Tracy with persistent algae

[BryanM]

Ever since my tank swap and this mini cycle and experiencing some of the uglies, my trachy has had algae issues. I've target treated this with 3% hydrogen peroxide a few times, and that has failed to remove this. I'm unsure if I should just continue this treatment but much more often, or consider actually dipping the trachy, or some other course of action. I'm routinely using a turkey baster to blow off the hair algae so it doesn't get worse, but it certainly is not getting better. Thanks in advance!

 

[Dan_P]

Ever since my tank swap and this mini cycle and experiencing some of the uglies, my trachy has had algae issues. I've target treated this with 3% hydrogen peroxide a few times, and that has failed to remove this. I'm unsure if I should just continue this treatment but much more often, or consider actually dipping the trachy, or some other course of action. I'm routinely using a turkey baster to blow off the hair algae so it doesn't get worse, but it certainly is not getting better. Thanks in advance!

I wonder about two things: algae on the coral might be a dinoflagellate and whether the coral is sick.

 

[BryanM]

By all accounts it appears healthy, and early this morning it’s feeder tentacles were out, which I take as a good sign.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Was it always that color? It kind of looks like its bleaching, its very white. I can see some skeleton poking out.... I'm sorry but if it was mine I would be concerned, it doesn't look healthy to me.

 

[Uncle99]

By all accounts it appears healthy, and early this morning it’s feeder tentacles were out, which I take as a good sign.

Looks mostly gone to me.
Peroxide can be hard on corals.
Maybe the pic is just blurry

 

[BryanM]

It had always been white. Under more blue light it looks different. It has light greens and pink/purple colors as well.

And I am concerned, but I think it is healthier than it appears.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ever since my tank swap and this mini cycle and experiencing some of the uglies, my trachy has had algae issues. I've target treated this with 3% hydrogen peroxide a few times, and that has failed to remove this. I'm unsure if I should just continue this treatment but much more often, or consider actually dipping the trachy, or some other course of action. I'm routinely using a turkey baster to blow off the hair algae so it doesn't get worse, but it certainly is not getting better. Thanks in advance!

This coral shows full polyp bailout and likely due to stress from several factors below. As for algae, What is your phosphate level as it can be one of the culprits of this issue.
Are you using tap water from faucet or RODI water only?
Is tank at or near a window?
Some possible triggers of infection are:
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity
- Addition of new corals

 

[BryanM]

@vetteguy53081

Alk 8.8, tested 6x a day with kh guardian, no spikes.
78*, very stable
33 salinity, slowly raising to 35
Good ripple/flow, 3x sump turnover and 20x tank
Phosphates are very low, Hanna Marine master tester, .05 last test, I’ll re test in an hour.
Salt brand did change, from Red Sea coral pro to tropic marin pro-reef. It’s probably mostly tropic marin now.

The big change was a tank swap about 4 weeks ago. And that change we loved all live rock, but used new crushed coral substrate.

 

[VintageReefer]

Was it always that color? It kind of looks like its bleaching, its very white. I can see some skeleton poking out.... I'm sorry but if it was mine I would be concerned, it doesn't look healthy to me.

This is what it should look like. It’s a pastel rainbow trachy, it’s always appeared pale under whites. It’s very nice in person and even when I had it, it was hard to photograph accurately. This is the closest I could get

Looks mostly gone to me.
Peroxide can be hard on corals.
Maybe the pic is just blurry

it wasn’t full peroxide dip. Was supposed to be a q tip dipped in peroxide, trachy upside down, and dab the couple tips that have algae. The flesh won’t regrow over algae so the idea was just treat the few skeleton tips poking through

That said it doesn’t appear to be inflating fully bri it could just not be open for the day yet. Also the algae or Dino or whatever on the skeletal tips needs to be removed. What should be done at this point?

 

[BryanM]

Pic from before tank swap

 

[BryanM]

And it has been q tip treated 3x, with minimal improvement, but if that’s the best action, I can increase the frequency.

I’d very much like to fix this!

 

[BryanM]

Last bit I can remember, before tank swap nitrate 8-12, phosphates .4 (down from .7).

So the big diff besides swap is that my nitrates are .06, and phosphates .05.

Recent started dosing to being both up, so I’ll test in about an hour and post those new numbers.

 

[vetteguy53081]

@vetteguy53081

Alk 8.8, tested 6x a day with kh guardian, no spikes.
78*, very stable
33 salinity, slowly raising to 35
Good ripple/flow, 3x sump turnover and 20x tank
Phosphates are very low, Hanna Marine master tester, .05 last test, I’ll re test in an hour.
Salt brand did change, from Red Sea coral pro to tropic marin pro-reef. It’s probably mostly tropic marin now.

The big change was a tank swap about 4 weeks ago. And that change we loved all live rock, but used new crushed coral substrate.

Im ok with this Phos level. Heavy flow can be an issue and as well as new crushed coral especially if milky when placed in tank.

 

[BryanM]

.9 nitrate
.07 phosphate.

RODI water only, 0 tds, forgot to mention that

 

[VintageReefer]

Im ok with this Phos level. Heavy flow can be an issue and as well as new crushed coral especially if milky when placed in tank.

@BryanM didn’t you mention that substrate was releasing lots of silt / dusty and making the water hazy ?

 

[BryanM]

@BryanM didn’t you mention that substrate was releasing lots of silt / dusty and making the water hazy ?

When disturbed, yes. I just installed a sponge filter in the sump to try and clear the water up, and changed filter socks.

 

[BryanM]

Bump