Vacation Algae

NickReef17 · 08/15/2015, 02:16 PM

As the title states, i came home from an extended vacation to find an odd looking algae growth.

This is about a months worth of growth (that's how long i was gone)

I am just wondering what i need to do in order to remove? Siphoning didn't remove very well.

All of my param tested normal levels after doing a water change. (including salinity)

My temperature is at 78.8 at almost all times.

I have a T5 fixture (8, 36" bulbs) (2 new bulbs, 6 to be replaced)

125 gallon

Sump w/ protein skimmer and Chaeto algae

I have around 20 blue leg hermits, and 4 emerald crabs. (yes i know i should have more but i recently got rid of a red coris wrasse that never let a crab live in my tank)

Hope to hear some experienced an intelligent comments! I don't usually have this issue, but i had someone watch my tank and i am not sure precisely what they did while i was gone.

Thanks
Nick

CuzzA · 08/15/2015, 04:02 PM

Nick, I suspect your tank sitter was over feeding. You need to test for nitrate and phosphate often. I would start increasing water changes both in volume and frequency. I would use GFO in a reactor to knock back the phosphates. You may want to temporarily reduce your photo period, but definitely replace those old bulbs. If you use filter bags. I would change them daily. And finally I would beef up your cleanup crew which should include some urchins as they will mow that algae down to bare rock.

Unfortunately algae grows much faster than it dies. So be patient. Good luck.

NickReef17 · 08/16/2015, 01:24 AM

Thanks so much! i currently have a black long spine and he is just massive. i plan on increasing my cleanup crew size with a blue tux urchin, snails, crabs and serpent stars. i am currently on 8 hr 10k and 10 hr actinics.

currently replacing 2 bulbs per week.

im good with feeding and keeping up with water changes so whats the absolute quickest way to remove? im going back to school and i want to rid the rank of gross algae first.

kinnadian · 08/16/2015, 02:23 AM

Quickest way is to take each rock out and scrub it in some old (heated) tank water, then rinse it in some more old tank water, then put it back in your tank. Takes a few hours but will get rid of all the algae, then keeping on top of water changes/parameters.

Might cause a small cycle but you're doing frequent water changes anyways.

Jeffoz · 08/16/2015, 11:05 AM

Bacteria capsules also might help, maybe the balance is not ok. I had it had with green algea and after a week it was gone, but it's a different one so not sure... I had this below and all gone after a week after adding bacteria capsules. You're running some rowaphos or biopellets as well?

I'm not a super experienced reefer so it's just a suggestion

not sure if it's the right advice tough.

Fish_BowLisha · 08/16/2015, 07:40 PM

IMO yellow tang...+ what CuzzA said...and if no DSB substrate vacuuming. Maybe a couple of Turbo snails.

ah_notty · 08/17/2015, 04:30 PM

I agree with the others. Looks like calothrix which is a form of cyano. Got the same problem. Currently doing a lights out for 3 days on my tank wnile i wait for my GFO to arrive from brs. Then im going to do a large water change and scrub the rock in the old tank water. Hoping all that will get rid of the mess.

mets17127 · 08/17/2015, 08:24 PM

Look into vodka dosing and definitely scrub. It's a pain but works

CStrickland · 08/17/2015, 11:35 PM

I just got back from an extended trip, and mine looked like that. If you point a powerhead or turkeybaster at it does the brown blow off leaving mossy stuff behind?

Mine was just hair algae with diatoms stuck in it. Couple of big rodi water changes and a good scrub with a kids toothbrush have me back on track. There was one bad rock where the food from the auto feeder was landing that I took out and blasted with hydrogen peroxide, then rinsed in tank water. After a week mine isn't spreading and is turning white which yours looks a little similar to, but I expect the rocks to leach phos for a while. Cest la vie, you gotta vacation

scubasteve3 · 08/18/2015, 07:16 AM

Your phosphate readings could be giving you a false reading since the Algae is consuming it all.

canyonluvr · 08/18/2015, 11:32 AM

I agree that scrubbing is a great plan. Also free that it grows faster then it dies. After scrubbing I added my GFO reactor. Huge water change . Though my tank is nowhere near your size . It was very affective.

canyonluvr · 08/18/2015, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canyonluvr

I agree that scrubbing is a great plan. Also free that it grows faster then it dies. After scrubbing I added my GFO reactor. Huge water change . Though my tank is nowhere near your size . It was very affective.

Before

After

Buzz1329 · 08/18/2015, 07:57 PM

"Hope to hear some experienced an intelligent comments!"

Well, that leaves me out.

But IMO, increasing GFO filtration and changing it more often, vinegar dosing, scrubbing algae coated rocks, replacing crabs (i.e., snail eaters) with snails, and checking TDS output of RO/DI might help. IME, adding additional tangs will get you nowhere.

You might also consider whether your skimmer is producing enough skimmate, whether your feeding too much, and whether your tank is overstocked.

Finally you may want to consider adding an algae turf scrubber (ATS) to your filtration system.

