Help ID this algae

Tango2

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I've let this go for far too long and I'm trying to get my tank back in shape. This algae has been around for quite a while now, and I'm trying to determine exactly what it is so I can begin to eradicate it. Any help would be appreciated.

The rocks become coated with the brown film easily within 24 hours of scrubbing them. The underlying rock is pretty clean looking after scrubbing, however there is some green algae that is very difficult to remove by scrubbing. As you can see, the brown film is removed easily.

 

Tommy B

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How long has the system been running? Brown film easily brushed off sounds like diatoms, green could be the start of hair algae.
 
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Tango2

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The tank has been running for upwards of 10 years now. It's been like this longer than I'd like to admit though. It's not a new outbreak, but something I haven't been able to get under control (nor have I tried very hard until now).

Edit: Also worth noting, my CuC doesn't seem to touch it.
 
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Tango2

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In the process of restocking now. I've had nassarius, ceriths, turbos, and hermits in the past with not much luck. They wouldn't touch the algae and would eventually starve out. I think I have a couple that survived since the last order which was easily 6 months ago.

I recently added a starry blenny and a conch, but haven't seen either of them touch any of the algae. I didn't get them for that reason, but I hoped they may dig into it. They have only been in the tank for a few days now, so they may still come around.
 
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Tango2

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Here's an update 24 hours from the last video (same location in the tank). I'm seeing small bubbles, could this be dinos or is the consensus just diatoms?
 
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Tango2

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Received some new test kits today. Confirmed that levels are 0 (Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite). pH is 8.2 and dKH is 10. Phosphate measured 0.1 but reagent is expired and I have more on order. Will retest phosphate when that arrives.

Any help figuring out what this is and how best to approach getting rid of it would be appreciated. I've upped my feeding to several times a day in hopes that will bring up the levels a bit. Should I consider only running my skimmer at night maybe?
 
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Tango2

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In case anyone is watching this thread besides me, updated parameters as of today with new test kits:

NH3/NH4 - 0.8
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 1.5
pH - 8.2
Alk - 7.5 dKH
Phosphate - 0.03

No relief from the problem algae, but I’ve been feeding much more than I had been and I’m seeing some level increases because of it. I think this is a good thing, and hopefully time will tell.
 

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In case anyone is watching this thread besides me, updated parameters as of today with new test kits:

NH3/NH4 - 0.8
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 1.5
pH - 8.2
Alk - 7.5 dKH
Phosphate - 0.03

No relief from the problem algae, but I’ve been feeding much more than I had been and I’m seeing some level increases because of it. I think this is a good thing, and hopefully time will tell.
Any updateS?
 
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Tango2

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Yes and no. No significant progress, but I’ll be glad to post some new numbers. I’m considering a black out to see if that has any effect. Will post last week and this weeks numbers after testing this weekend.
 

Exotrezy

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Yes and no. No significant progress, but I’ll be glad to post some new numbers. I’m considering a black out to see if that has any effect. Will post last week and this weeks numbers after testing this weekend.
I think it could be dinos because of the air bubbles. Do you have any fish in there? Try increasing your nutrients.
 
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Tango2

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I’ve been feeding a bunch. Yes, currently have 1 clown, 1 coral beauty, 2 pj cardinals and a starry blenny. Cleanup crew refresh shipping Monday.

I tried upping the temps and dosed peroxide for about 2 weeks with no noticeable difference. There are occasionally air bubbles, but typically not. I’ll also try to get some better pictures to post.
 

Exotrezy

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I’ve been feeding a bunch. Yes, currently have 1 clown, 1 coral beauty, 2 pj cardinals and a starry blenny. Cleanup crew refresh shipping Monday.

I tried upping the temps and dosed peroxide for about 2 weeks with no noticeable difference. There are occasionally air bubbles, but typically not. I’ll also try to get some better pictures to post.
Maybe make another post, it could get some more traction.
 
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Tango2

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Ok, going to post an update here with hopes of traction.

Current Levels:
NH3/NH4: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 15
Phosphate: 0.03
Alk: 7dkH

My levels are coming up and I have water ready for a partial water change this weekend. I also plan to pull my sump and do some (early) spring cleaning. Should end up being about a 25% water change.

I’ve cut back on feeding just a little, and should have my cleanup crew in the next day or two from reefcleaners.

What would your next step be? Multi-day blackout? Carbon?? Something else???

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Tango2

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Did a 30 gallon water change today, added cleanup crew from reefcleaners, added carbon to my filter socks and kept the lights off today. Let’s see what happens next!
 
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Tango2

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Day 2 of blackout. Water was super cloudy yesterday in main tank while I had the sump out for cleaning and water change. I also did a little scrubbing of the rocks after the water change and carbon filtering.

Today the water seems a little clearer (maybe) but hard to tell if algae rebound is less after scrubbing yesterday.

Is 3 days of blackout enough? Blue lights only for a few extra days after maybe?
 

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Is it fuzzy? I think the fuzzy stuff is lyngbya (a type of cyano) and then dinos settle on top of it making it brown. The brown comes off the fuzz easily, but the fuzzy stuff is harder to remove. I've done multiple blackouts which help for a bit. I have a uv sterilizer which has helped with the fuzz, but not the dinos. I've tried H2O2 for the dinos as well and it didn't do anything, but tick off the corals. I have zero nitrates and .6 phosphate. People are saying to raise the nitrates up to 10ppm and phosphates to 1ppm. So I'm working on that. Maybe that'll help you as well.
 
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Tango2

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Is it fuzzy? I think the fuzzy stuff is lyngbya (a type of cyano) and then dinos settle on top of it making it brown. The brown comes off the fuzz easily, but the fuzzy stuff is harder to remove. I've done multiple blackouts which help for a bit. I have a uv sterilizer which has helped with the fuzz, but not the dinos. I've tried H2O2 for the dinos as well and it didn't do anything, but tick off the corals. I have zero nitrates and .6 phosphate. People are saying to raise the nitrates up to 10ppm and phosphates to 1ppm. So I'm working on that. Maybe that'll help you as well.
Thanks! That could be what it is. The fuzzy tends to be harder to clean off and is generally pretty green at first growth. It then quickly turns brown, the brown is very easy to remove and is a coating over the green undergrowth.

I did three days of blackout and had the lights back on today. The growth looks like it may be slowed a little but time will tell. I've also had carbon running since the water change and plan to continue to do so in case that helps.

I also tried H2O2 for about a week with no noticeable results prior to all of this. Cleanup crew is active but I'm not seeing any big dent on anything as a result of them. Fingers crossed, and I'll report back occasionally with updates.
 
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Tango2

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I’m seeing a couple of patches of rock that are unusually clean. I believe one of my inverts is doing work in these areas, but I’m not sure which. If I’m correct, they have their work cut out for them, but I hope they keep it up.

After the 3 day blackout, I thought that the regrowth was possibly slowed, but I’m not sure that is true. It’s looking about the same as it has, although I have a (very) few clean patches now.

My plan as of now is to keep stable water parameters, continue the current feeding schedule, continue running carbon and another water change in the next couple of weeks. Not sure if that’s going to have any effect, but I hope it will.
 
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Tango2

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Confirmed that my hermits are the heroes. I found 4 hermits in a "clean" area this morning. I have quite a few of them in the tank, but I think I'll give it a little time before I decide to add more. It also seems that the hermits actually eradicate it when they clean a spot but when I brush it clean it seems to come back.
 

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