What the heck is this and how do I get rid of it?

stevereef · 10/20/2010, 12:47 PM

Hello all...

I need some guidance, I have had my 120 gal reef setup for about 6 months. The display tank has about 120 lbs of live rock, 1.5" sand bed, 2x250 Phoenix MH, and Hydor wave maker. I have a 30 refug (lots chateo / reverse lighting), cone skimmer, uv light, and running chemipure elite. I do 20% water changes every two weeks using salt mix and RO/DI water.

Everything was going great, until recently there's been this growth. Please help...

Take a look at the attached photos.

dmarkham · 10/20/2010, 01:19 PM

Wow I have never seen that before.

Supasalty · 10/20/2010, 01:33 PM

It looks like green hair algae to me. Is your skimmer producing a lot of skimmate? Maybe it needs a cleaning. Also a phosphate reactor will help.

dmarkham · 10/20/2010, 01:39 PM

If that is GHA I have never seen it like that or that color.

stevereef · 10/20/2010, 02:01 PM

I clean my skimmer every week...???

Lynnmw1208 · 10/20/2010, 02:36 PM

looks like GHA to me as well. Petco always has this kind in their tanks, that stuff is HARD to get off. I'd try some GFO (feric oxide) to help reduce some phosphates.

What are your water parameters?

Palting · 10/20/2010, 02:39 PM

WOW. Did something just die in there? The reason I ask, is that I had something simillar when I was feeding my live rock frozen shrimp while waiting for the QT to complete. I believe it is a bacterial bloom. Not as spectacular as yours, but here is what I had on one of several rocks:

Supasalty · 10/20/2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevereef

I clean my skimmer every week...???

I don't mean the skimmate cup I mean the pump. I think a vinegar bath every 6 months or so will do it.

Mylilreef · 10/20/2010, 04:01 PM

looks like green hair algae. check your phosphate levels. i had been trying to battle this stuff in my tank for about a year by doing water changes and picking as much out as i could. the only problem is if you let loose filiments float around, a new patch will start growing. i finally got a sea hare (these are pigs when it comes to hair algae). i just let him 'pick' the rock for me and started adding GFO about 3 months ago. i now have a clear and beautiful tank again fo about 2 months.

Sk8r · 10/20/2010, 05:07 PM

It's a variety of algae or bacteria. It does happen---even to very experienced reefers: happened during the early stage of the tank at my lfs, a reef shop, and one of the good ones. Just a question of maintaining good clean tank, good skimming, moderate feeding, regular water changes, and patience. This too shall pass. Ultimately it'll run out of whatever encouraged it, and it'll give way to another plague, like bubble algae. Takes several years for a tank to settle down to common pests like film algae only.

JoeRonda · 10/20/2010, 07:59 PM

Are you using any tap or spring water? If so you are just feeding a nuisance algae problem.

JoeRonda · 10/20/2010, 08:01 PM

Nevermind, I guess I should have read the begining of the thread a little more thoroughly. LOL ( RO/DI )

stevereef · 04/18/2011, 03:03 PM

I think I've finally corrected the issue - lots of trial an error, patience, money and time

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1#post18660971

10/20/2010, 02:01 PM	#5
stevereef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Irvine, Ca Posts: 197	skimmer is clean... I clean my skimmer every week...???

10/20/2010, 02:36 PM	#6
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	looks like GHA to me as well. Petco always has this kind in their tanks, that stuff is HARD to get off. I'd try some GFO (feric oxide) to help reduce some phosphates. What are your water parameters? __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

10/20/2010, 02:39 PM	#7
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	WOW. Did something just die in there? The reason I ask, is that I had something simillar when I was feeding my live rock frozen shrimp while waiting for the QT to complete. I believe it is a bacterial bloom. Not as spectacular as yours, but here is what I had on one of several rocks: __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/20/2010, 04:01 PM	#9
Mylilreef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 304	looks like green hair algae. check your phosphate levels. i had been trying to battle this stuff in my tank for about a year by doing water changes and picking as much out as i could. the only problem is if you let loose filiments float around, a new patch will start growing. i finally got a sea hare (these are pigs when it comes to hair algae). i just let him 'pick' the rock for me and started adding GFO about 3 months ago. i now have a clear and beautiful tank again fo about 2 months. __________________ -Cory Current Tank Info: 55g mixed reef (upgrading to 150g Tall), 30g Long w/softies(soon to be a sump for the 150g), 20g Tall mixed, 5g w/softies, 10g quarantine that somehow turned into another softy tank

10/20/2010, 05:07 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It's a variety of algae or bacteria. It does happen---even to very experienced reefers: happened during the early stage of the tank at my lfs, a reef shop, and one of the good ones. Just a question of maintaining good clean tank, good skimming, moderate feeding, regular water changes, and patience. This too shall pass. Ultimately it'll run out of whatever encouraged it, and it'll give way to another plague, like bubble algae. Takes several years for a tank to settle down to common pests like film algae only. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/20/2010, 01:19 PM	#2
dmarkham Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Joshua, TX Posts: 153	Wow I have never seen that before.

10/20/2010, 01:33 PM	#3
Supasalty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 94	It looks like green hair algae to me. Is your skimmer producing a lot of skimmate? Maybe it needs a cleaning. Also a phosphate reactor will help.

10/20/2010, 01:39 PM	#4
dmarkham Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Joshua, TX Posts: 153	If that is GHA I have never seen it like that or that color.

10/20/2010, 07:59 PM	#11
JoeRonda Made in the U.S.A. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington,PA Posts: 694	Are you using any tap or spring water? If so you are just feeding a nuisance algae problem.

10/20/2010, 08:01 PM	#12
JoeRonda Made in the U.S.A. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington,PA Posts: 694	Nevermind, I guess I should have read the begining of the thread a little more thoroughly. LOL ( RO/DI )

04/18/2011, 03:03 PM	#13
stevereef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Irvine, Ca Posts: 197	I think I've finally corrected the issue - lots of trial an error, patience, money and time http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1#post18660971 __________________ 120g mix, 30g sump, 6x54w T5 retro kit, 2x110w UVL VHO Super Actinics, 1/5hp Arctica, SWC 180 skimmer, Mag 18 return, 2x EcoTec Vortech MP40, Twin Aqua Medic Doser.

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