How About Some Ugly Ugly UGLY Algae Pics Inside

PatMayo · 08/05/2006, 06:54 PM

I have had this about 2 months now. It is some ugly stuff. I have tried to scrub the rock but this stuff will not come off the rock with a bristle brush. It might if I used a steel wire brush but I don't want to go to that point yet. It seems be at a point where it isn't getting any worse but it's on the drain tower as well growing over the coralline. I can't even scrape this crap off with my fingernail. It's really wierd. It even is on the back glass but again it's hard. On the rock in water it looks like short hair algae but it's dark brown or black.

Ok here are the parameters. Tank up about 190 days now.
IO salt. I mix up 44 gallons at a time in a brute container and add calcium and magnesium to proper levels. I change at least 12 gallons per week sometimes 16 gallons every week. So between 48 and 64 gallons per month. I have calculated I have about 100 gallons total.

I use a Typhoon III RO/DI. I have a TDS meter and check consistently at 0 TDS.

I use a Euro Reef skimmer rated at 100 gallons. I light the tank from 3 pm until 10 pm. Ph runs 7.9 to 8.1. Calcium runs at 400, alkalnity runs 2.97 to 3.2 meq/l. magnesium is at 1325. I use a ph meter to test ph and all test kits are Salifert.

I have 2 clowns, 1 about 2 inches and the other about 1 1/2 inches.
2 plate corals about 3 frogspawn heads and some mushrooms. I feed the clowns mysis shrimp every other day, I feed the plate corals shrimp twice a week. I rinse all the food off with RO/DI water before adding to the tank. I run a reactor with Rowa Phos in it. I have a sump with cheato in it although I may have harvested too much last month. The ball is pretty small but growing. I have only been running carbon intermittently. The water is clear and seems clean.

I have about 4 or 5 blue legged hermits and about 4 or 5 snails, but neither of these critters will touch this stuff.

Flow, I have a mag 7 return pump, I have a Seio 1100 and 2 ea. mj 1200. I had a second Seio 1100 in it but the impeller went bad and I am waiting for a replacment. Even with both Seio's running full blast and the 2 mj 1200 plus the return flow I fugured my flow at 30x tank volume.

I have not tried the fish route, a small tang for instance. I really only wanted to have the 2 clowns in the tank and the rest corals.

I don't know what else I can tell you guys that will help with diagnosis. I may just have to give it more time and see if it correct itself. I also have not tried the big snail route yet. It seems that a lot of times the snails don't do the job. Anyway take a look at this stuff and see what you think. I will try to get a shot of what it looks like on the overflow. I have tons of coralline in every glass surface except the front glass.

You can see other pictures of the tank in my gallery.

Regards,

Pat

Bebo77 · 08/05/2006, 06:58 PM

thats not that bad... i have seen worse.. get a tank or foxface...

meisel1 · 08/05/2006, 08:39 PM

I'd be more concerned with the aptasia on the rock, however I also agree on the foxface......

PatMayo · 08/05/2006, 08:40 PM

Geeeeeee, what happened to all the experts on Reef Central? I see a bunch of looks at the thread but how about some pointers to get rid of this stuff.

I think I am doing all the right things, at least I am certainly following all the advice I see and at one time gave. (Maybe that's it.) I didn't have any algae at all until about day 140 or so. I guess that's what I get for saying I don't have it. Must be Karma. Earl where are you???

We'll I'm listening. Steven Pro suggested a small tang and some of the larger snails. I am going to give that a shot and see what happens. Hopefully it's just a phase the tank is going through. Kind of like an unruly child. Know what I mean?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Pat

PatMayo · 08/05/2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7886327#post7886327 target=_blank>Originally posted by meisel1
I'd be more concerned with the aptasia on the rock, however I also agree on the foxface......

I hit that stuff twice a week. It always comes but it always get's killed. I should own stock in Joe's Juice company. I buy enough of it.

Do you ever get rid of that stuff forever? I don't think you do.

Regards,

Pat

bertoni · 08/05/2006, 09:09 PM

I've never managed to eradicate Aiptasia. I wish I could.

For the algae, another option might be nuking it with some lye or perhaps a kalk paste. That needs to be done carefully, since the chemicals will spike various parameters.

Caryliss · 08/05/2006, 09:22 PM

I'm no expert, but I've had very good luck controlling algae in the 75g with a purple tang. The only place I see algae is in the preskimmer box that he cannot get into.

I've also had good luck controlling aptasia with peppermint shrimp. The aptasia were getting out of control in the 75g til I added 8 shrimp. Not everyone reports such good luck with the peppermints though.

PatMayo · 08/05/2006, 10:54 PM

Hi Jonathan, I tried that on a small area of rock as you suggested previously. I actually used Joe's Juice and it did eradicate the algae. It left that particular area of the rock white. I can't use Joe's juice of course it's too expensive but I wanted to test that theory. It worked. I use Mrs. Wages lime powder. Do I just mix up a paste, glue consistnecy I would assume and I would assume that I leave the rock in the tank and slather this on the rock with the powerheads etc off. It will cause a ph rise but my ph runs low so this may not be a bad thing to try.

I will try this, but what can I do to prevent it from coming back? That is the real issue. I wish I had the answer. Seems there isn't one.

But I will try the paste. At least it will eradicate it slowly.

Regards,

Pat

bertoni · 08/05/2006, 11:06 PM

The paste should clear the alga and spores, etc, from the area that's hit, so with some luck, it won't come back. Several rounds might be needed. If the pest is spreading rapidly, the battle might never end, I guess.

A paste of Mrs Wages should work well. Watch the pH, alkalinity, and calcium levels carefully.

PatMayo · 08/05/2006, 11:44 PM

I'll do that. Thanks for the advice!

