Algae to ID (and general Algae rant)

FBNitro · 06/22/2008, 01:47 PM

I have serious algae issues in my tank, and I don't know what else to do. It seems the last few months things have gotten worse instead of better. At this point I'm considering getting a GFO Reactor, but I have no idea how I'm going to hook it up to a 10 gallon tank. I REALLY don't like the idea of having a pump that pushes water out of the tank through a hose, with my luck it'll drain the entire thing onto my carpet while I'm at work one day.

Anyhow, something new showed up here in the last few days.

The brown stuff is Lobophora, it's my biggest issue right now. The green stuff is new.

maqo.org · 06/22/2008, 04:22 PM

If you have green algae coming in the brown will likely lessen soon. I would try to get some heavy carbon or purigen in there and see. I don't think you want to go with GFO.

What the algae is I can't really tell from the pic.

indydog1 · 06/22/2008, 04:30 PM

have your water tested for phosphate. i would bet that that is the issue your are having. do you ues ro/di water?

FBNitro · 06/22/2008, 04:39 PM

Yes, I use RO/DI. I've got a 0 TDS, I test it every time before I mix salt water.

If I have phosphates in the tank, the algae would be consuming it so I don't believe it would show up on a test kit. I have a fuge with Chaeto and the algae still grows.

If you follow the photo link you can hit the magnify button and see a detailed view of the algae.

IFbettas · 06/22/2008, 05:24 PM

Yeah, it's probably phosphates. What are your nitrate readings? Try making some water changes and see what happens.

FBNitro · 06/22/2008, 05:43 PM

SG - 1.026
PH - 8.3
Alk - 2.0 meq/L (looks like I need to start dosing Baking Soda again)
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0

I do weekly water changes 10-20% and I'm scheduled to do one today (water is mixed for 20% change). Water changes alone aren't solving my issue. Probably why I'm getting frustrated.

06/22/2008, 01:47 PM	#1
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	Algae to ID (and general Algae rant) I have serious algae issues in my tank, and I don't know what else to do. It seems the last few months things have gotten worse instead of better. At this point I'm considering getting a GFO Reactor, but I have no idea how I'm going to hook it up to a 10 gallon tank. I REALLY don't like the idea of having a pump that pushes water out of the tank through a hose, with my luck it'll drain the entire thing onto my carpet while I'm at work one day. Anyhow, something new showed up here in the last few days. The brown stuff is Lobophora, it's my biggest issue right now. The green stuff is new.

06/22/2008, 04:30 PM	#3
indydog1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: round lake, il Posts: 1,590	have your water tested for phosphate. i would bet that that is the issue your are having. do you ues ro/di water? __________________ Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself Current Tank Info: 210 gal

06/22/2008, 05:24 PM	#5
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	Yeah, it's probably phosphates. What are your nitrate readings? Try making some water changes and see what happens. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

06/22/2008, 04:22 PM	#2
maqo.org Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1	If you have green algae coming in the brown will likely lessen soon. I would try to get some heavy carbon or purigen in there and see. I don't think you want to go with GFO. What the algae is I can't really tell from the pic.

06/22/2008, 04:39 PM	#4
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	Yes, I use RO/DI. I've got a 0 TDS, I test it every time before I mix salt water. If I have phosphates in the tank, the algae would be consuming it so I don't believe it would show up on a test kit. I have a fuge with Chaeto and the algae still grows. If you follow the photo link you can hit the magnify button and see a detailed view of the algae.

06/22/2008, 05:43 PM	#6
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	SG - 1.026 PH - 8.3 Alk - 2.0 meq/L (looks like I need to start dosing Baking Soda again) Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 0 I do weekly water changes 10-20% and I'm scheduled to do one today (water is mixed for 20% change). Water changes alone aren't solving my issue. Probably why I'm getting frustrated.