a porcupine puffer and snowflake eel who are messy eaters but due to this issue i tend to not feed that much mostly because i worry feeding causes more issues with the algae/detritus.

 

[SlugSnorter]

the nitrates are showing as low maybe because the algae is growing fast, Snowflakes and other morays shed lots of mucus into the water too

 

[Duffer]

i'm wondering if it's more of a sponge type...i tried looking for you and could not find anything..

 

[Kingy]

i'm wondering if it's more of a sponge type...i tried looking for you and could not find anything..

Thank you for looking, yeah i’m just super confused and frustrated by it, i spend most my early mornings and evenings trying to manually remove it which i think is a loosing battle.

Nitrates are likely low due to some algae growth like you said @SlugSnorter however i like to ‘think’ i keep nutrients low by 10-15% water changes weekly and the use of nopox (soon upgrading to a reactor with bio pellets).

 

[SlugSnorter]

Thank you for looking, yeah i’m just super confused and frustrated by it, i spend most my early mornings and evenings trying to manually remove it which i think is a loosing battle.

Nitrates are likely low due to some algae growth like you said @SlugSnorter however i like to ‘think’ i keep nutrients low by 10-15% water changes weekly and the use of nopox (soon upgrading to a reactor with bio pellets).

purigen could maybe help

 

[Kingy]

purigen could maybe help

Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll give it a go

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Bacteria would be my guess. I’ve had this too and I couldn’t get a algae ID

 

[Kingy]

Bacteria would be my guess. I’ve had this too and I couldn’t get a algae ID

How did you end up getting rid of it if you did?

 

[SlugSnorter]

How did you end up getting rid of it if you did?

Nutrient control helps

If you are willing to supplement their diet if algae gets low lettuce slugs (maybe the Elysia Crispata) are cool and could help.