Having issues with nuisance algae

[Gichigami.reefer]

I’ve been having some issues since I tried to “rescue “ 2 fags in august with the tiniest amount of gha I dipped in H202 and put them in tank everything seemed to be going good numbers were good and all of the sudden boom it was everywhere slowly kept losing coral ( I bet atleast 15 frags lost ) but numbers were still within range and then I had tests for a few weeks with 0 no3 but i got levels back up and I’ve been doing manual removal and just completed a 3 day blackout to knock it back which seemed to help a lot but don’t want it to become a issue again. Wanting to know what’s best course of action? Dose beneficial bacteria to outcompete the gha and what I assume is Dino’s ? don’t have microscope to confirm but based on looks I’m pretty sure. Pictures for reference on parameters, what algae looks like and pictures of the frags that introduced algae , as well as before and after the “crash “ and a current picture since I’ve added some free frags from a buddy that are doing mediocre at best . I need advice or best plan moving forward ?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Photos under white light?
What does your CUC look like?

 

[exnisstech]

^This ^ I don't see any cuc in the tank? My tangs keep my frags clean. I've also had astrea snails do a decent job cleaning plugs in smaller tanks.

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

I have a juvenile blue eye Kole tang, 2 Mexican turbos, 8 or so blue legged hermits and 4 or 5 astrea snails , like 7 or 8 mini brittle starfish and the tanks full of pods on rockwork and in back chambers in media and rubble rock. 10 pounds of rock has been running like 15 months and the other 35 ish pounds been running like 10 months, and I bet I got atleast a pound or so of rubble and media in the back chambers. I will get you a pic once light have been on for a while like 6 hours from now is the halfway mark through light cycle there’s not much algae after light being off all night. Parameters are stable other than I’m having a hard time from nitrates bottoming out. I’ve been testing daily at same time and every parameter is almost exactly the same each day besides the nitrates bounce from 0 to 3 ish ppm

 

[exnisstech]

CUC does a good job hiding.
I dose sodium nitrate on two tanks when they hit zero. It's cheap and no need to raise it slowly. Dosing ammonia or Ammonium is becoming a thing for low NO3 from what I have been reading. I stick with the sodium nitrate for now since it works and I don't have to dose on a schedule but only when see 0.
I can't really say it helps any with the nuisance algae. One tank is a mess and the other my acro tank with little to no nuisance algae but they'll both test 0 every once and a while. I'm starting to think there is a lot more involved in having a lot of nuisance algae than just N and P levels.

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

I agree it’s like to get into reefing you become a mad scientist with all the testing and chemicals and additives and formulas my only concern with dosing nitrates of some sort wouldn’t it just feed the algae growth/ bloom? That’s why I’ve been holding off on dosing nitrates directly. I have some ammonium chloride I could use but I’m not sure on dosing amounts or if it’s worth it to dose with the algae in there it’s like I’m constantly one step behind for months.

 

[exnisstech]

I agree it’s like to get into reefing you become a mad scientist with all the testing and chemicals and additives and formulas my only concern with dosing nitrates of some sort wouldn’t it just feed the algae growth/ bloom? That’s why I’ve been holding off on dosing nitrates directly. I have some ammonium chloride I could use but I’m not sure on dosing amounts or if it’s worth it to dose with the algae in there it’s like I’m constantly one step behind for months.

I feel the same lol. I really only dose nitrate when I see 0 because I'm scared of dinos. I can't wrap my head around the nuisance algae. I run 3 tanks with similar parameters and husbandry and only one has a problem with algae.

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

I’m very tempted to try the “vibrant “ band wagon and just be done with the algae but I don’t like adding stuff if I don’t have to and I’ve heard mixed reviews and I don’t need any “snake oil” cures to have something else take its place. I’m just at a loss and the algae is driving me nuts and I can’t seem to grow or keep coral with the lack of nutrients a few of my tester sps after the crash are already bleaching after almost 2 weeks. I’ll post a pic once it’s looking gross and covered in algae . It’s like the tank looks fairly ok little bit of gha but not to bad for first couple hours but butt the day goes it slowly gets coverd in gross stringy slimey stuff. I’ve been blowing it off and shooting it through filter pad and removing it

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

Here’s best pics I can get. Free test corals are bleaching but still see polyp extension so stuff is still alive for now. Parameters are
Alk. 8.5 dkh
Calcium 450
Nitrates 4 ppm
Phosphates barely detectable
Temp 78
Salinity 1.024 slowly working back up to 1.026 was 1.023 last week when I caught it

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

Also does anyone know what the weird red maroon cooler spot is next the the monti plate that’s bleaching? Whatever it is is hard and almost smooth feeling been growing slowly

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

Any guess?

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Can your light fixture be modified??

If so, cut out all spectrum of lighting, except for the blues. Leave it that way for at least a week. You should start seeing die-off in 5ish days. Don't be scared to use a toothbrush either once you start seeing that algae die.

Also, might be worth dosing Neo-Nitro (or any No3 supplement) to avoid bottoming out.

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

Can your light fixture be modified??

If so, cut out all spectrum of lighting, except for the blues. Leave it that way for at least a week. You should start seeing die-off in 5ish days. Don't be scared to use a toothbrush either once you start seeing that algae die.

Also, might be worth dosing Neo-Nitro (or any No3 supplement) to avoid bottoming out.

This is the light schedule I am using on ai prime 16 hd and a ai blade grow to help with shadowing was having good results until the algae causing “crash “ it’s the “pennywise deadlights 81% “. Don’t mind my ghetto looking light shades

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

Also not sure it matters but currently running chemipure elite in media basket rated for 25 gallons and tank is approximately 36 gallons and auto dosing afr 3.5 ml at 12pm and 4 ml at 9pm and dosing 20 drops of coral amino at 9:30 mixed with frozen

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

seems like I’m winning the battle against the algae but still losing my sps

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Also not sure it matters but currently running chemipure elite in media basket rated for 25 gallons and tank is approximately 36 gallons and auto dosing afr 3.5 ml at 12pm and 4 ml at 9pm and dosing 20 drops of coral amino at 9:30 mixed with frozen

Keep an eye on your Po4 with the chemipure elite. It does wonders at pulling out Phosphate.

Do you know where your Po4 is?

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

Keep an eye on your Po4 with the chemipure elite. It does wonders at pulling out Phosphate.

Do you know where your Po4 is?

It’s been like a steady .1 ppm or so since I added it was up closer to .25 ppm before but got it down for the last few months but still having issues with bottoming out nitrates

 

[Sdoutreefer]

It’s been like a steady .1 ppm or so since I added it was up closer to .25 ppm before but got it down for the last few months but still having issues with bottoming out nitrates

Have you thought about dosing No3 (I like Brightwell's Neo-Nitro)?

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

Keep an eye on your Po4 with the chemipure elite. It does wonders at pulling out Phosphate.

Do you know where your Po4 is?

I had that issue when I first upgraded from 10 gallon to the nuvo 40 I added a chemipure elite rated for 50 gallons and that bottomed the phos and gave me a giant cyano battle but seems like the one rated for 25 gallons is the sweet spot

 

[Gichigami.reefer]

Have you thought about dosing No3 (I like Brightwell's Neo-Nitro)?

I think that’s what I’m gonna end up doing I’ve been trying to do it through feeding but if I feed to much po4 gets high