What type of algae is this

jlombardi29 · 09/25/2016, 05:14 PM

I'm trying to figure out what this is and how to get rid of it It's definitely not from my lights or incoming water tds are 0 and lights are 2x250 mh only few months old here's a pic

jlombardi29 · 09/25/2016, 05:16 PM

Bent · 09/25/2016, 05:24 PM

Looks like plain old turf algae.

You have a nutrient export problem. Are you carbon dosing or running any bio pellets? What's your stock like and feeding schedule? How old are the rocks?

jlombardi29 · 09/25/2016, 05:30 PM

Fish load is a sail fin tang ,vlamingi tang baby hippo and a few misc small fish it's a 160 with 75 gallon sump only thing I do is add cal and alk and run a sro 3000 skimmer and water changes the tank and rock is about a year old

Buzz1329 · 09/25/2016, 08:52 PM

Fought it for years. IME, nothing will eat the stuff when it gets that thick.

Algae Fix Marine will provide at best temporary relief.

I was running (and continue to run) GFO/GAC reactors and skimmers (I have the SRO 3000INT in my 180 and love it).

Also did vinegar dosing, but did not seem to have any impact on nuisance algae -- I discontinued/reduced it due to proliferation of bacteria snot: shut it down in 75 and reduced it to 30 ml a day in 180.

Here is what I did that that has kept GHA, cyano, and brown turf algae in check for past 2+ months:

Installed Turbo Aquatics algae turf scrubber in my 180 and installed mesh baskets of chaeto/grape caulerpa in 75 with Home Depot 3,000k LED spotlight.

Removed all cyano infected substrate from both tanks -- 180 is now BB on front part of tank and 75 has minimal substrate on front of tank.

I also installed UV sterilizers on return lines in both tanks but can't say whether this made any difference. I just figured it could not hurt.

It has so far worked for me but I'm not saying it will work for others or continue to work for me.

Good luck,

Mike

Sugar Magnolia · 09/26/2016, 06:30 AM

Running GFO definitely helps.

Bent · 09/26/2016, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlombardi29

Fish load is a sail fin tang ,vlamingi tang baby hippo and a few misc small fish it's a 160 with 75 gallon sump only thing I do is add cal and alk and run a sro 3000 skimmer and water changes the tank and rock is about a year old

So it's probably just a excess of nutrient. Your going to have to increase export either by running some GFO, Biopellets, or start carbon dosing with vodka or vinegar.

09/25/2016, 05:14 PM	#1
jlombardi29 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 73	What type of algae is this I'm trying to figure out what this is and how to get rid of it It's definitely not from my lights or incoming water tds are 0 and lights are 2x250 mh only few months old here's a pic

09/25/2016, 05:24 PM	#3
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	Looks like plain old turf algae. You have a nutrient export problem. Are you carbon dosing or running any bio pellets? What's your stock like and feeding schedule? How old are the rocks? __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

09/26/2016, 06:30 AM	#6
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Running GFO definitely helps. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/25/2016, 05:16 PM	#2
jlombardi29 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 73

09/25/2016, 05:30 PM	#4
jlombardi29 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 73	Fish load is a sail fin tang ,vlamingi tang baby hippo and a few misc small fish it's a 160 with 75 gallon sump only thing I do is add cal and alk and run a sro 3000 skimmer and water changes the tank and rock is about a year old

09/25/2016, 08:52 PM	#5
Buzz1329 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 2,414	Fought it for years. IME, nothing will eat the stuff when it gets that thick. Algae Fix Marine will provide at best temporary relief. I was running (and continue to run) GFO/GAC reactors and skimmers (I have the SRO 3000INT in my 180 and love it). Also did vinegar dosing, but did not seem to have any impact on nuisance algae -- I discontinued/reduced it due to proliferation of bacteria snot: shut it down in 75 and reduced it to 30 ml a day in 180. Here is what I did that that has kept GHA, cyano, and brown turf algae in check for past 2+ months: Installed Turbo Aquatics algae turf scrubber in my 180 and installed mesh baskets of chaeto/grape caulerpa in 75 with Home Depot 3,000k LED spotlight. Removed all cyano infected substrate from both tanks -- 180 is now BB on front part of tank and 75 has minimal substrate on front of tank. I also installed UV sterilizers on return lines in both tanks but can't say whether this made any difference. I just figured it could not hurt. It has so far worked for me but I'm not saying it will work for others or continue to work for me. Good luck, Mike