Algae ID & How to Fix

Danshoe42 · 09/05/2016, 06:18 PM

Hello all,

My tank is now six weeks old. As a little background I cured dead rock for a couple of months prior to adding to the tank. Prior to adding and starting the tank the rocks showed little to no phosphate and no nitrate.

I have noticed some algae which has gotten going on all of the rock that gets direct shot from the lights. Also I just brushed off some green algae off the glass that turned powdery after coming off. I just took a reading and nitrates are 1ppm.

I have been running a GFO reactor for a couple of weeks however the algae continues to spread. I do not feed heavy and have a clean up crew. What the clean up crew doesn't get is pulled into the overflow and filter socks.

I have a protein skimmer running, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, a Refugium with some miracle mud and Cheato in it with the light running on a reverse cycle for 10 hours. Also my bioload is low with a watchman goby, pistol shrimp, three small clowns.

When I try to use a hard brush or scrape the algae off the rock it doesn't move.

Any thoughts as to what this is? I have read that this could be the start of coralline algae. At any rate thanks for helping a newbie out.

Dkuhlmann · 09/05/2016, 08:00 PM

Welcome to the "ugglies" stage of reefing. Your tank will go through all kinds of different algae and Cyano etc before it gets better. Just have to ride it out. Mexican Turbo snails are wonderful for consuming GHA as well as other algae. Many snails have their own specialty. Pictures of your algae for positive ID helps.

Coralline algae starts out as any one of a number of colors. Green, yellow, pink and you can't rub it off. You probably do have coralline starting from your description. It usually starts between 3 and 4 months.

Can post a picture for positive ID.

Danshoe42 · 09/05/2016, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Welcome to the "ugglies" stage of reefing. Your tank will go through all kinds of different algae and Cyano etc before it gets better. Just have to ride it out. Mexican Turbo snails are wonderful for consuming GHA as well as other algae. Many snails have their own specialty. Pictures of your algae for positive ID helps.

Coralline algae starts out as any one of a number of colors. Green, yellow, pink and you can't rub it off. You probably do have coralline starting from your description. It usually starts between 3 and 4 months.

Can post a picture for positive ID.

Danshoe42 · 09/05/2016, 08:16 PM

Another one

Danshoe42 · 09/05/2016, 08:17 PM

More

Danshoe42 · 09/05/2016, 08:18 PM

a few more and then done

Danshoe42 · 09/05/2016, 08:19 PM

Last one

Danshoe42 · 09/05/2016, 09:18 PM

Also I do have a clean up crew with about 18 trochus snails, 6 nassarius, some asterias, and a couple of her its. I see them working the rocks however they do not seem able to remove it.

Dkuhlmann · 09/06/2016, 03:59 AM

Yep that looks like the beginning of coralline. Now sit back and watch natures beautiful color show

Sadly it will all become purple in the end but getting there is fun to watch.

09/05/2016, 06:18 PM	#1
Danshoe42 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 29	Algae ID & How to Fix Hello all, My tank is now six weeks old. As a little background I cured dead rock for a couple of months prior to adding to the tank. Prior to adding and starting the tank the rocks showed little to no phosphate and no nitrate. I have noticed some algae which has gotten going on all of the rock that gets direct shot from the lights. Also I just brushed off some green algae off the glass that turned powdery after coming off. I just took a reading and nitrates are 1ppm. I have been running a GFO reactor for a couple of weeks however the algae continues to spread. I do not feed heavy and have a clean up crew. What the clean up crew doesn't get is pulled into the overflow and filter socks. I have a protein skimmer running, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, a Refugium with some miracle mud and Cheato in it with the light running on a reverse cycle for 10 hours. Also my bioload is low with a watchman goby, pistol shrimp, three small clowns. When I try to use a hard brush or scrape the algae off the rock it doesn't move. Any thoughts as to what this is? I have read that this could be the start of coralline algae. At any rate thanks for helping a newbie out. __________________ Current Tank: Red Sea Reefer 450 Lighting: 2 Kessil AP700s Rock: 120 lbs Fiji & Pukani Reactor: BRS Carbon Skimmer: Skimz Monzter SM163 DC. Return: Syncra Silent 5.0

09/05/2016, 08:00 PM	#2
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Welcome to the "ugglies" stage of reefing. Your tank will go through all kinds of different algae and Cyano etc before it gets better. Just have to ride it out. Mexican Turbo snails are wonderful for consuming GHA as well as other algae. Many snails have their own specialty. Pictures of your algae for positive ID helps. Coralline algae starts out as any one of a number of colors. Green, yellow, pink and you can't rub it off. You probably do have coralline starting from your description. It usually starts between 3 and 4 months. Can post a picture for positive ID. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

09/05/2016, 09:18 PM	#8
Danshoe42 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 29	Also I do have a clean up crew with about 18 trochus snails, 6 nassarius, some asterias, and a couple of her its. I see them working the rocks however they do not seem able to remove it. __________________ Current Tank: Red Sea Reefer 450 Lighting: 2 Kessil AP700s Rock: 120 lbs Fiji & Pukani Reactor: BRS Carbon Skimmer: Skimz Monzter SM163 DC. Return: Syncra Silent 5.0

09/06/2016, 03:59 AM	#9
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Yep that looks like the beginning of coralline. Now sit back and watch natures beautiful color show Sadly it will all become purple in the end but getting there is fun to watch. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300