What is this stuff and how do you get rid of it??

rockytop02 · 08/28/2011, 10:31 PM

I have two things growing in my tanks. the one pic is of an algae of some kind. It does not brush off with a hard brush.

The other pic is of an algae/sponge?? that is growing all over my tank. This stuff brushes off easily with a brush under the sink, but comes back within a week or two.

Any tips or identification would be greatly appreciated. I have been fighting this stuff for some time and am very frustrated.

Thanks!

sporto0 · 08/28/2011, 10:38 PM

Ok, my best guess for pic #1 is Bryopsis algae, search this forum for Tech-M treatment. Pic #2 looks very much like Cyano Bacteria, It usually goes away on it's own. How old is your tank?

rockytop02 · 08/28/2011, 10:45 PM

I got the tank with the ?cyano? in it from a friend about 6 months ago. It was running at his house for a couple years.

sporto0 · 08/29/2011, 12:22 AM

Ok, it is called Cyano Bacteria, the dark red growth, both it & the algae need light & high nutrients to grow that prolifically. We will need more info to help you properly, such as what type of substrate, how big of a tank, 55g or 29g, how many fish, how much do you feed, what type of filtration, do you have a sump/refugium, do you run a protein skimmer, etc.?

ravenmore · 08/29/2011, 07:53 AM

The algae isn't the problem - it's the symptom. Remember if you kill it/find something that will eat it all the nutrients it has taken up will be put back into the water.

rockytop02 · 08/29/2011, 03:58 PM

Both aquariums are 55 gallon FOWLR tanks with an aragonite/crushed coral substrate. I have hang on side whisper filter on both tanks. I have a protein skimmer in the tank with green algae. I unfortunately do not have a sump or refugium. I have always used tap water and never had a problem until about a year ago. I wondered if I needed a RO filter. The tank with green algae has had no fish in it for about 4 months. I moved them over to the tank with the cyano in it (it only had one little piece of cyano in it when i moved them over). The tank with the cyano in it has two ocellaris clowns, 1 yellow tang, 1 yellow watchman goby, 1 clown goby, 1 orchid dottyback, and 1 flame angel. I feed 2-3x/day (only what they can eat in a couple minutes).

From the research I have done, it looks like excess nutrients are the major problem. Is a RO filter needed? I do not have very much money at the time.

ravenmore · 08/29/2011, 05:35 PM

The thing is tap water can vary in quality throughout the year. Actually now is when its usually at its worst. Using filtered water of some kind would really help. You can get ro/di filters really cheap these days off of ebay. Under $100 for sure. You can use a rubbermaid tub for a refugium. Trust me - if it can be done on the cheap I'd know.

08/28/2011, 10:45 PM	#3
rockytop02 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southeast Ohio Posts: 217	I got the tank with the ?cyano? in it from a friend about 6 months ago. It was running at his house for a couple years. __________________ Why do I always pick expensive hobbies? Current Tank Info: 55 gallon FOWLR, and 29 gallon FOWLR

08/29/2011, 07:53 AM	#5
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	The algae isn't the problem - it's the symptom. Remember if you kill it/find something that will eat it all the nutrients it has taken up will be put back into the water. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

08/29/2011, 03:58 PM	#6
rockytop02 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southeast Ohio Posts: 217	Both aquariums are 55 gallon FOWLR tanks with an aragonite/crushed coral substrate. I have hang on side whisper filter on both tanks. I have a protein skimmer in the tank with green algae. I unfortunately do not have a sump or refugium. I have always used tap water and never had a problem until about a year ago. I wondered if I needed a RO filter. The tank with green algae has had no fish in it for about 4 months. I moved them over to the tank with the cyano in it (it only had one little piece of cyano in it when i moved them over). The tank with the cyano in it has two ocellaris clowns, 1 yellow tang, 1 yellow watchman goby, 1 clown goby, 1 orchid dottyback, and 1 flame angel. I feed 2-3x/day (only what they can eat in a couple minutes). From the research I have done, it looks like excess nutrients are the major problem. Is a RO filter needed? I do not have very much money at the time. __________________ Why do I always pick expensive hobbies? Current Tank Info: 55 gallon FOWLR, and 29 gallon FOWLR

08/29/2011, 05:35 PM	#7
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	The thing is tap water can vary in quality throughout the year. Actually now is when its usually at its worst. Using filtered water of some kind would really help. You can get ro/di filters really cheap these days off of ebay. Under $100 for sure. You can use a rubbermaid tub for a refugium. Trust me - if it can be done on the cheap I'd know. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

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08/28/2011, 10:38 PM	#2
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Ok, my best guess for pic #1 is Bryopsis algae, search this forum for Tech-M treatment. Pic #2 looks very much like Cyano Bacteria, It usually goes away on it's own. How old is your tank?

08/29/2011, 12:22 AM	#4
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Ok, it is called Cyano Bacteria, the dark red growth, both it & the algae need light & high nutrients to grow that prolifically. We will need more info to help you properly, such as what type of substrate, how big of a tank, 55g or 29g, how many fish, how much do you feed, what type of filtration, do you have a sump/refugium, do you run a protein skimmer, etc.?