Help with algae in new tank

[mpatterson42]

Innovative Marine 20G All In One

Picture under white light:

Video:

Parameters (Hanna):
Alk: 8.4
Nitrate: 1.8
Phosphate: 0.02

I use the Red Sea Blue Bucket salt with a salinity of 1.026.

Lighting is a NooPsyche K7 Pro III, 12 hour schedule, running at about 30%, with PAR between 80 and 150.

Tank cycled from May 12 to May 23 (ammonia and nitrite spiked and fell back to 0). Clownfish was added on May 24. First corals were added on May 31.

I used Fritz Turbostart and Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride to start the cycle, I also moved some sump rubble rock from my 40G FOWLR tank into the new display tank and also some MarinePure ceramic balls from the 40G sump and put them into the rear chamber to help with the cycle. I was a little surprised that the first bits of algae that appeared were on the rubble rock from the sump since that gets nearly no light but it quickly spread to other rocks. The rest of the rock was bleach cured last year and has spent the time since in a tote in my garage.

For other filtration I added filter pads after the cycle finished, a UV sterilizer on June 27, and I added a bag of carbon a few days ago.

I know the Ugly Phase is real but I don't want it to get too out of control. I'm also a little worried some of the corals I added are getting overwhelmed by algae.

I've also added (June 7) 3 astrea snails, 3 trochus snails, (June 23) a tailspot blenny, (July 6) 5 nerite snails and 2 nassarius snails. I've also added copepods at various times (I've ordered 3 times from AlgaeBarn and usually split it between this tank and my 40G). I try to dose 5mL of OceanMagik phytoplankton every day but probably only remember to do it 4 days a week.

I do 10% weekly water changes. My initial alkalinity levels were in the low 7s so I started dosing all for reef a few weeks ago to bring up the alkalinity.

It's hard to physically remove this stuff, I'll try pinching it and it doesn't come off the rock, siphoning also doesn't usually pull it up unless it's on the sand bed.

I assume patience is the key but if I can do anything let me know. I was considering a blackout period but I'm not sure if I'm at that point yet.

Microscope pictures:

 

[exnisstech]

Crank up the blues. This tank is over two years old.

Whites

Blues

 

[Dragen Fiend]

You would be surprised on how many ugly tanks look under whites lol. Takes a lot of care for those keeping nice looking tanks under whiter lights for displaying.


I would add 2 turbo snails to really tackle it if the current CUCs are not doing the job.

You can also pluck out some of the easier stuff.

 

[mpatterson42]

The wavy and hairy stuff is definitely still visible under blue light, but it looks particularly atrocious under the white lights. I've seen other people post before and get asked to take pics under white lights which is why I did it.

I was a little worried about turbo snails as I've heard they can knock down coral frags, and while I glued these frag plugs down they're not super secure, one actually came off when I was trying to use a toothbrush to clean off the algae around it. The nerites and nassarius were just recently added so I figured I'd give them a chance.

I also just turned off the white light from my schedule, we'll see if that makes any difference!

 

[exnisstech]

This is my new IM 20 algae being consumed by one if my old astrea snails. The snail stayed on that wall for days. I don't have this algae in my more mature tanks.

Job is almost complete.

 

[mpatterson42]

Well I'm continuing the fight, although I'm not sure I'm winning.

I took the white out of my lighting schedule and reduced my time from 12 hours to 8.

I've added a few more clean up crew including 4 limpets, 2 fuzzy chiton, and an emerald crab. I was worried about getting turbo snails because I hear they can bulldoze over frags but I think I'm going to do that next.

I do manual removal once or twice a week and am continuing with 10% water changes a week.

My nitrates are 4.5 but my phosphates are 0.00.

 

[exnisstech]

Urchins have been my best rock cleaners. Pincushions are my favorite but many people like tuxedos.
This is not meant as a bash and is no help at all except maybe info for someone getting started but this is why I won't do another dry rock start up. Many people have success but mine was awful. The IM20 image I posted earlier was all live rock and almost all algae is growing on the plastic surfaces.

 

[mpatterson42]

Urchins have been my best rock cleaners. Pincushions are my favorite but many people like tuxedos.
This is not meant as a bash and is no help at all except maybe info for someone getting started but this is why I won't do another dry rock start up. Many people have success but mine was awful. The IM20 image I posted earlier was all live rock and almost all algae is growing on the plastic surfaces.

I don't take it as a bash at all, it's advice that I've heard numerous times before and I'm the one who decided against it for fear of bad hitchikers. I knew I'd have an ugly phase but was definitely hoping it would end after a few months.

I did take some rubble rock out of my 40G FOWLR sump, but that's only been up and running for 6 months so probably wasnt teeming with too much life.

In regards to urchins, I've heard the same thing as turbo snails in that they tend to bulldoze over frags. But at this point I should probabaly priortize the overall health of the tank vs letting things get worse.

I appreciate the feedback!

 

[exnisstech]

I don't take it as a bash at all, it's advice that I've heard numerous times before and I'm the one who decided against it for fear of bad hitchikers. I knew I'd have an ugly phase but was definitely hoping it would end after a few months.

I did take some rubble rock out of my 40G FOWLR sump, but that's only been up and running for 6 months so probably wasnt teeming with too much life.

In regards to urchins, I've heard the same thing as turbo snails in that they tend to bulldoze over frags. But at this point I should probabaly priortize the overall health of the tank vs letting things get worse.

I appreciate the feedback!

Ya I'm not sure what's worse bulldozers or having urchins carry stuff around. I have a love hate relationship with my urchins. I'm often rescuing hermit crabs and frags that get picked up. In my big tank i have a large one that picks up pieces of GSP from behind the rocks and i let him carry it around and after a while it will open up and grow and I'll pluck it off and glue it down.