Bad algae problem

patrickpernell · 09/10/2017, 07:06 AM

I have had a 29 gallon biocube for going on 4 years, so I'm not necessarily new to the hobby. But in the past couple of weeks, I have an overtake of brown looking algae in my tank. It's all over the rock, glass, and sand. I'll attach some pictures so you can see exactly what's in it.

I've visited my local fish shop and have done everything they have recommended me to do to stop the algae. Here's some things I've done:

1). I feed the fish once every three days.
2). I've removed most of the filter pads in the tank to prevent further nutrient overload
3). I've added purigen and phosnet to the tank as well as one chemipure bag.
4). I've added a brand new protein skimmer.
5). I was recommended microbacter drops and began using that.
6). For about a week an a half I was doing water changes every other day.

Nothing I've done has helped decrease the algae growth. Does anyone have any recommendations? All parameters of the tank are normal except the nitrate and I'd assume the phosphate but I don't have a test for phosphate.

Nano Guy · 09/10/2017, 07:11 AM

Lights issue?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

mcgyvr · 09/10/2017, 07:12 AM

What is the result of the nitrate test?
Your local fish store didn't test both nitrates and phosphates first? Sounds like they have sold you everything but the kitchen sink there just throwing darts I guess..

Pictures of said algae?

Where are you getting your water from? RO/DI filter?
How big of water changes were you doing?
A 50% water change will reduce nitrates by 50%... Both nitrates and phosphates are fuel for algae and you need to keep them very low to avoid excessive algae growth..

What is in the tank? corals? fish?

A few large water changes should get your water inline then based on answers to what I posted above we can recommend a plan of attack..
That maybe be removing the rocks and doing some manual algae removal or just giving it time or maybe a chemical treatment,etc...

patrickpernell · 09/10/2017, 07:26 AM

I have an API nitrate test and the color appears to be somewhere in the 20-40ppm

I took pictures to the fish store and immediately told me it was a nutrient overload. It won't let me upload pictures from my phone so I'll do it when I get to my computer.

I make my own RO water with an RO/DI filter.

I do about 50% water changes.

Yesterday I took all the rocks out and manually cleaned them with a brush. I removed all the algae and then today it was back.

I have two clowns and a blue tang. Two anemone as well.

mcgyvr · 09/10/2017, 07:36 AM

run... here comes the tang police..

A blue tang in a 29G?

To start...
You need to be doing more water changes until nitrates are 10 or less..

patrickpernell · 09/10/2017, 07:51 AM

Yeah, I have been told that the tank is too small for the tang, I was recommended to put it in by a fish store that is no longer in business, but too late now....

I have also been doing a 40-50% water change every day for the past week and a half with no changes. I feel I am wasting my time and money on water/salt doing the water changes with no changes.

mcgyvr · 09/10/2017, 08:08 AM

You should be seeing changes in nitrates for sure with that many changes..
If you aren't then its entirely possible that your levels were so high or your test kit is faulty or some other reason...
What type of substrate is in the tank? sand/gravel/crushed coral?
Are you blowing the rocks (turkey baster) to remove detritus and siphoning up any detritus you see?

Have you done a nitrate test on newly fresh mixed saltwater? If not do one and report back with the results.. Should be zero..

You need to get nitrates down.. The easiest/fastest is water changes..
Something is not right if 40-50% water changes for a week and a half are not making a dent in the levels..
I'm finding that hard to believe..

What is the TDS of your RO/DI water?

patrickpernell · 09/10/2017, 08:24 AM

I have sand on the bottom of the tank.

I took the rocks out and used a turkey baster and a brush I bought to get all of the algae off.

The nitrates read 0 on the new saltwater.

I have a TDS meter on the output of my RO system and it reads 0. I also have a tester that I measured the water in my top off unit and it is also 0.

I am baffled and cannot figure it out.

mcgyvr · 09/10/2017, 10:02 AM

need pictures..

patrickpernell · 09/10/2017, 10:32 AM

Uploaded

patrickpernell · 09/10/2017, 10:33 AM

more

mcgyvr · 09/10/2017, 10:45 AM

Is that cyano all over the sandbed too?

Pictures like that make it really hard to see any details.. can you attach the originals instead of screenshots like that..

How long have you had this problem?.. Your initial post makes it seem like everything was find and dandy and then 4 weeks ago..BAM.. I doubt thats the case..
Seems like a tank that hasn't been "loved" as much as it should have been over the years..
Have you been keeping a log of nitrate readings over the past week an a half? You should..
Can you get a phosphate test? You should..

But regardless an algae problem like that won't just go away in a week.. IT took it a long time to get to that point and won't go back to square one without some drastic work..

patrickpernell · 09/10/2017, 10:48 AM

For some reason, it fails to upload the original image so that's why I took a screenshot.

Yes, it is all over the sand bed.

Do you recommend daily water changes until levels reduce?

I'll start a log now. I will purchase a phosphate test as soon as Irma passes (I'm in Florida)

mcgyvr · 09/10/2017, 12:22 PM

I'd try to siphon up as much as you can too with water changes..
Try to just skim the surface of the sand to pull out that cyano but to not disturb the sand bed too much..
Then yes you need to get your nutrient levels down low and keep them there..

You may want to think about replacing the sandbed in sections over time to "refresh" it..
Siphon out a few square inches at a time a few days/week apart and add new dry sand in its place..

tjm9331 · 09/11/2017, 07:29 AM

I'm in the process of replacing my sand, I was concerned about how to add the sand to an existing tank without creating a huge dust cloud.

Best way I've found is to turn off all powerheads then use a section of PVC pipe, put one end of the pipe on the floor of the tank and slowly pour the sand down the pipe. Works like a charm, almost no dust cloud at all.

