What is this horrible algae ?

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve been reefing for 4 years and for the last 3 years, I’ve had every nuisance you can think of : GHA, bubble algae, diatoms, cyano and dinos relentlessly for 3 years. I’ve come to a point where I am pretty much fed up.

Now for the last 2 months (on top of dinos), I’ve been having this horrible thing that reproduces very fast and is taking over the tank. It comes off very easily with a tooth brush and flies everywhere in bits and pieces, but it will come back fast, even worse. It grows everywhere, including the back wall and overflow box.

I thought it was lyngbya and have been dosing peroxyde for about 3 weeks but it’s not working. UV is off and I dose bacteria regularly.

What is it and how can I get rid of it ?

Thanks !

Im seeing chrysophytes over standard hair algae which develops strands. Chrsophytes and is labor work for removal. Take the rock out and place in large container with tank water.
Give the tank a good siphon and clean all filters and skimmer if you have one.
Scrub the rock with a firm toothbrush Or auto detail brush and 3% peroxide. Agitate to shake off particles and add cleaners such as Pitho crabs, chiton snails, ninja star snails and caribbean blue leg hermits to help with control and reduce white intensity a little and increase water flow. You likely have inadequate flow which allowed this to adhere to rock

 

[Idech]

Im seeing chrysophytes over standard hair algae which develops strands.

I’ve just looked at videos and it doesn’t look like it, although it’s similar in some aspects. You don’t think it’s lyngbya ?

You likely have inadequate flow which allowed this to adhere to rock

I have 1 gyre type pump, 3 powerheads + 2 outlets in there. If I put more flow, the mushrooms start detaching.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve just looked at videos and it doesn’t look like it, although it’s similar in some aspects. You don’t think it’s lyngbya ?


I have 1 gyre type pump, 3 powerheads + 2 outlets in there. If I put more flow, the mushrooms start detaching.

other may be calothrix

 

[Idech]

other may be calothrix

This could be it. Just like lyngbya, it is a cyanobacteria. It seems to coincide with me getting rid of about 80% of my chaeto in my refugium, which probably increased my phosphate even more.

Not the greatest idea… I ordered a Phosban 150 and will set it up as soon as possible with Rowaphos.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This could be it. Just like lyngbya, it is a cyanobacteria. It seems to coincide with me getting rid of about 80% of my chaeto in my refugium, which probably increased my phosphate even more.

Not the greatest idea… I ordered a Phosban 150 and will set it up as soon as possible with Rowaphos.

Agree and why I no longer run Chaeto