What kind of Algae is this?

tgunn · 02/26/2007, 09:54 AM

I seem to have a bit of a self perpetuating problem here.. My rocks are covered with an algae that I'm having a tough time getting rid of. It seems to trap detritus, which I'm sure makes the problem even worse.

This algae is growing like made on my rocks, and back glass:

It's also all over my back glass:

It's got the furry look of the first pic. On the rocks it almost looks black.

I don't think it's green hair algae as I do have some of that in the sump and this looks like different.

Anyone know what this algae might be? I've been unable to find a similar photo.

My params:
EDIT: I presume I must have Nitrate / phosphate otherwise I'd have no algae.

Nitrite, Nitrate: 0.0 ppm
Phosphate: 0.0 ppm (cheap test kit though, so could be wrong)
Lights are Reeflux 10k, replaced in last few months. Running a huge 3 pump recirculating needlewheel fed from overflow. Growing a pretty good crop of chaeto in sump, lit 16 hours a day.

I'm hoping I can cut it back in the tank so that the chaeto can pick up the nutrients the algae is taking in the tank.

Thanks!
Tyler

Liquid Hobby · 02/26/2007, 11:36 AM

Can you syphon any of it out of the tank? I set up a syphon that flows into a filter sock in sump. I can syphon algae and other crap for hours. if need be!

16 hours a day of light!? That's a lot of light and energy to grow algae! Drop your photo period down tp 12 hours with max light intesity for 9-10 hours and dawn/dusk at the beginning and end of the day.

reduce feedings.

Wait ands ee what happens...

tgunn · 02/26/2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Liquid Hobby
Can you syphon any of it out of the tank? I set up a syphon that flows into a filter sock in sump. I can syphon algae and other crap for hours. if need be!

16 hours a day of light!? That's a lot of light and energy to grow algae! Drop your photo period down tp 12 hours with max light intesity for 9-10 hours and dawn/dusk at the beginning and end of the day.

reduce feedings.

Wait ands ee what happens...

No, it doesn't siphon at all. I've got a toothbrush zip-tied onto a piece of PVC that I have tried using to scrub it off the rocks; it takes some elbow grease to get any off..

The 16 hours is my photoperiod for the sump, growing chaeto.

My main tank has:
Blue-plus T5s (ie actinic-like) - 9:00am - 9:00pm
2 x 250w halides - 1:00pm - 8:30pm

Tyler

20 20 · 02/26/2007, 12:14 PM

I had the same stuff:

Twice I took out all my rock, and scrubbed it down and rinsed it, in salt water. Still grew back. So, I added a phosban reactor with Rowaphos, put some carbon in a sock in the sump, and put in a foxface. Within a week it was almost completely gone. Was it the phosban reactor? The carbon? The foxface? Some combination of the above, or maybe none of the above? Don't really know. I do know the foxface really ate the stuff. A couple of weeks after the stuff the foxface died overnight. Was fine and eating mysis fine that night, dead and stuck to the closed loop strainer the next morning. That was a couple of weeks ago, and the algae hasn't made a comeback yet.

tgunn · 02/26/2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 20 20
I had the same stuff. Twice I took out all my rock, and scrubbed it down and rinsed it, in salt water. Still grew back. So, I added a phosban reactor with Rowaphos, put some carbon in a sock in the sump, and put in a foxface. Within a week it was almost completely gone. Was it the phosban reactor? The carbon? The foxface? Some combination of the above, or maybe none of the above? Don't really know. I do know the foxface really ate the stuff. A couple of weeks after the stuff the foxface died overnight. Was fine and eating mysis fine that night, dead and stuck to the closed loop strainer the next morning. That was a couple of weeks ago, and the algae hasn't made a comeback yet.

My plan was to take most of the rock out in April (when I have time) and scrub it down. But if it just grows back that would not be good. However, perhaps my snails can keep up with it if I do that. They're starting to make progress clearing the back glass.

Did you ever determine what kind of algae it is?

Tyler

20 20 · 02/26/2007, 12:25 PM

Nope, just glad it went away. And keeping my fingers crossed that it stays away.

Jen D · 02/26/2007, 12:48 PM

I've been following your tank thread...

