Help!

[domination2580]

I have a friend who has a tank who is getting frustrated. He has issues with some kind of algae problem. Brown stringy algae with some bubbles.
Please help diagnose and treat it! I know this forum can figure this out! :)

 

[cloak]

Check this out.

http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

HTH.

 

[4FordFamily]

Looks like dinoflagellates to me but I am no expert. Usually a nutrient export issue (needs better skimming, more water changes, better flow)

Once you have it it is very tough to ditch.

 

[domination2580]

Hmm.....any other options

 

[domination2580]

OK, so problem has been fixed, but what fixed it shocks me. The lights. He was using my sbreeflight . He took them off and within 2 hours the problem cleared up a lot. So tell me how these lights did this? And has anyone else experienced this problem. Two lfs is Sioux falls say wrong spectrum. If that's the case then I just wasted money on these lights. But before I accuse I want to know if it's true, how and why it got dinofligellete

 

[Wiz]

Less light will slow or stop it. I've never heard of spectrum causing it. Interresting. Does look like dino

 

[domination2580]

He tried blackout for two days straight. Didn't help...so that tells me it has To be spectrum...but I'm not sure...but I really want to find out. Maybe the whites weren't high enough?

 

[Wiz]

Sounds plausible. Ill follow for more info. When I had dinos it wouldn't go away until I kept syphoning. Every 20 mins for 3 weeks. These dinos are lighter more green. Maybe different.

 

[domination2580]

The color of these are brownish. Camera shows green...but mostly brown

 

[Kershaw]

A friend of mine had this. And lfs told him to black out for 3 days then reduce light to 4hours a day and move it up .5 hours a week. In addition to heavy skimming and weekly water changes. He did so and it worked. Been a about 2 months and still no sign of it.

 

[Wiz]

Mine were the same color as a brown crayon. Dark brown.

 

[domination2580]

Are you thinking that my friend was not aggressive as should have been? It kind of makes sense except for the progress when he changed the lights out

 

[Kershaw]

I don't know. People have different experiences with it. But if changing light helped then it's possible. When I had MH when they where getting near about 9 months I would start having algae blooms. So it's possible.

 

[domination2580]

Hmm....

 

[Kershaw]

What light is he using now. Also if the algae is bad enough you can get false no3 and po4 readings.

 

[domination2580]

Yeah true. He had sb reeflights but now he put on his orbit marine.

 

[Kershaw]

I would still reduce light cycle. My friend has sps and they did fine with 4 hours of light

 

[Kershaw]

Maybe even cut back to 6 hours.

 

[domination2580]

Hmmm