Bright Yellow Algae

Oneofayykind · Nov 9, 2016

This stuff is out of control. Tank is about 6 weeks old and I've had some brown diatoms for a while. About 2 weeks ago this yellow algae started in random spots and now it's taking over pretty rapidly.

29 gallon biocube with 5 gallons changes once a week right now. No fish in the tank only live rock sand and inverts, hermits and snails.

What can I do to clean this up without removing the rock from the tank which I don't want to do?

Bdog4u2 · Nov 9, 2016

Check out the vibrant thread some people are having success with it. I've always had tangs and a lot of coraline on my rocks so I've been lucky on the algae front

ebushrow · Nov 9, 2016

So I really cannot tell from the photos... have you seen that it has cycled completely yet? I think it is just part of the cycling/maturing process (from what I think I am seeing...provided this has been completed) I would not yet call it out if control...you are working on it early which is good. You need to check for phosphates and nitrates for sure...something is feeding the algae and you need to eliminate the source.

What do you use for water? Do you know the TDS?

This tank is also very new to have corals in it....for the future, fish are less delicate overall and should be able to be safely put in to the tank before corals.

Diesel · Nov 9, 2016

When I saw your post and first thing I was thinking Sponges but I don't think we talking sponges here.
Can you get a close up pic?

#reefsquad

ebushrow · Nov 9, 2016

Bdog4u2 said:
Check out the vibrant thread some people are having success with it. I've always had tangs and a lot of coraline on my rocks so I've been lucky on the algae front

I think he is refering to the places that do not have coraline on them....where the rock would be bare....

Oneofayykind · Nov 9, 2016

ebushrow said:
So I really cannot tell from the photos... have you seen that it has cycled completely yet? I think it is just part of the cycling/maturing process (from what I think I am seeing...provided this has been completed) I would not yet call it out if control...you are working on it early which is good. You need to check for phosphates and nitrates for sure...something is feeding the algae and you need to eliminate the source.

What do you use for water? Do you know the TDS?

This tank is also very new to have corals in it....for the future, fish are less delicate overall and should be able to be safely put in to the tank before corals.

I don't know the TDS I buy my water currently from my LFS and bring the salinity up to .025.

Here is a closer picture.

Sabellafella · Nov 9, 2016

Oneofayykind said:
I don't know the TDS I buy my water currently from my LFS and bring the salinity up to .025.

Here is a closer picture.

Super fine, just algae. Leave it be, sooner or later itll be pretty purples n pinks =)

G8trBait16 · Nov 9, 2016

It looks like the rocks are just maturing and going through the typical stages. Just a little green algae, keep the parameters in check and it will go away.