Hi Folks,
Sorry to post yet another thread on new tank nuisance algae but I'm struggling with this one a bit.
I started a new tank, put in 'dead rock', cycled and all that fun stuff and started with a single Radion over the centre of the tank. Over time the diatoms came and went and then I got this brown algae (so faded it's almost a white colour). It also grows in my fuge under a Kessil H380 on the glass only. My nitrates were up about 10, phosphate nearly 1 at that point in time.
Fast forward a few months and I put 2 more Radions in on the left and right side. My nitrate is zero (Salifert) and phosphate 0.04 (Hanna). I starved out the algae in question by going dark for 4 days which got rid of it, then as soon as I put the light back on, it came straight back. I've worked relentlessly to scrub the rocks back with a toothbrush, getting rid of most/all of it, only for it to return again in full coverage within a week. BUT it only ever grows in the centre of the tank, the left and right hand side (which were lit up after I got the nitrate/phosphate levels down to near zero) have some diatom/light brown algae as expected but not this stuff.
I don't think it's hair algae because it doesn't present as 'hairs' and if left uncheck can grow ridiculously long, on the back glass I would say its grown about 1 foot long from it's base. It comes off super easy so removal is no problem, just grows back within days (and has for months now).
Any suggestions, ideas? With 'perfect water quality' (nitrate zero, phosphate 0.04, calcium 450, alk 9, mag 1350, salinity 1.022 (low due to introducing fish), ph 8.0.
Is it because the salinity is too low? Ph of 8.0 too low? I stop myself, because it's only effecting the 1.3rd middle of the tank and the fuge suggesting it was caused by an old problem as opposed to current water conditions. All 3 radions are new / run the same schedule etc. I have vortechs on the left and right side, could it be 'lesser flow' in the middle?
Sorry to post yet another thread on new tank nuisance algae but I'm struggling with this one a bit.
I started a new tank, put in 'dead rock', cycled and all that fun stuff and started with a single Radion over the centre of the tank. Over time the diatoms came and went and then I got this brown algae (so faded it's almost a white colour). It also grows in my fuge under a Kessil H380 on the glass only. My nitrates were up about 10, phosphate nearly 1 at that point in time.
Fast forward a few months and I put 2 more Radions in on the left and right side. My nitrate is zero (Salifert) and phosphate 0.04 (Hanna). I starved out the algae in question by going dark for 4 days which got rid of it, then as soon as I put the light back on, it came straight back. I've worked relentlessly to scrub the rocks back with a toothbrush, getting rid of most/all of it, only for it to return again in full coverage within a week. BUT it only ever grows in the centre of the tank, the left and right hand side (which were lit up after I got the nitrate/phosphate levels down to near zero) have some diatom/light brown algae as expected but not this stuff.
I don't think it's hair algae because it doesn't present as 'hairs' and if left uncheck can grow ridiculously long, on the back glass I would say its grown about 1 foot long from it's base. It comes off super easy so removal is no problem, just grows back within days (and has for months now).
Any suggestions, ideas? With 'perfect water quality' (nitrate zero, phosphate 0.04, calcium 450, alk 9, mag 1350, salinity 1.022 (low due to introducing fish), ph 8.0.
Is it because the salinity is too low? Ph of 8.0 too low? I stop myself, because it's only effecting the 1.3rd middle of the tank and the fuge suggesting it was caused by an old problem as opposed to current water conditions. All 3 radions are new / run the same schedule etc. I have vortechs on the left and right side, could it be 'lesser flow' in the middle?