Good luck,

Mike

08/15/2015, 02:16 PM	#1
NickReef17 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Cleveland, OHIO Posts: 54	Vacation Algae As the title states, i came home from an extended vacation to find an odd looking algae growth. This is about a months worth of growth (that's how long i was gone) I am just wondering what i need to do in order to remove? Siphoning didn't remove very well. All of my param tested normal levels after doing a water change. (including salinity) My temperature is at 78.8 at almost all times. I have a T5 fixture (8, 36" bulbs) (2 new bulbs, 6 to be replaced) 125 gallon Sump w/ protein skimmer and Chaeto algae I have around 20 blue leg hermits, and 4 emerald crabs. (yes i know i should have more but i recently got rid of a red coris wrasse that never let a crab live in my tank) Hope to hear some experienced an intelligent comments! I don't usually have this issue, but i had someone watch my tank and i am not sure precisely what they did while i was gone. Thanks Nick __________________ 125 Gallon Reef tank Been in the hobby since i was 6 years old. Newish to Saltwater

08/16/2015, 01:24 AM	#3
NickReef17 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Cleveland, OHIO Posts: 54	Thanks so much! i currently have a black long spine and he is just massive. i plan on increasing my cleanup crew size with a blue tux urchin, snails, crabs and serpent stars. i am currently on 8 hr 10k and 10 hr actinics. currently replacing 2 bulbs per week. im good with feeding and keeping up with water changes so whats the absolute quickest way to remove? im going back to school and i want to rid the rank of gross algae first. __________________ 125 Gallon Reef tank Been in the hobby since i was 6 years old. Newish to Saltwater

08/16/2015, 07:40 PM	#6
Fish_BowLisha Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 42	Vacation Algae IMO yellow tang...+ what CuzzA said...and if no DSB substrate vacuuming. Maybe a couple of Turbo snails.

08/17/2015, 11:35 PM	#9
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	I just got back from an extended trip, and mine looked like that. If you point a powerhead or turkeybaster at it does the brown blow off leaving mossy stuff behind? Mine was just hair algae with diatoms stuck in it. Couple of big rodi water changes and a good scrub with a kids toothbrush have me back on track. There was one bad rock where the food from the auto feeder was landing that I took out and blasted with hydrogen peroxide, then rinsed in tank water. After a week mine isn't spreading and is turning white which yours looks a little similar to, but I expect the rocks to leach phos for a while. Cest la vie, you gotta vacation __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

08/15/2015, 04:02 PM	#2
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	Nick, I suspect your tank sitter was over feeding. You need to test for nitrate and phosphate often. I would start increasing water changes both in volume and frequency. I would use GFO in a reactor to knock back the phosphates. You may want to temporarily reduce your photo period, but definitely replace those old bulbs. If you use filter bags. I would change them daily. And finally I would beef up your cleanup crew which should include some urchins as they will mow that algae down to bare rock. Unfortunately algae grows much faster than it dies. So be patient. Good luck.

08/16/2015, 02:23 AM	#4
kinnadian Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 187	Quickest way is to take each rock out and scrub it in some old (heated) tank water, then rinse it in some more old tank water, then put it back in your tank. Takes a few hours but will get rid of all the algae, then keeping on top of water changes/parameters. Might cause a small cycle but you're doing frequent water changes anyways.

08/16/2015, 11:05 AM	#5
Jeffoz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 7	Bacteria capsules also might help, maybe the balance is not ok. I had it had with green algea and after a week it was gone, but it's a different one so not sure... I had this below and all gone after a week after adding bacteria capsules. You're running some rowaphos or biopellets as well? I'm not a super experienced reefer so it's just a suggestion not sure if it's the right advice tough.

08/17/2015, 04:30 PM	#7
ah_notty Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phx,Az Posts: 74	I agree with the others. Looks like calothrix which is a form of cyano. Got the same problem. Currently doing a lights out for 3 days on my tank wnile i wait for my GFO to arrive from brs. Then im going to do a large water change and scrub the rock in the old tank water. Hoping all that will get rid of the mess.

08/17/2015, 08:24 PM	#8
mets17127 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Hopewell Junction, New York Posts: 127	Look into vodka dosing and definitely scrub. It's a pain but works

08/18/2015, 07:16 AM	#10
scubasteve3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 54	Your phosphate readings could be giving you a false reading since the Algae is consuming it all.

08/18/2015, 11:32 AM	#11
canyonluvr Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 31	I agree that scrubbing is a great plan. Also free that it grows faster then it dies. After scrubbing I added my GFO reactor. Huge water change . Though my tank is nowhere near your size . It was very affective.

08/18/2015, 07:57 PM	#13
Buzz1329 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 2,414	"Hope to hear some experienced an intelligent comments!" Well, that leaves me out. But IMO, increasing GFO filtration and changing it more often, vinegar dosing, scrubbing algae coated rocks, replacing crabs (i.e., snail eaters) with snails, and checking TDS output of RO/DI might help. IME, adding additional tangs will get you nowhere. You might also consider whether your skimmer is producing enough skimmate, whether your feeding too much, and whether your tank is overstocked. Finally you may want to consider adding an algae turf scrubber (ATS) to your filtration system. Good luck, Mike