Yellow algae that only lives in shadows.. What is it and how do I get rid of it?

illjoshlli · 08/25/2012, 03:06 PM

I have had a yellow algae that lives in the ‘shadows’ of my tank for 3-6 months now. What is this?
Pics below
It is not like a sheet of algae or hair algae. Any part of the tank that the light hits it does not live… It exists in both low and high flow areas.
My Tank is a 58 gallon up for almost a year now:
250W MH with a decent reflector on 7.5 hours a day.
Circulation by seaswirl on return at 600gph and a MP40 at 60%
Temp 79, ph, 8.1, ALk = 135 (little low), Cal = 450, mg=1350
Nitrate = 0, po4=0(hanna), Ammonia = 0
2 part dosing, Sump with Refugim. No reactors but I do have a skimmer.

I do have some Hair like algae in small areas and some cyno in the refugium so my P04 is probably greater then zero.

I have 5 fish and I feed 1/3 of a cube every night, I rinse half the time. I’ll also throw in pellets once and a while.

I do weekly water changes of 10-15 gallons. I also went through a period of 5 gallon changes every 2 days to try to clear out any potential phosphate problem and it didn’t seem to do anything.

I’m getting good coral growth and everything else looks good (outside of the corals that are getting
“touched’ by my Anemones)

ridetheducati · 08/25/2012, 04:20 PM

Looks like cyano developing, physically remove as much as possible.

dmh41532 · 08/25/2012, 04:27 PM

I agree, it looks like it could be cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria can be different colors. I battled red, but I've seen it blue, blue/green, brown, and green. Removing it will just be a temporary solution. Test phosphate, and nitrates. If your bulbs are aging, you may want to replace them.

illjoshlli · 08/25/2012, 05:09 PM

Thanks for the responses. There Is no real way to physically remove it. It's some what attached to each ind. grain or rock. My light is a 2 month old 20000k and the alage does not grow in the light

My phos and nitrate both test at zero with mutiple test kits. But I know I have phos because growth in the sump. I'm not sure where it's coming from since I feed light and do freq water changes.

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illjoshlli · 08/26/2012, 10:19 AM

Another thing to note. I have had cyno before and this is a dif. Texture/consistancy. I'm not saying it is not but it is dif. Then I have seen before.

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08/25/2012, 03:06 PM	#1
illjoshlli Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 339	Yellow algae that only lives in shadows.. What is it and how do I get rid of it? I have had a yellow algae that lives in the ‘shadows’ of my tank for 3-6 months now. What is this? Pics below It is not like a sheet of algae or hair algae. Any part of the tank that the light hits it does not live… It exists in both low and high flow areas. My Tank is a 58 gallon up for almost a year now: 250W MH with a decent reflector on 7.5 hours a day. Circulation by seaswirl on return at 600gph and a MP40 at 60% Temp 79, ph, 8.1, ALk = 135 (little low), Cal = 450, mg=1350 Nitrate = 0, po4=0(hanna), Ammonia = 0 2 part dosing, Sump with Refugim. No reactors but I do have a skimmer. I do have some Hair like algae in small areas and some cyno in the refugium so my P04 is probably greater then zero. I have 5 fish and I feed 1/3 of a cube every night, I rinse half the time. I’ll also throw in pellets once and a while. I do weekly water changes of 10-15 gallons. I also went through a period of 5 gallon changes every 2 days to try to clear out any potential phosphate problem and it didn’t seem to do anything. I’m getting good coral growth and everything else looks good (outside of the corals that are getting “touched’ by my Anemones)

08/25/2012, 04:20 PM	#2
ridetheducati 20 and Over Club Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 2,968	Looks like cyano developing, physically remove as much as possible. __________________ "Send more paramedics" Current Tank Info: 300g DD, SPS dominated, Apex, Tunze 6125s, ATB 1050, 400w MH, and Geo 618 Ca Reactor

08/25/2012, 05:09 PM	#4
illjoshlli Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 339	Thanks for the responses. There Is no real way to physically remove it. It's some what attached to each ind. grain or rock. My light is a 2 month old 20000k and the alage does not grow in the light My phos and nitrate both test at zero with mutiple test kits. But I know I have phos because growth in the sump. I'm not sure where it's coming from since I feed light and do freq water changes. Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2 Last edited by illjoshlli; 08/25/2012 at 06:08 PM.

08/25/2012, 04:27 PM	#3
dmh41532 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bellefontaine Ohio Posts: 771	I agree, it looks like it could be cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria can be different colors. I battled red, but I've seen it blue, blue/green, brown, and green. Removing it will just be a temporary solution. Test phosphate, and nitrates. If your bulbs are aging, you may want to replace them.

08/26/2012, 10:19 AM	#5
illjoshlli Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 339	Another thing to note. I have had cyno before and this is a dif. Texture/consistancy. I'm not saying it is not but it is dif. Then I have seen before. Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2