I can’t get past this stuff

[liongolfer]

Hi! Can anyone help me identify what type of algae this is and how to get rid of it?

Let me start by saying I’ve had stable parameters of 0.06 phosphate and 2.5 nitrate for a while now. I run radion xr30blue at 40%




My tank has had about this level of algae for months and despite a cleanup crew of an urchin, many hermits, cleaner shrimp, all kinds of snails including turbo and trochus, a yellow tang and a bristle tooth tang, as well as reduced feeding.

I also dose nopox and i can’t seem to get it to go away. The tank started in March of 2025.

Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Seansea]

Dis you use any live rock or just dry rock? This looks like starter algae that all rocks get until coralline takes over. May need to chuck in 10 lbs of live rock to get things rollin

 

[liongolfer]

Dis you use any live rock or just dry rock? This looks like starter algae that all rocks get until coralline takes over. May need to chuck in 10 lbs of live rock to get things rollin

It was dry rock from the start. I started putting in more bacteria this week, maybe that could help? I don’t really have more room for live rock

 

[liongolfer]

Dis you use any live rock or just dry rock? This looks like starter algae that all rocks get until coralline takes over. May need to chuck in 10 lbs of live rock to get things rollin

I have noticed coralline starting to show up a lot faster and in more places lately

 

[bushdoc]

Increase biodiversity, get some Tampa Bay Life Rock, I don't think adding bottled bacteria will help, you can add pods though.

 

[Seansea]

If corraline is showing up will be matter of time until diplaces this algae. With base rock the ugly phase is quite a bit longer and more tedious. I alway suggest 70% base rocl with 30% live rock to really push things along

 

[dedragon]

see if there are any trusted reefers in your area you can buy some rock or biomedia from. it will help diversify what is already in the tank and a bit of piece of mind knowing you wont get an assortment of pests in your tank. live rock is great too but i would hesitate when adding it to a tank with corals and fish already in it

 

[Wu Wei Reefing]

algae problems: manual removal and herbivores. That’s it. Dont run to a bottle. Don’t freak out over magic N and P numbers. Keep it simple. If the tank is too small for herbivorous fish. Then add a big crew of snails (trochus, smaller turbos) sand bed issues? Strawberry or tiger sand conch with a fleet of nassarious.