Need help identifying algae and possible tank issues

[Reef_Ninjas]

Hey everyone,

Hoping that someone can help me with the issues I keep experiencing with my 130gal system. The tank has been running for 2.5 years. I’m removed most all corals and placed them in different systems until I can fix these issues.

For reference:
Salinity - 1.025
Alk - 10.6 - always consistent
Phosphate - .2 - heavy fluctuation and using reactor with rowaphos
Nitrates - 27.3 - pretty stable between 25-27. I am dosing NoPox but seems to not be able to drop them to 16 where they used to be. I have increased dosage and nitrates are still rising
Calcium - 450 - pretty consistent
Magnesium - don’t have a test kit for this and stopping by my fish store for them to check but I’ve never had issue with this before.

I use Hannah for all these parameters besides calcium which I use Red Sea.

I have battled green hair algae for almost a year before finally defeating it. I manually removed it and adding microbacter daily for a couple weeks seems to help me overcome the issue. I am dosin Red Sea all, NoPox, and calcium daily. I’m also dosing kalkwaser. I perform water changes once per week for about 15-20%. I use Red Sea coral pro salt.

My main issue is getting my nitrates and phosphates under control. My filter socks and floss are catching this very strange looking algae. Does anyone have any advice or possible suggestions on what I’m dealing with?

 

[Dan_P]

Hey everyone,

Hoping that someone can help me with the issues I keep experiencing with my 130gal system. The tank has been running for 2.5 years. I’m removed most all corals and placed them in different systems until I can fix these issues.

For reference:
Salinity - 1.025
Alk - 10.6 - always consistent
Phosphate - .2 - heavy fluctuation and using reactor with rowaphos
Nitrates - 27.3 - pretty stable between 25-27. I am dosing NoPox but seems to not be able to drop them to 16 where they used to be. I have increased dosage and nitrates are still rising
Calcium - 450 - pretty consistent
Magnesium - don’t have a test kit for this and stopping by my fish store for them to check but I’ve never had issue with this before.

I use Hannah for all these parameters besides calcium which I use Red Sea.

I have battled green hair algae for almost a year before finally defeating it. I manually removed it and adding microbacter daily for a couple weeks seems to help me overcome the issue. I am dosin Red Sea all, NoPox, and calcium daily. I’m also dosing kalkwaser. I perform water changes once per week for about 15-20%. I use Red Sea coral pro salt.

My main issue is getting my nitrates and phosphates under control. My filter socks and floss are catching this very strange looking algae. Does anyone have any advice or possible suggestions on what I’m dealing with?

Could the weird algae be bacteria?

 

[Undersea Gardens]

Looks like a bacteria of some sort. Probably being fueled by the carbon dosing.

 

[Reef_Ninjas]

Could the weird algae be bacteria?

Looks like a bacteria of some sort. Probably being fueled by the carbon dosing.

I am not against this being bacteria as I've had problems with keeping Torches and I had 3 Bimacs randomly die a few months ago all at the same time. No other fish loss. So let's say it is bacteria fueled by the NoPox would you recommend stopping the Dosing? If so, how else am i'm going to keep the nitrates in control? I bought some Dr. Reefs today to see if I increase the beneficial bacteria, will that turn things around.

 

[Undersea Gardens]

So I currently dose a DIY nopox solution. I was dosing straight vinegar and was getting a lot of slime but mine was white and far less than what your getting. Adding vodka to the mix and cutting my dosage down has eliminated a lot of slime. If I were in your situation I would probably cut the dosing in half, ramp up water changes and consider some type of antibiotic to potentially knock back some of this bacteria. Then reintroduce some bacteria from bottles or even better from a healthy, established tank. Alternatively, you could also stop dosing altogether, go to twice weekly water changes and see where that lands you.
Also, maybe double check that your getting zero TDS water from your rodi.

 

[Reef_Ninjas]

So I currently dose a DIY nopox solution. I was dosing straight vinegar and was getting a lot of slime but mine was white and far less than what your getting. Adding vodka to the mix and cutting my dosage down has eliminated a lot of slime. If I were in your situation I would probably cut the dosing in half, ramp up water changes and consider some type of antibiotic to potentially knock back some of this bacteria. Then reintroduce some bacteria from bottles or even better from a healthy, established tank. Alternatively, you could also stop dosing altogether, go to twice weekly water changes and see where that lands you.
Also, maybe double check that your getting zero TDS water from your rodi.

I just mailed of an ICP yesterday so I’ll post the results when I get them. I’ll try cutting back the dosing and increasing the water changes. I also have an UV that I haven’t run in about 3-5 months because I read how they can affect beneficial bacteria. Maybe I should go back to running it?

 

[Undersea Gardens]

I'm pretty confident that your feeding it with the nopox. Refugium, algae reactor/scrubber, bacteria dosing and/or water changes might help until you get that slime figured out and can reset things.

 

[Pistondog]

Id stop the nopox, bacteria and consider removing sox and floss as they are traps for things to break down/rot, perhaps contributing to your nitrate problem.
The detritus will be handled by other critters.
0.2 ppm po4 is fine.
Why dose bacteria?

Good job on the gha, no easy task, you must have got it to a point where the cuc can maintain it.

 

[Reef_Ninjas]

Id stop the nopox, bacteria and consider removing sox and floss as they are traps for things to break down/rot, perhaps contributing to your nitrate problem.
The detritus will be handled by other critters.
0.2 ppm po4 is fine.
Why dose bacteria?

Good job on the gha, no easy task, you must have got it to a point where the cuc can maintain it.

yeah I started adding Microbacter and kept manually removing it. I have added like 4 urchins and they did a really good job along with my Turbos. It's such a relief to not see it everyday. Now I just need to get this bacteria and high nitrates under control. Thats why I dose NoPox was for the nitrate levels because they got up to 50-60 and I was losing coral along with my P04 being up in the .3-.4 range

 

[Pistondog]

yeah I started adding Microbacter and kept manually removing it. I have added like 4 urchins and they did a really good job along with my Turbos. It's such a relief to not see it everyday. Now I just need to get this bacteria and high nitrates under control. Thats why I dose NoPox was for the nitrate levels because they got up to 50-60 and I was losing coral along with my P04 being up in the .3-.4 range

Your work and the additional cuc did the trick.
Not sure how the bacteria dosing helps.