Unknown algae problem

[EEE1986]

Been fighting this dark/green brown algae in my sand bed the last 2 weeks since experiencing a nutrient spike. PO4 and NO3 jumped from 0 to 0.18 and 2.5 respectively after adding 3 new fish and increasing feeding amount 2 weeks ago (went from 1 clown to 2 gobies and a possum wrasse in an effort to more naturally raise nutrients). Simultaneously I’ve been struggling to keep my pH over 8 whereas before all this started it was consistently around 8.4 at peak lighting hours. Tank is about 10 months old. Any idea what type of algae this is and whether I should be doing anything else other than adjusting my NO3 to PO4 ratio to be closer to 100:1?

 

[bluemon]

most likely just part of the ugly phase.

Your nutrients should NOT be at zero.

I wouldn’t even call that a spike…

And no need to follow the ratio either

 

[EEE1986]

most likely just part of the ugly phase.

Your nutrients should NOT be at zero.

I wouldn’t even call that a spike…

And no need to follow the ratio either

The ugly stage can occur at 10 months?

 

[slingfox]

I would siphon out that algae and hope it doesn’t come back. May need to do this a few times.

 

[bluemon]

The ugly stage can occur at 10 months?

Yes, especially if you started with little live rock. And doesn’t help that your nutrients were zeroed out for a while

 

[slingfox]

The ugly stage can occur at 10 months?

The ugly stage unfortunately can occur at any time. My worse ugly stages was at month 6, month 8, and month 18. I did a tank reset at month 24 (swapped to all ocean provided live rock) so I may have to fight try uglies again soon!

 

[mcarroll]

Been fighting this dark/green brown algae in my sand bed

Can you get a better closeup of one of those algae patches? Does it look like hair algae to you in person? Looks like it good be something else from here...but not sure.

PO4 and NO3 jumped from 0 to 0.18 and 2.5 respectively after adding 3 new fish

That means the tank was riding at 0 and 0 for N&P before these new fish? Things honestly look great in the tank considering that, but it does make me wonder about the type of algae you're growing now.

That's a lot to expect a 10 month old tank to process, BTW, especially if it's been "held back" by a PO4 deficit.

adjusting my NO3 to PO4 ratio to be closer to 100:1?

I'm not sure you need math on this....the key is phosphate avilability....0.03 ppm is the sort-of agreed-upon minimum and is sort of based on the requirements for photosynthesis.....but folks tend to have more stability in new tanks when levels are quite a bit higher....shoot for 0.05 or even 0.10 ppm. This guarantees maximum availability for the whole ecosystem.

Nitrates are less crucial for a number of reasons, but most folks still target ≥ 5 ppm NO3 for the margin of safety I gives to availability of N.

 

[EEE1986]

I would siphon out that algae and hope it doesn’t come back. May need to do this a few times.

I tried and it came back in the next day or two. Also weirdly seems to dissipate at night

 

[EEE1986]

Been fighting this dark/green brown algae in my sand bed

Can you get a better closeup of one of those algae patches? Does it look like hair algae to you in person? Looks like it good be something else from here...but not sure.

PO4 and NO3 jumped from 0 to 0.18 and 2.5 respectively after adding 3 new fish

That means the tank was riding at 0 and 0 for N&P before these new fish? Things honestly look great in the tank considering that, but it does make me wonder about the type of algae you're growing now.

That's a lot to expect a 10 month old tank to process, BTW, especially if it's been "held back" by a PO4 deficit.

adjusting my NO3 to PO4 ratio to be closer to 100:1?

I'm not sure you need math on this....the key is phosphate avilability....0.03 ppm is the sort-of agreed-upon minimum and is sort of based on the requirements for photosynthesis.....but folks tend to have more stability in new tanks when levels are quite a bit higher....shoot for 0.05 or even 0.10 ppm. This guarantees maximum availability for the whole ecosystem.

Nitrates are less crucial for a number of reasons, but most folks still target ≥ 5 ppm NO3 for the margin of safety I gives to availability of N.

I can try but unfortunately that might be the best my phone can do. Does not look like hair algae. More like a textured film with air bubbles trapped in it.

I should mention that they were only 0 and 0 for that one week. Otherwise nitrates generally stayed within 0.5 to 2.5 range and phosphates have in recent months been between 0 and 0.1. Most of my soft corals seem to be thriving with the increased nutrients but euphyllia have been looking sad and one of my torches has started to die.

 

[slingfox]

I tried and it came back in the next day or two. Also weirdly seems to dissipate at night

You should keep siphoning. When I had to deal with Dino’s on the sand I probably siphoned the sand every few days for a month straight . . .

 

[EEE1986]

I tried and it came back in the next day or two. Also weirdly seems to dissipate at night

You should keep siphoning. When I had to deal with Dino’s on the sand I probably siphoned the sand every few days for a month straight . . .

Is it dinos though?

 

[slingfox]

Is it dinos though?

No it doesn’t look like Dino’s but the point is keep siphoning. You are the best clean-up crew possible!

 

[EEE1986]

Been fighting this dark/green brown algae in my sand bed

Can you get a better closeup of one of those algae patches? Does it look like hair algae to you in person? Looks like it good be something else from here...but not sure.

PO4 and NO3 jumped from 0 to 0.18 and 2.5 respectively after adding 3 new fish

That means the tank was riding at 0 and 0 for N&P before these new fish? Things honestly look great in the tank considering that, but it does make me wonder about the type of algae you're growing now.

That's a lot to expect a 10 month old tank to process, BTW, especially if it's been "held back" by a PO4 deficit.

adjusting my NO3 to PO4 ratio to be closer to 100:1?

I'm not sure you need math on this....the key is phosphate avilability....0.03 ppm is the sort-of agreed-upon minimum and is sort of based on the requirements for photosynthesis.....but folks tend to have more stability in new tanks when levels are quite a bit higher....shoot for 0.05 or even 0.10 ppm. This guarantees maximum availability for the whole ecosystem.

Nitrates are less crucial for a number of reasons, but most folks still target ≥ 5 ppm NO3 for the margin of safety I gives to availability of N.

I’m attaching some more closeups as requested. Not sure how much validity this has but chatGPT recommended I siphon some into a container of water and then place under the sun. If it started becoming stringy and bubbly then it is probably Dino. I tried this and it just stayed clumped at the bottom of the jar.

 

[reefnoob83]

How well is your flow across the sand bed, could be a dead spot.

 

[mcarroll]

I still can't tell, so words will have to do. :)

In person, does it look hairy or stringy?

Or instead does it look slimy and patchy?

How does it feel?

Is it stuck to the sand or can to wave it away with a wave of your hand?

 

[Lasse]

I tried and it came back in the next day or two. Also weirdly seems to dissipate at night

Green cyanobacteria - I suppose

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Lavey29]

Green cyanobacteria - I suppose

Sincerely Lasse

I agree, especially with all that white light in the tank combined with bottomed out nutrients is outcompeting the good bacteria in the sandbed.

 

[EEE1986]

I agree, especially with all that white light in the tank combined with bottomed out nutrients is outcompeting the good bacteria in the sandbed.

The whites were increased for the benefit of the picture. The tank is not generally that bright

 

[mcarroll]

If you have access to a microscope, or if you're willing to lay out $10+ for a new one, it would be very interesting to see photos of what you see through it.

Selecting a microscope​

 

[EEE1986]

If you have access to a microscope, or if you're willing to lay out $10+ for a new one, it would be very interesting to see photos of what you see through it.

Selecting a microscope​

I have access to one. Will post what I find over the weekend