What kind of algae is this?

[phish guy]

this stuff is growing back over night. it is on my sand and it is easily removed with a turkey baster. my thought is that its red slime or cyano. but it isnt a red or maroon in color, its more brown. my phosphates are 0 and nitrates at 5 ppm. i also have brown algae grow on the glass very quickly. it is very light and can be wiped off with my finger. i have a 1200 gallon return and 2 1400 Koralias in a 92 bowfront tank that has been running for 6 years. i dont think flow is the problem so i am stuck. i dont know where to go from here. if someone could help me on how to get rid of it, and what is going on with the algae blooms all of the sudden, that would be great.

[dzhuo]

These are cyanobacteria (another remote possibility is heavy diatom grow). Color can vary and brown is common.

Originally Posted by phish guy

i have a 1200 gallon return and 2 1400 Koralias in a 92 bowfront tank that has been running for 6 years. i dont think flow is the problem so i am stuck.

That does not necessary mean you don't have a flow issue. It just means how much GPH your pumps are capable of pushing. Depends on your rock layout, a significant portion of the flow can be block by the rocks which create dead spots so eventually they become nutrient sink and outgrow your filtration capability (which is most likely the cause in your 6 years old tank).

Dealing with algae issues is really nothing more than limiting nutrient import (feed less, use quality food, use RO/DI, correct lighting spectrum etc) and maximize export (fuge, skimmer, water change, N & P absorbents such as carbon and GFO, carbon dosing, regular debris removal, filter socks, etc).

[phish guy]

would you reccomend using a slime remover to help out a little

[dzhuo]

I would use slime remover as a last resort. If you haven't already, I would just do water change and continue to siphon out the cyano. Continue to run carbon and GFO and if possible, look into increase flow (either by rearrange / removing a couple of rocks, upgrading power heads or adding more). Eventually, the cyano should subside.

Keep in mind that most mature reef tanks (such as the one you have) would have cyano from time to time so don't stress over it.

[RVANANO]

How old are your lights?

[phish guy]

my lights are pacific sun LEDs. the fixture is 1 year old.

[gte539f]

I found that not doing WC's for a while and doing lights out for 3 days helped me beat cyano

[phish guy]

wont having the lights out for 3 days, kill all the corals??

[skippy2]

Originally Posted by phish guy

not dosing with what and wont having the lights out for 3 days, kill all the corals??

absolutely not I kill the lights for 3 days every once in awhile. Followed by a bigger water change than normal. Do you think the ocean has sun all the time?

[phish guy]

ive just heard people losing lights for a few days and their tank crashes. ill probably try to leave it out a day or two. i just did a 30 percent water change so i will let everything recover first then hit the lights.

[skippy2]

Every tank is different. I don't have algae at all anymore but leaving lights out (at least for my tank) makes everything pop out more.

[Crkbaby]

cutting the lights isnt always the best way to rid single celled algaes. ph lowers when there is no light which makes it easier for the algae to stay alive boosting the ph while the lights are off is a really good way to do double damage to a cyano or dyno algae. Though I don't recommend if you don't have a way to actively monitor it.

[johnnytmc]

+1 on increasing or adjust the flow. I had similar issue before, but simply just upgrading a bigger power head addressed the issue over time.

[phish guy]

do you think 1 vortech mp40 would do well for my tank? i have been debating on whether or not to get one but i just dont have the heart to throw out 400 on a pump...