Regards,

Pat

tunatogo · 08/06/2006, 12:57 AM

Ugly stuff! Get you self some macro and tangs or Angel

08/05/2006, 06:54 PM	#1
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	How About Some Ugly Ugly UGLY Algae Pics Inside I have had this about 2 months now. It is some ugly stuff. I have tried to scrub the rock but this stuff will not come off the rock with a bristle brush. It might if I used a steel wire brush but I don't want to go to that point yet. It seems be at a point where it isn't getting any worse but it's on the drain tower as well growing over the coralline. I can't even scrape this crap off with my fingernail. It's really wierd. It even is on the back glass but again it's hard. On the rock in water it looks like short hair algae but it's dark brown or black. Ok here are the parameters. Tank up about 190 days now. IO salt. I mix up 44 gallons at a time in a brute container and add calcium and magnesium to proper levels. I change at least 12 gallons per week sometimes 16 gallons every week. So between 48 and 64 gallons per month. I have calculated I have about 100 gallons total. I use a Typhoon III RO/DI. I have a TDS meter and check consistently at 0 TDS. I use a Euro Reef skimmer rated at 100 gallons. I light the tank from 3 pm until 10 pm. Ph runs 7.9 to 8.1. Calcium runs at 400, alkalnity runs 2.97 to 3.2 meq/l. magnesium is at 1325. I use a ph meter to test ph and all test kits are Salifert. I have 2 clowns, 1 about 2 inches and the other about 1 1/2 inches. 2 plate corals about 3 frogspawn heads and some mushrooms. I feed the clowns mysis shrimp every other day, I feed the plate corals shrimp twice a week. I rinse all the food off with RO/DI water before adding to the tank. I run a reactor with Rowa Phos in it. I have a sump with cheato in it although I may have harvested too much last month. The ball is pretty small but growing. I have only been running carbon intermittently. The water is clear and seems clean. I have about 4 or 5 blue legged hermits and about 4 or 5 snails, but neither of these critters will touch this stuff. Flow, I have a mag 7 return pump, I have a Seio 1100 and 2 ea. mj 1200. I had a second Seio 1100 in it but the impeller went bad and I am waiting for a replacment. Even with both Seio's running full blast and the 2 mj 1200 plus the return flow I fugured my flow at 30x tank volume. I have not tried the fish route, a small tang for instance. I really only wanted to have the 2 clowns in the tank and the rest corals. I don't know what else I can tell you guys that will help with diagnosis. I may just have to give it more time and see if it correct itself. I also have not tried the big snail route yet. It seems that a lot of times the snails don't do the job. Anyway take a look at this stuff and see what you think. I will try to get a shot of what it looks like on the overflow. I have tons of coralline in every glass surface except the front glass. You can see other pictures of the tank in my gallery. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

08/05/2006, 06:58 PM	#2
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	thats not that bad... i have seen worse.. get a tank or foxface... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

08/05/2006, 08:39 PM	#3
meisel1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: aurora ontario Posts: 529	I'd be more concerned with the aptasia on the rock, however I also agree on the foxface...... __________________ current tanks..150 gal diy dt. 60 gal sump, 37 gal macro tank...2x maxspect razor 160, maxspect gyre. 2x mp 10. JNS co2 skimmer. Kamoer triple doser.

08/05/2006, 08:40 PM	#4
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	Geeeeeee, what happened to all the experts on Reef Central? I see a bunch of looks at the thread but how about some pointers to get rid of this stuff. I think I am doing all the right things, at least I am certainly following all the advice I see and at one time gave. (Maybe that's it.) I didn't have any algae at all until about day 140 or so. I guess that's what I get for saying I don't have it. Must be Karma. Earl where are you??? We'll I'm listening. Steven Pro suggested a small tang and some of the larger snails. I am going to give that a shot and see what happens. Hopefully it's just a phase the tank is going through. Kind of like an unruly child. Know what I mean? Thanks in advance. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

08/05/2006, 09:09 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I've never managed to eradicate Aiptasia. I wish I could. For the algae, another option might be nuking it with some lye or perhaps a kalk paste. That needs to be done carefully, since the chemicals will spike various parameters. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/05/2006, 09:22 PM	#7
Caryliss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mentor, Ohio Posts: 466	I'm no expert, but I've had very good luck controlling algae in the 75g with a purple tang. The only place I see algae is in the preskimmer box that he cannot get into. I've also had good luck controlling aptasia with peppermint shrimp. The aptasia were getting out of control in the 75g til I added 8 shrimp. Not everyone reports such good luck with the peppermints though.

08/05/2006, 10:54 PM	#8
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	Hi Jonathan, I tried that on a small area of rock as you suggested previously. I actually used Joe's Juice and it did eradicate the algae. It left that particular area of the rock white. I can't use Joe's juice of course it's too expensive but I wanted to test that theory. It worked. I use Mrs. Wages lime powder. Do I just mix up a paste, glue consistnecy I would assume and I would assume that I leave the rock in the tank and slather this on the rock with the powerheads etc off. It will cause a ph rise but my ph runs low so this may not be a bad thing to try. I will try this, but what can I do to prevent it from coming back? That is the real issue. I wish I had the answer. Seems there isn't one. But I will try the paste. At least it will eradicate it slowly. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

08/05/2006, 11:06 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The paste should clear the alga and spores, etc, from the area that's hit, so with some luck, it won't come back. Several rounds might be needed. If the pest is spreading rapidly, the battle might never end, I guess. A paste of Mrs Wages should work well. Watch the pH, alkalinity, and calcium levels carefully. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/05/2006, 11:44 PM	#10
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	I'll do that. Thanks for the advice! Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

08/06/2006, 12:57 AM	#11
tunatogo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: AL Posts: 15	Ugly stuff! Get you self some macro and tangs or Angel