New member needs help

Diet Coke · May 28, 2020

Hi All
Any help would be appreciated
I have a 40 gallon breaker withe a homemade 20 gallon sump with a sock a skimmersfloss and carbon
The tank has been running for 6 months
I have always had algae problems brown and green
About 2 months ago most of the brown algae disappeared
I now get a turquoise green covering on the crushed coral it appears in one day after cleaning
The next day it turns black and has strings
In 2 days it will cover the bottom
You can not remove it with gravel cleaner
The gravel is matted together
I usually scrape the top layer off
I have had 0 nitrates from the beginning
Decided to add NP + 2 days ago
The first day the water looked not as clear as usual
Yesterday I added it again
This morning my tank was soo cloudy I could barely see the overflow
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Crabs McJones · May 28, 2020

Welcome to R2R! Do you have pics? Almost sounds possibly like cyanobacteria

Diet Coke · May 28, 2020

Crabs McJones said:
Welcome to R2R! Do you have pics? Almost sounds possibly like cyanobacteria

I do but at work now
Will post later

fishguy242 · May 28, 2020

hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun....
pics will help!

Auquanut · May 28, 2020

Welcome to the family!

ChgoGoodGirl · May 28, 2020

Questions :

What are your basic water parameters?
How often do you do water changes?
Inhabitants?
What type of lighting do you use? What light schedule do you follow?

I know thats a lot of questions but the answers will help everyone here give the best advice possible.

Diet Coke · May 28, 2020

fishguy242 said:
hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun....
pics will help!

fishguy242 · May 28, 2020

appears to be dying and regenerating cyno,not an expert,many other will chime in ,without a doubt

Diet Coke · May 28, 2020

Diet Coke said:

I have posted 2 pics
I test with API 8.2 pph
0 nitrate
O nitrite
0 ammonia
I do a 10 gallon change every 2 weeks

Frais · May 28, 2020

Is it long and string or like a mat covering the sand. Could be Dino's. Does it disappear when the lights are off.

BighohoReef · May 28, 2020

Welcome to R2R! Agree that it looks like cyano... What do you have in your tank? Treatment is needed...

Diet Coke · May 28, 2020

Frais said:
Is it long and string or like a mat covering the sand. Could be Dino's. Does it disappear when the lights are off.

When it’s green it’s matty
When it’s black it’s stringy
Does not leave when light are off

Diet Coke · May 28, 2020

Diet Coke said:
When it’s green it’s matty
When it’s black it’s stringy
Does not leave when light are off

I have gsp
Several frags
1 sail fin tang
1 cleaner wrasse
2 clowns
2 shrimp
10 snails
10 hermit crabs

Crabs McJones · May 28, 2020

You can try a 3 day blackout to reduce it. But usually cyano is a result from nitrate and phosphate imbalance. Do you know phosphate levels?

Diet Coke · May 28, 2020

Crabs McJones said:
You can try a 3 day blackout to reduce it. But usually cyano is a result from nitrate and phosphate imbalance. Do you know phosphate levels?

No but I can pick up a test