Could this be related to the ozone levels you had or the decreasing levels of it when you shut down the generator? I don't know a lot about ozone, but maybe there was/is some sort of interaction going on with something. Possibly a fluctuation in the microbial life due to the changes in the environment that is "feeding" the algae growth.

tgunn · 02/26/2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jen D
I've been following your tank thread...

Could this be related to the ozone levels you had or the decreasing levels of it when you shut down the generator? I don't know a lot about ozone, but maybe there was/is some sort of interaction going on with something. Possibly a fluctuation in the microbial life due to the changes in the environment that is "feeding" the algae growth.

That's a good point. I never really thought of the fact the algae could have been related to my ozone problems...

I think the installation of my new skimmer was when the ozone issues all began. I installed the skimmer on December 10..
Here's what the tank looked like December 12th:

By January 14th, the algae outbreak was well under way...
January 24th I shut off the ozone generator completely and have not run it since..

I think you're right, this outbreak is most likely related to my ozone overdose in some manner. The algae problem showed up around when I think the ozone issues began. The ozone overdose has affected many things in my tank..

The trick is to get things back on track now!

I was very happy with how my tank was looking back in November before all these problems..

Tyler

02/26/2007, 09:54 AM	#1
tgunn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cupertino, CA USA Posts: 4,027	What kind of Algae is this? I seem to have a bit of a self perpetuating problem here.. My rocks are covered with an algae that I'm having a tough time getting rid of. It seems to trap detritus, which I'm sure makes the problem even worse. This algae is growing like made on my rocks, and back glass: It's also all over my back glass: It's got the furry look of the first pic. On the rocks it almost looks black. I don't think it's green hair algae as I do have some of that in the sump and this looks like different. Anyone know what this algae might be? I've been unable to find a similar photo. My params: EDIT: I presume I must have Nitrate / phosphate otherwise I'd have no algae. Nitrite, Nitrate: 0.0 ppm Phosphate: 0.0 ppm (cheap test kit though, so could be wrong) Lights are Reeflux 10k, replaced in last few months. Running a huge 3 pump recirculating needlewheel fed from overflow. Growing a pretty good crop of chaeto in sump, lit 16 hours a day. I'm hoping I can cut it back in the tank so that the chaeto can pick up the nutrients the algae is taking in the tank. Thanks! Tyler

02/26/2007, 11:36 AM	#2
Liquid Hobby Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 810	Can you syphon any of it out of the tank? I set up a syphon that flows into a filter sock in sump. I can syphon algae and other crap for hours. if need be! 16 hours a day of light!? That's a lot of light and energy to grow algae! Drop your photo period down tp 12 hours with max light intesity for 9-10 hours and dawn/dusk at the beginning and end of the day. reduce feedings. Wait ands ee what happens... __________________ 120 DT/200 G mixed reef: birthed on Dec 1, 2010 * Neptune Systems controller * 40G Sump + 40G Fuge which gravity feeds into DT * Huge Reef Octopus Skimmer * Calc, GFO and Carbon RXs * 2x250W 20K Radium MH with VHO supplement * 3600 GPH closed loop with OM 4 way * 1700 GPH return

02/26/2007, 12:14 PM	#4
20 20 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,246	I had the same stuff: Twice I took out all my rock, and scrubbed it down and rinsed it, in salt water. Still grew back. So, I added a phosban reactor with Rowaphos, put some carbon in a sock in the sump, and put in a foxface. Within a week it was almost completely gone. Was it the phosban reactor? The carbon? The foxface? Some combination of the above, or maybe none of the above? Don't really know. I do know the foxface really ate the stuff. A couple of weeks after the stuff the foxface died overnight. Was fine and eating mysis fine that night, dead and stuck to the closed loop strainer the next morning. That was a couple of weeks ago, and the algae hasn't made a comeback yet.

02/26/2007, 12:25 PM	#6
20 20 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,246	Nope, just glad it went away. And keeping my fingers crossed that it stays away.

02/26/2007, 12:48 PM	#7
Jen D Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central IA Posts: 165	I've been following your tank thread... Could this be related to the ozone levels you had or the decreasing levels of it when you shut down the generator? I don't know a lot about ozone, but maybe there was/is some sort of interaction going on with something. Possibly a fluctuation in the microbial life due to the changes in the environment that is "feeding" the algae growth.