Algae with no excess nutrients?

[Richmond]

My tank is about 3 months old and I'm getting this nuisance brown hair looking algae all over. It's especially breaking out on the sand under my powerhead and I'm curious if water movement would help?

Water parameters:
0.00 phosphate (Hannah checker)
0.00 nitrate (API)
0.00 Ammonia (API)
0.00 Nitrite (API)
1.023 SG (topping with salt to up this)
77.8 temp
7.95 pH (lab grade prob)

See below FTS for reference. Powerhead is pointing straight across along the back of the tank, hoping to make a whirlpool type flow.

Next pics are the algae. Open to advice on how to stop it from spreading.

 

[Salty1962]

Looks like GHA which is typical with a tank 3 mths. old. Do you have a CUC in the tank yet? Your tests may show no No3 or Po4 but it could be bound in the algae itself. I would get a good CUC and remove as much by hand as you can. Keep up your husbandry practices and it will eventually improve. Do you run anything like GFO to help with your nutrients? I don't believe any additional water movement would help with this algae but you can never have to much IMHO, just don't blow away your LPS. Hang in there it will get better.

 

[twilliard]

Photosynthesis
Think of it this was, we can keep our lawns growing without any additional fertilizer

 

[ebushrow]

The bottom of the tank on the sand looks like cyano. Look at the sand at night with a flashlight and see if it is all gone....if it is, it's cyano, a bacteria that works by photosynthesis.

On the rocks, it does look like he beginning of gha. You can try and dose with H2O2, but you have to figure out where the nutrients are coming from.

What test kits are you using?

You need good test kits to accurately determine your phosphates and nitrates...
I would doubt that either the nitrates or phosphates are actually 0...really hard to accomplish, even with a new tank.

 

[reefwiser]

I would get an algae scrubber to outcompete the algae in your tank. Your test kits could be upgraded but algae in a tank will always suck up the excess phosphate in the water column.

 

[ebushrow]

I would get an algae scrubber to outcompete the algae in your tank. Your test kits could be upgraded but algae in a tank will always suck up the excess phosphate in the water column.

Great idea too!

 

[Richmond]

Photosynthesis
Think of it this was, we can keep our lawns growing without any additional fertilizer

I get that part, but from what I understand algae requires nutrients and not JUST light.

The bottom of the tank on the sand looks like cyano. Look at the sand at night with a flashlight and see if it is all gone....if it is, it's cyano, a bacteria that works by photosynthesis.

On the rocks, it does look like he beginning of gha. You can try and dose with H2O2, but you have to figure out where the nutrients are coming from.

What test kits are you using?

You need good test kits to accurately determine your phosphates and nitrates...
I would doubt that either the nitrates or phosphates are actually 0...really hard to accomplish, even with a new tank.

API for nitrate, Hannah for phosphate. I'm bringing a water sample to the LFS to have them test with different test kits to see if we get the same results.

I would get an algae scrubber to outcompete the algae in your tank. Your test kits could be upgraded but algae in a tank will always suck up the excess phosphate in the water column.

My tank is an all in one, if someone can easily demonstrate how to use an algae scrubber without a sump I'll definitely look into it!

 

[ebushrow]

I get that part, but from what I understand algae requires nutrients and not JUST light.

It is getting the nutrients from the tank but taking them up faster than you can register them in a test....algae are very efficient at that.

API for nitrate, Hannah for phosphate. I'm bringing a water sample to the LFS to have them test with different test kits to see if we get the same results.



My tank is an all in one, if someone can easily demonstrate how to use an algae scrubber without a sump I'll definitely look into it!

 

[ebushrow]

Forgot to ask are you using rodi water....you probably are but thought I would check just in case

 

[Girish23]

just reduce the photosynesis period 10 to 15 day.then observed the tank if it starting reduce it is cyano.i also have same problem i reduce the photosynthesis period and it staring to reduce

 

[Richmond]

Forgot to ask are you using rodi water....you probably are but thought I would check just in case

Yes, I'm using nearly brand new filters in my Aquaticlife RO unit (No DI resin currently, though that may get added on this weekend)

just reduce the photosynesis period 10 to 15 day.then observed the tank if it starting reduce it is cyano.i also have same problem i reduce the photosynthesis period and it staring to reduce

There are no bubbles and I'm almost (almost!) 100% sure it's not cyano.

 

[twilliard]

there is an easy test for cyano outlined below (unless it is spirulina)

 

[ebushrow]

Yes, I'm using nearly brand new filters in my Aquaticlife RO unit (No DI resin currently, though that may get added on this weekend)



There are no bubbles and I'm almost (almost!) 100% sure it's not cyano.

So you are not using rodi....that will be your 1st issue. What are you feeding ( what are you using..frozen, pellets,flakes)?

 

[Richmond]

I'm doing the peroxide test, even though that picture makes me even more confident it has nothing to do with cyano.

Also, I've use this RO unit on multiple tanks for the past 5 years and never had any issue because of water quality. From what I've been told, the DI resin takes isn't absolutely necessary.

 

[Travis bell]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/automatic-roller-mat-theiling-1.html

 

[ebushrow]

I'm doing the peroxide test, even though that picture makes me even more confident it has nothing to do with cyano.

Also, I've use this RO unit on multiple tanks for the past 5 years and never had any issue because of water quality. From what I've been told, the DI resin takes isn't absolutely necessary.

What is in the cup is not cyano. It looked like cyano on the gravel/sand....red color....what's on the rocks is gha.

As for the di resin, I will leave that one alone....I would get too many people riled up.

 

[Richmond]

What is in the cup is not cyano. It looked like cyano on the gravel/sand....red color....what's on the rocks is gha.

As for the di resin, I will leave that one alone....I would get too many people riled up.

What's in the cup came from the sandbed. I just didn't have a good angle for the photo, it's not slimey it's just short tufts of hairy algae. It doesn't APPEAR to be GHA because it's not so stringy, but what do I know lol.

 

[Richmond]

14 hours later and it looks like this. Not cyano, but what is it and what should I do about it!?

From what I've read GHA would be more stringy and long. This stuff maxes out around 1/2 inch long... it's just little tufts everywhere. On rocks and in the sand bed.

 

[Paul B]

It's perfectly normal. Go out and have a nice dinner and don't worry about it. :cool:

 

[twilliard]

That sure looks like GHA ;)