white slimy stringy algae HELP!!!!

alex1030 · 01/22/2013, 06:11 PM

Hello everyone. I'm looking for some urgent help. I have this slimy stringy mucus algae looking stuff sticking all over my 20 gallon fowlr tank. Its not a sponge growing on the rocks. It seen to be coming from my hang on back fuge, but I'm not 100% sure. I've siphoned it out several time over the last 2 weeks. All my params are on the money. The only change over the last month is I dropped the salinity from 1.025 to 1.021. I'm slowly raising it back up. Its at 1.0225 right now. Oh I did add a 120 watt led lighting system its programmable with time I do the whole sunrise, sunset thing. I have slowly brought up the intensity recently also. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!! What could it be and what can I do. Thanks

Nitrates 0
Ammonia 0
Ph 8.3
Phosphate s 0
Calcium 400
Mag 1350
Temp 80

tylersarah · 01/22/2013, 06:42 PM

I think I can help here, sounds like a bacterial bloom.

To treat:
Multiple W/C and thorough cleaning
Turn up skimmer
Add air stone to increase oxygen for fish since the bacteria consume it quickly
Identify cause

To identify cause:
Do you carbon dose in any intentional way?
Has there been any Volatile Organic Compounds near the tank? Sprays, detergents, vaporized alcohol etc.

This happened to me once after making cranberry sauce that cooked a bottle of wine on the stove and vaporized.

alex1030 · 01/22/2013, 07:41 PM

I have no skimmer on my tank. I do 5% water change twice a week. I do always keep a carbon bag in my aqua clear hob filter. I change the carbon monthly. I dont think any thing has gotten into the tank. I just turn down my light intensity. I had it up pretty high. I have a good cascade I'm the refugium in side and on the return. The hang on back also kicks the water pretty well along with a power pointing at surface. I do open the front door 2 to 3 times daily. It close to the tank. So siphon and water changes. Can the carbon be contributing to this?

downbeach · 01/23/2013, 06:56 AM

tylersara is talking about any type of carbon dosing, i.e. Vodka, vinegar, etc., which can cause this, not GAC.

keithhays · 01/23/2013, 07:08 AM

Definitely a bacteria bloom. In addition to carbon dosing, I have seen this happen with certain liquid bottled calcium supplements. Why did you have to lower your salinity?

01/22/2013, 06:11 PM	#1
alex1030 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 26	white slimy stringy algae HELP!!!! Hello everyone. I'm looking for some urgent help. I have this slimy stringy mucus algae looking stuff sticking all over my 20 gallon fowlr tank. Its not a sponge growing on the rocks. It seen to be coming from my hang on back fuge, but I'm not 100% sure. I've siphoned it out several time over the last 2 weeks. All my params are on the money. The only change over the last month is I dropped the salinity from 1.025 to 1.021. I'm slowly raising it back up. Its at 1.0225 right now. Oh I did add a 120 watt led lighting system its programmable with time I do the whole sunrise, sunset thing. I have slowly brought up the intensity recently also. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!! What could it be and what can I do. Thanks Nitrates 0 Ammonia 0 Ph 8.3 Phosphate s 0 Calcium 400 Mag 1350 Temp 80

01/22/2013, 06:42 PM	#2
tylersarah Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 900	I think I can help here, sounds like a bacterial bloom. To treat: Multiple W/C and thorough cleaning Turn up skimmer Add air stone to increase oxygen for fish since the bacteria consume it quickly Identify cause To identify cause: Do you carbon dose in any intentional way? Has there been any Volatile Organic Compounds near the tank? Sprays, detergents, vaporized alcohol etc. This happened to me once after making cranberry sauce that cooked a bottle of wine on the stove and vaporized.

01/22/2013, 07:41 PM	#3
alex1030 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 26	I have no skimmer on my tank. I do 5% water change twice a week. I do always keep a carbon bag in my aqua clear hob filter. I change the carbon monthly. I dont think any thing has gotten into the tank. I just turn down my light intensity. I had it up pretty high. I have a good cascade I'm the refugium in side and on the return. The hang on back also kicks the water pretty well along with a power pointing at surface. I do open the front door 2 to 3 times daily. It close to the tank. So siphon and water changes. Can the carbon be contributing to this?

01/23/2013, 06:56 AM	#4
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	tylersara is talking about any type of carbon dosing, i.e. Vodka, vinegar, etc., which can cause this, not GAC.

01/23/2013, 07:08 AM	#5
keithhays Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,259	Definitely a bacteria bloom. In addition to carbon dosing, I have seen this happen with certain liquid bottled calcium supplements. Why did you have to lower your salinity?