Tank Going Through Strange Phase

ssick92 · 11/14/2012, 03:46 PM

Hey everyone,

I figured I would just take a minute to write a small bit about what I have been noticing recently with my tank. I am not sure if it is a good thing, bad thing, normal thing, or odd thing, but my tank is in a weird phase right now.

First off, a little background of my first saltwater tank. I started cycling this tank in December of 2011 and started adding livestock after Christmas Break in January (I am a college student). The tank stabilized quickly and I started adding some zoas, and some various other corals. I initially tried to also add some SPS but that failed. Since then, I have added more colonies of zoas, brain corals, alveopora, clam, various SPS ( all successful).

However, recently my tank has been in a weird phase. About 2 weeks ago, I finally vacuumed the sump and scraped my back wall. I siphoned out all the debris from the glass so there wouldn't be any loose coralline floating around. Well, I recently have had a strange algae outbreak. It is some strange slimy brown algae that once the lights come on every morning quickly starts covering everything in brown sliminess. This doesn't sound like a good thing right? Well, since I have vacuumed my sump (2 weeks), my corals have been growing like I have never seen. Every single one of my zoa colonies has at least 5 new polyps, my chalice has started sprouting another row of polyps, my SPS have split again, even my Alveopora has started to grow like crazy. All in 2 weeks! However, nearly every single one of my corals has not been FULLY open for about 2 weeks because of the algae. They are growing extremely fast, however aren't fully open for viewing because the brown slime algae starts to cover each coral. I have done water changes, siphoned out the slime, but it just keeps growing back.

Why is this? They don't look open or happy, but are growing faster than ever before. All parameters have remained the same throughout the algae phase and everything, even though phosphates are obviously present somewhere. I have ordered a BRS Reactor that I am going to run GFO and Carbon combined and see what happens. This reactor will be arriving on Friday so I can't do anything until then.

I posted a couple pictures in a different thread showing the strange slime algae, but this post is more about the corals, so here are some pictures showing the growth of some of my corals.

Growth of my Fire & Ice (there are more on the back but can't get a photo):

Growth of Sunny Delights (again, more on back):

SPS Split:

Growth of Gorilla Nipples (Also note slime):

Growth of GSPs (Also note the slime visible in this picture in the coral and back wall):

b_newman · 11/14/2012, 04:23 PM

It looks like you have some cyanobacteria bubbles on the rocks.

I should see a BRS GFO reactor show up at my doorstep on Friday as well; ironic.

ssick92 · 11/14/2012, 04:42 PM

I am pretty sure it isn't cyano though... It isn't the same as any cyano I have had in the past. It isn't a thick mat forming anywhere; it is just a thin film that gets stuck to things.

Although, those do look like cyano bubbles on the top of the rock. If cyano is the only thing creates those bubbles then I guess it is all cyano...

mal7887 · 11/14/2012, 06:58 PM

Cyano

twiddle · 11/14/2012, 08:04 PM

Dinos??? Looks like them to me

ssick92 · 11/14/2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twiddle

Dinos??? Looks like them to me

Ya that looks likes dinos to me too, at least from what I've seen on the Google Machine. Unfortunately I haven't had any experience with dinos before....

How do I get rid of them?

sail33 · 11/14/2012, 08:53 PM

There are plenty of bacteria under the cyano label. These might help

http://www.thebigger.com/biology/mon...are-its-types/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

Lighting has a great deal to with cyano outbreaks http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com...aquariums.html

hope this helps.

11/14/2012, 03:46 PM	#1
ssick92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 911	Tank Going Through Strange Phase Hey everyone, I figured I would just take a minute to write a small bit about what I have been noticing recently with my tank. I am not sure if it is a good thing, bad thing, normal thing, or odd thing, but my tank is in a weird phase right now. First off, a little background of my first saltwater tank. I started cycling this tank in December of 2011 and started adding livestock after Christmas Break in January (I am a college student). The tank stabilized quickly and I started adding some zoas, and some various other corals. I initially tried to also add some SPS but that failed. Since then, I have added more colonies of zoas, brain corals, alveopora, clam, various SPS ( all successful). However, recently my tank has been in a weird phase. About 2 weeks ago, I finally vacuumed the sump and scraped my back wall. I siphoned out all the debris from the glass so there wouldn't be any loose coralline floating around. Well, I recently have had a strange algae outbreak. It is some strange slimy brown algae that once the lights come on every morning quickly starts covering everything in brown sliminess. This doesn't sound like a good thing right? Well, since I have vacuumed my sump (2 weeks), my corals have been growing like I have never seen. Every single one of my zoa colonies has at least 5 new polyps, my chalice has started sprouting another row of polyps, my SPS have split again, even my Alveopora has started to grow like crazy. All in 2 weeks! However, nearly every single one of my corals has not been FULLY open for about 2 weeks because of the algae. They are growing extremely fast, however aren't fully open for viewing because the brown slime algae starts to cover each coral. I have done water changes, siphoned out the slime, but it just keeps growing back. Why is this? They don't look open or happy, but are growing faster than ever before. All parameters have remained the same throughout the algae phase and everything, even though phosphates are obviously present somewhere. I have ordered a BRS Reactor that I am going to run GFO and Carbon combined and see what happens. This reactor will be arriving on Friday so I can't do anything until then. I posted a couple pictures in a different thread showing the strange slime algae, but this post is more about the corals, so here are some pictures showing the growth of some of my corals. Growth of my Fire & Ice (there are more on the back but can't get a photo): Growth of Sunny Delights (again, more on back): SPS Split: Growth of Gorilla Nipples (Also note slime): Growth of GSPs (Also note the slime visible in this picture in the coral and back wall): __________________ John IM Nuvo 10g Mixed Reef Nano \| Kessil A160we \| Mp10QD \| Osmolator Nano

11/14/2012, 04:42 PM	#3
ssick92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 911	I am pretty sure it isn't cyano though... It isn't the same as any cyano I have had in the past. It isn't a thick mat forming anywhere; it is just a thin film that gets stuck to things. Although, those do look like cyano bubbles on the top of the rock. If cyano is the only thing creates those bubbles then I guess it is all cyano... __________________ John IM Nuvo 10g Mixed Reef Nano \| Kessil A160we \| Mp10QD \| Osmolator Nano

11/14/2012, 06:58 PM	#4
mal7887 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tampa Posts: 643	Cyano __________________ Matt Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining. Current Tank Info: 190

11/14/2012, 08:04 PM	#5
twiddle Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Boston Area Posts: 167	Dinos??? Looks like them to me __________________ 180 Gallon Mixed reef. 3 MH 250 Radiums and 4T5s. Livestock - 4 Tangs, 5 Anthias, Purple Jaw Fish, Flame Angel, Clown and Wrasses

11/14/2012, 04:23 PM	#2
b_newman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 174	It looks like you have some cyanobacteria bubbles on the rocks. I should see a BRS GFO reactor show up at my doorstep on Friday as well; ironic.