Algae issues in a 7 month old tank !!!

[dart]

Hi,

My tank has been setup for 7 months now and had already gone through the diatoms phase once at 3 months mark. I added a CUC and things were under control. Recently algae started popping up and now I have it spread across rocks and sand bed. Are these still diatoms ? Few of my snails were killed by a hermit crab and there are a few baby Trochus snails growing. What ever snails I have left are always on the glass and I don’t see them get down and eat any of the algae.

I tested RO water and it shows zero silicates on a salifert test kit. I am thinking of getting an ICP test done.

I have two clown fishes and a few corals like Kenya tree, gsp and a Rhodactis mushroom

NO3 : 20
PO4 : 0
Alkalinity : 9.6
Calcium : 450
Mg : 1400
Ph : 8
Salinity : 1.025

 

[Red_Beard]

That looks like normal algae, but without a microscope cannot say definitively. To keep your sand clean, you will need something that will turn it over and keep it stirred up. Conchs nassarious snails, a stick, something like that will help you keep that looking clean.

 

[Lavey29]

Could be green cyano. You will experience algae phases throughout the first year. Cut out the white light.

 

[ScottJ]

The green on the rocks is just normal and good. As Lavey29 said, you will go thru a lot of algae stages in the first year or more. Just let it be.

 

[dart]

That looks like normal algae, but without a microscope cannot say definitively. To keep your sand clean, you will need something that will turn it over and keep it stirred up. Conchs nassarious snails, a stick, something like that will help you keep that looking clean.

Il see if i can get hold of a microscope to identify the kind of algae.

 

[dart]

Could be green cyano. You will experience algae phases throughout the first year. Cut out the white light.

Are they harmful ? Should i just wait it out ? Do i need to cut out lights completely for two to three days and see if that makes a difference ?

 

[dart]

The green on the rocks is just normal and good. As Lavey29 said, you will go thru a lot of algae stages in the first year or more. Just let it be.

Is it ok to add more corals during this phase?

 

[dart]

Should I be worried about phosphates reading 0 ? I have read too many thread and I am not able to come to a conclusion whether it’s good or bad.

 

[Red_Beard]

Il see if i can get hold of a microscope to identify the kind of algae.

I wouldnt worry about it, regardless of type, i would say with relitive confidence that you knowing specifically what it is not going to cause any actions outside of general good maintenance practices. What you have is very normal and not cause for any alarm.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I wouldnt worry about it, regardless of type, i would say with relitive confidence that you knowing specifically what it is not going to cause any actions outside of general good maintenance practices. What you have is very normal and not cause for any alarm.

Pretty much. And if you started with dry rock, rather than live rock, this series of stages will take longer to go through. But, as stated, these things tend to be self-limiting and just a part of the game.

Should I be worried about phosphates reading 0 ? I have read too many thread and I am not able to come to a conclusion whether it’s good or bad.

I'd keep phosphate above zero. You don't need to go overboard and keep high values, of course, but as you already have corals, it's necessary.

Is it ok to add more corals during this phase?

You could. Your issue isn't that bad so you can consider adding more. I know, with my old 90g, I didn't stop adding coral when a minor algae bloom occurred. I just maintained good habits until the issue rectified itself.

And to answer your query concerning if a blackout would help, yes it would, but at a cost. You've got corals that'll be starved out with extended periods of no light. And a three day blackout won't be enough to get rid of your issue. So it's pointless IMO. There will come a time when you have enough nitrifying bacteria coating your surfaces to thwart algae colonization, but that'll take time and a livestock population to maintain said bacterial levels. At this point in your journey, it's just about good husbandry and patience as your ecosystem developes and matures.

 

[Lavey29]

Are they harmful ? Should i just wait it out ? Do i need to cut out lights completely for two to three days and see if that makes a difference ?

No just limit white light. Blue and uv is fine. It's just normal first year algae. Get snails and hermits.

 

[Lavey29]

Should I be worried about phosphates reading 0 ? I have read too many thread and I am not able to come to a conclusion whether it’s good or bad.

You don't want 0 phosphate or low nitrates because it means your corals are starving.

 

[dart]

Pretty much. And if you started with dry rock, rather than live rock, this series of stages will take longer to go through. But, as stated, these things tend to be self-limiting and just a part of the game.

Thank you for the detailed response.

 

[dart]

Pretty much. And if you started with dry rock, rather than live rock, this series of stages will take longer to go through. But, as stated, these things tend to be self-limiting and just a part of the game.

Yes, I started with Aquaforest dry rock. In that case I’ll just wait it out and take care of doing weekly maintenance.

I'd keep phosphate above zero. You don't need to go overboard and keep high values, of course, but as you already have corals, it's necessary.

What would be the best way to raise phosphates ? I have the skimmer running 24/7. Should I reduce it to few hours a day or should I dose
to raise phosphates ?

 

[dart]

You don't want 0 phosphate or low nitrates because it means your corals are starving.

Nitrate is at 20 now. Should I feed corals with reefroids to raise phosphates ?

 

[dart]

No just limit white light. Blue and uv is fine. It's just normal first year algae. Get snails and hermits.

Sure, I’ll consider cutting down white light and adding more CUC.

 

[BryanM]

I've never had luck feeding more to raise nutrients.... Though I do understand reefroids apparently raises phos in most peoples tanks, I just don't feed that product.

I've resorted to dosing NeoPhos and NeoNitro, while I'm figuring out just how good my ATS is at nutrient export.

 

[dart]

I am still battling the same algae issue. Is this still green algae ? I tried to clean them with tooth brush and they are very stubborn. I have been dosing p04 and It reads .06 now. Nitrates was 25ppm before and it’s not dropped to 10ppm and have been the same since two weeks.

I ended up loosing few snails during this period. They slowed down and my hermits feast on them when this happens.

I am worried it’s some toxic algae.

Tank parameter now
Ca : 430
Mg : 1380
alk : 8.6

Photo taken under full white light.

 

[dart]

I've never had luck feeding more to raise nutrients.... Though I do understand reefroids apparently raises phos in most peoples tanks, I just don't feed that product.

I've resorted to dosing NeoPhos and NeoNitro, while I'm figuring out just how good my ATS is at nutrient export.i have been

I have been doing nyos phosphates and it’s detectable on Hanna ulr. Salifert does not detect or I am not able to match the color.

 

[chickendirt]

Might wanna lower the power heads so the flow grazes the rock more. Both seem to be the same height.

Best not to worry too much about algae this early. Its just part of the process. Its worse to tinker and swing numbers too much in the other direction. Issue is more flow in the tank given your numbers though. Nitrates feed algae in places it can settle. Usually where nothing else is growing or moving.