Just thought I'd add that as my 2 cents

09/10/2017, 07:06 AM	#1
patrickpernell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 40	Bad algae problem I have had a 29 gallon biocube for going on 4 years, so I'm not necessarily new to the hobby. But in the past couple of weeks, I have an overtake of brown looking algae in my tank. It's all over the rock, glass, and sand. I'll attach some pictures so you can see exactly what's in it. I've visited my local fish shop and have done everything they have recommended me to do to stop the algae. Here's some things I've done: 1). I feed the fish once every three days. 2). I've removed most of the filter pads in the tank to prevent further nutrient overload 3). I've added purigen and phosnet to the tank as well as one chemipure bag. 4). I've added a brand new protein skimmer. 5). I was recommended microbacter drops and began using that. 6). For about a week an a half I was doing water changes every other day. Nothing I've done has helped decrease the algae growth. Does anyone have any recommendations? All parameters of the tank are normal except the nitrate and I'd assume the phosphate but I don't have a test for phosphate.

09/10/2017, 07:12 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	What is the result of the nitrate test? Your local fish store didn't test both nitrates and phosphates first? Sounds like they have sold you everything but the kitchen sink there just throwing darts I guess.. Pictures of said algae? Where are you getting your water from? RO/DI filter? How big of water changes were you doing? A 50% water change will reduce nitrates by 50%... Both nitrates and phosphates are fuel for algae and you need to keep them very low to avoid excessive algae growth.. What is in the tank? corals? fish? A few large water changes should get your water inline then based on answers to what I posted above we can recommend a plan of attack.. That maybe be removing the rocks and doing some manual algae removal or just giving it time or maybe a chemical treatment,etc... __________________ Who me?

09/10/2017, 07:36 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	run... here comes the tang police.. A blue tang in a 29G? To start... You need to be doing more water changes until nitrates are 10 or less.. __________________ Who me?

09/10/2017, 08:08 AM	#7
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	You should be seeing changes in nitrates for sure with that many changes.. If you aren't then its entirely possible that your levels were so high or your test kit is faulty or some other reason... What type of substrate is in the tank? sand/gravel/crushed coral? Are you blowing the rocks (turkey baster) to remove detritus and siphoning up any detritus you see? Have you done a nitrate test on newly fresh mixed saltwater? If not do one and report back with the results.. Should be zero.. You need to get nitrates down.. The easiest/fastest is water changes.. Something is not right if 40-50% water changes for a week and a half are not making a dent in the levels.. I'm finding that hard to believe.. What is the TDS of your RO/DI water? __________________ Who me?

09/10/2017, 10:02 AM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	need pictures.. __________________ Who me?

09/10/2017, 07:11 AM	#2
Nano Guy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 1	Lights issue? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

09/10/2017, 07:26 AM	#4
patrickpernell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 40	I have an API nitrate test and the color appears to be somewhere in the 20-40ppm I took pictures to the fish store and immediately told me it was a nutrient overload. It won't let me upload pictures from my phone so I'll do it when I get to my computer. I make my own RO water with an RO/DI filter. I do about 50% water changes. Yesterday I took all the rocks out and manually cleaned them with a brush. I removed all the algae and then today it was back. I have two clowns and a blue tang. Two anemone as well.

09/10/2017, 07:51 AM	#6
patrickpernell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 40	Yeah, I have been told that the tank is too small for the tang, I was recommended to put it in by a fish store that is no longer in business, but too late now.... I have also been doing a 40-50% water change every day for the past week and a half with no changes. I feel I am wasting my time and money on water/salt doing the water changes with no changes.

09/10/2017, 08:24 AM	#8
patrickpernell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 40	I have sand on the bottom of the tank. I took the rocks out and used a turkey baster and a brush I bought to get all of the algae off. The nitrates read 0 on the new saltwater. I have a TDS meter on the output of my RO system and it reads 0. I also have a tester that I measured the water in my top off unit and it is also 0. I am baffled and cannot figure it out.

09/10/2017, 10:45 AM	#12
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Is that cyano all over the sandbed too? Pictures like that make it really hard to see any details.. can you attach the originals instead of screenshots like that.. How long have you had this problem?.. Your initial post makes it seem like everything was find and dandy and then 4 weeks ago..BAM.. I doubt thats the case.. Seems like a tank that hasn't been "loved" as much as it should have been over the years.. Have you been keeping a log of nitrate readings over the past week an a half? You should.. Can you get a phosphate test? You should.. But regardless an algae problem like that won't just go away in a week.. IT took it a long time to get to that point and won't go back to square one without some drastic work.. __________________ Who me?

09/10/2017, 10:48 AM	#13
patrickpernell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 40	For some reason, it fails to upload the original image so that's why I took a screenshot. Yes, it is all over the sand bed. Do you recommend daily water changes until levels reduce? I'll start a log now. I will purchase a phosphate test as soon as Irma passes (I'm in Florida)

09/10/2017, 12:22 PM	#14
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I'd try to siphon up as much as you can too with water changes.. Try to just skim the surface of the sand to pull out that cyano but to not disturb the sand bed too much.. Then yes you need to get your nutrient levels down low and keep them there.. You may want to think about replacing the sandbed in sections over time to "refresh" it.. Siphon out a few square inches at a time a few days/week apart and add new dry sand in its place.. __________________ Who me?

09/11/2017, 07:29 AM	#15
tjm9331 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 340	I'm in the process of replacing my sand, I was concerned about how to add the sand to an existing tank without creating a huge dust cloud. Best way I've found is to turn off all powerheads then use a section of PVC pipe, put one end of the pipe on the floor of the tank and slowly pour the sand down the pipe. Works like a charm, almost no dust cloud at all. Just thought I'd add that as my 2 cents