Unusual Reef Problem....Help Needed Please

FishDad2 · 01/04/2010, 01:00 PM

I've been keeping marine aquariums for more years than I care to admit and I've had my current 225 gallon reef tank running successfully for 4+ years, but in all that time I've not seen this particular algae problem. Hopefully some of you have and can offer some advice to combat it.

Looking at the tank while the pumps are running you wouldn't know there's a problem at all...no significant patches of algae can be seen, just a few little bits here and there that the snails/crabs have missed. However, once I switch the pumps off to do maintenance or feed the fish, that's when little "clouds" of greenish/brown algae start to come out from the rock structure and begin to fill the tank. Some days they seem to come from everywhere, like an army that has been in hiding, just waiting for the right moment to attack. Then when the pumps come back on, WOOSH, the stuff gets blow all around the tank, with the larger "clouds" now becoming long strands of algae...like individual pieces of hair that just get blown about the tank.

This wouldn't be the end of the world if the stuff would break apart and get sucked out into the filtration, but I'm not so lucky. As the longer strands get blown about, they catch on coral branches and rocks, hanging from them like streamers in a breeze. And after a large bloom, it seems like there are streamers hanging from just about everything in the tank. Hours later the streamers are still there...they haven;t broken up and gone away.

Like anyone who has kept a tank, I've had my share of algae issues over the years but I've not seen this behavior before...rapid blooms that only happen when the pumps are switched off.

Has anyone else had this problem?

What solutions can you offer?

Thanks,
Chris

And because someone always asks...I've listed the basic tank parameters below and in addition:

1. I use only 5 stage RODI water...Spectrapure system...tests clean
2. Instant Ocean salt
3. Randy's two-part solution with the chemical compounds purchased from Bulk Reef Supply
4. Weekly 30 gallon water changes...a practice I've engaged in since I first setup the tank
5. Carbon and GFO are used and are changed every 2 weeks
6. Active fuge with Cheto...lights run counter to display tank

Temp = 78.8 (+/- 0.2)
Alk = 9.5 dKH
Cal = 430 ppm
Nitrate measures near 0 ppm
Phosphate doesn't register at all

Main pump = Gen-X PCX70HP
Closed loop w/ chemical container (carbon & GFO) = Gen-X PCX40
Circulation = pair of Tunze 6100 Stream

tahoe61 · 01/04/2010, 01:10 PM

Very bad for you, and I am sorry I hate tank problems. Can you post a pic please. I am confused as to way it happens when the pumps are off ( decreased O2) and why it happens so rapidly, yet you have no other algae issues. I have never heard of this or seen it. It almost sounds like some type of cyno. Sorry I know I am no help, but I am interested in whats happening to your tank. Cheryl

barderer · 01/04/2010, 01:22 PM

is it green? Are you sure its not bacteria?

FishDad2 · 01/04/2010, 07:02 PM

It's greenish/brown...I don't think it's bacteria, but I'm certainly not an expert.

I'll try to take some pics and post them.

01/04/2010, 01:00 PM	#1
FishDad2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 660	Unusual Reef Problem....Help Needed Please I've been keeping marine aquariums for more years than I care to admit and I've had my current 225 gallon reef tank running successfully for 4+ years, but in all that time I've not seen this particular algae problem. Hopefully some of you have and can offer some advice to combat it. Looking at the tank while the pumps are running you wouldn't know there's a problem at all...no significant patches of algae can be seen, just a few little bits here and there that the snails/crabs have missed. However, once I switch the pumps off to do maintenance or feed the fish, that's when little "clouds" of greenish/brown algae start to come out from the rock structure and begin to fill the tank. Some days they seem to come from everywhere, like an army that has been in hiding, just waiting for the right moment to attack. Then when the pumps come back on, WOOSH, the stuff gets blow all around the tank, with the larger "clouds" now becoming long strands of algae...like individual pieces of hair that just get blown about the tank. This wouldn't be the end of the world if the stuff would break apart and get sucked out into the filtration, but I'm not so lucky. As the longer strands get blown about, they catch on coral branches and rocks, hanging from them like streamers in a breeze. And after a large bloom, it seems like there are streamers hanging from just about everything in the tank. Hours later the streamers are still there...they haven;t broken up and gone away. Like anyone who has kept a tank, I've had my share of algae issues over the years but I've not seen this behavior before...rapid blooms that only happen when the pumps are switched off. Has anyone else had this problem? What solutions can you offer? Thanks, Chris And because someone always asks...I've listed the basic tank parameters below and in addition: 1. I use only 5 stage RODI water...Spectrapure system...tests clean 2. Instant Ocean salt 3. Randy's two-part solution with the chemical compounds purchased from Bulk Reef Supply 4. Weekly 30 gallon water changes...a practice I've engaged in since I first setup the tank 5. Carbon and GFO are used and are changed every 2 weeks 6. Active fuge with Cheto...lights run counter to display tank Temp = 78.8 (+/- 0.2) Alk = 9.5 dKH Cal = 430 ppm Nitrate measures near 0 ppm Phosphate doesn't register at all Main pump = Gen-X PCX70HP Closed loop w/ chemical container (carbon & GFO) = Gen-X PCX40 Circulation = pair of Tunze 6100 Stream

01/04/2010, 01:10 PM	#2
tahoe61 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: On the state line Posts: 730	Very bad for you, and I am sorry I hate tank problems. Can you post a pic please. I am confused as to way it happens when the pumps are off ( decreased O2) and why it happens so rapidly, yet you have no other algae issues. I have never heard of this or seen it. It almost sounds like some type of cyno. Sorry I know I am no help, but I am interested in whats happening to your tank. Cheryl

01/04/2010, 01:22 PM	#3
barderer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 86	is it green? Are you sure its not bacteria?

01/04/2010, 07:02 PM	#4
FishDad2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 660	It's greenish/brown...I don't think it's bacteria, but I'm certainly not an expert. I'll try to take some pics and post them.