Crazy algea, corals not opening, Help!

Jova · 10/31/2009, 10:32 PM

Alright, I'd best start at the beginning here... I had let the tank slip this summer, and hadn't kept up on my water changes. Last month, I found my nitrates to be at 80ppm. I immediately did a few large water changes. After the wc's, I started getting crazy cyano and green hair algea growth. Nitrates still tested high, so I put new filters in my ro/di unit and did 3 more 20% changes over 4 days. Now my nitrates test at about 15ppm, but most of my corals still are not opening, my large tent anemone hasn't came out in weeks, and I have this crazy looking algea growing all over the tank. It appears brown with air bubbles in it, but when I siphon it off during a wc, it turns out to just be green hair algea with a coat of something brown, and it has all these air bubbles in it. This stuff is ALL OVER the tank, and I cannot get it under control. Never seen this stuff before, and it doesn't look like cyano. It's just like green hair algea some sorta brown gunk in it, and it holds air bubbles like crazy. It's crowding everything out, and all other parameters are in check, only nitrates high at 15ppm. I have no idea what to do, but there's definitely something wrong here. Anyone got any ideas? I'm at my wit's end here. Thanks in advance!

tkeracer619 · 11/01/2009, 12:04 AM

check this and look up pics to see if that is what you have. If so you are in for a battle.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

Flipper62 · 11/01/2009, 12:33 AM

It sounds like it could be Dinoflagellates

Do you have any pics ?

superman100 · 11/01/2009, 01:22 PM

do you run carbon?

romsoccer12 · 11/01/2009, 02:09 PM

i suggest lights out if what your describing is that bad of an algae problem

Jova · 11/01/2009, 06:45 PM

Here are a couple pics I just took. I changed out 10 gallons last night and sucked a lot of this stuff off, but it's already growing back. Haven't ran carbon in the past, but going to put some in tonight to see if it helps. Also cutting back the lights, might even shut them off entirely for a few days. You can see here in the pic how my mushrooms aren't opening up because of this stuff. It's gotten on my devil's hand coral, and that thing hasn't opened in a couple weeks now. I'm getting really worried.

romsoccer12 · 11/01/2009, 08:20 PM

if its growing back, nitrates are pooling in. try getting GFO, less feeding, manually removing the algae, more/better skimming, less light time. and maybe trying getting some emeralds/lawnmower blenny and maybe youll get a lucky one who helps eat it

Logzor · 11/01/2009, 08:50 PM

Those appear to be Dinoflagallates. I have never dealt with them but I hear they are quite nasty and difficult to get rid of.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/eb/index.php

There are a few threads on the removal of these. It involves a lights out period and some other tactics.

lilboy88 · 11/01/2009, 09:09 PM

i heard turbo snails will eat that **** maybe you should try that

SC Trojan · 11/01/2009, 10:00 PM

dont know whether its dino or cyano but its certainly excessive nutrients and going to require patience and better husbandry. Start with more flow,whatever you have isnt enough, scrub your live rock with a toothbrush while running any type of mechanical filtration whether its filter floss using a canister filter or a filter sock in your sump. Also while scrubbing syphon as much out while doing a water change. A couple times doing this, ramping up your flow,feeding less,water changes and running carbon&gfo should start to turn things for the better. Its going to take a few weeks to a few months to see significant improvement but stick with it and itll get better. It all starts with better husbandry, its what got you in to it(or lack there of) and is whats going to get you out of it. JM2C! good luck.

10/31/2009, 10:32 PM	#1
Jova Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 201	Crazy algea, corals not opening, Help! Alright, I'd best start at the beginning here... I had let the tank slip this summer, and hadn't kept up on my water changes. Last month, I found my nitrates to be at 80ppm. I immediately did a few large water changes. After the wc's, I started getting crazy cyano and green hair algea growth. Nitrates still tested high, so I put new filters in my ro/di unit and did 3 more 20% changes over 4 days. Now my nitrates test at about 15ppm, but most of my corals still are not opening, my large tent anemone hasn't came out in weeks, and I have this crazy looking algea growing all over the tank. It appears brown with air bubbles in it, but when I siphon it off during a wc, it turns out to just be green hair algea with a coat of something brown, and it has all these air bubbles in it. This stuff is ALL OVER the tank, and I cannot get it under control. Never seen this stuff before, and it doesn't look like cyano. It's just like green hair algea some sorta brown gunk in it, and it holds air bubbles like crazy. It's crowding everything out, and all other parameters are in check, only nitrates high at 15ppm. I have no idea what to do, but there's definitely something wrong here. Anyone got any ideas? I'm at my wit's end here. Thanks in advance!

11/01/2009, 12:04 AM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	check this and look up pics to see if that is what you have. If so you are in for a battle. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/01/2009, 12:33 AM	#3
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	It sounds like it could be Dinoflagellates Do you have any pics ? __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

11/01/2009, 02:09 PM	#5
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	i suggest lights out if what your describing is that bad of an algae problem __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

11/01/2009, 08:20 PM	#7
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	if its growing back, nitrates are pooling in. try getting GFO, less feeding, manually removing the algae, more/better skimming, less light time. and maybe trying getting some emeralds/lawnmower blenny and maybe youll get a lucky one who helps eat it __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

11/01/2009, 01:22 PM	#4
superman100 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 50	do you run carbon?

11/01/2009, 06:45 PM	#6
Jova Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 201	Here are a couple pics I just took. I changed out 10 gallons last night and sucked a lot of this stuff off, but it's already growing back. Haven't ran carbon in the past, but going to put some in tonight to see if it helps. Also cutting back the lights, might even shut them off entirely for a few days. You can see here in the pic how my mushrooms aren't opening up because of this stuff. It's gotten on my devil's hand coral, and that thing hasn't opened in a couple weeks now. I'm getting really worried.

11/01/2009, 08:50 PM	#8
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Those appear to be Dinoflagallates. I have never dealt with them but I hear they are quite nasty and difficult to get rid of. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/eb/index.php There are a few threads on the removal of these. It involves a lights out period and some other tactics.

11/01/2009, 09:09 PM	#9
lilboy88 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fargo ND USA Posts: 56	i heard turbo snails will eat that **** maybe you should try that __________________ People say that carrots are good for your eyes, I think corals are better.

11/01/2009, 10:00 PM	#10
SC Trojan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: perris, cali Posts: 137	dont know whether its dino or cyano but its certainly excessive nutrients and going to require patience and better husbandry. Start with more flow,whatever you have isnt enough, scrub your live rock with a toothbrush while running any type of mechanical filtration whether its filter floss using a canister filter or a filter sock in your sump. Also while scrubbing syphon as much out while doing a water change. A couple times doing this, ramping up your flow,feeding less,water changes and running carbon&gfo should start to turn things for the better. Its going to take a few weeks to a few months to see significant improvement but stick with it and itll get better. It all starts with better husbandry, its what got you in to it(or lack there of) and is whats going to get you out of it. JM2C! good luck.