Algae covering everything

[nrbelk]

I had an outbreak of algae a few weeks ago and it seemed to die off.

Now it is back and even worse. It is even starting to creep up onto my zoanthids and corals. It is covering the sand and rocks as well.

It mainly looks like a dark green (maybe brown?) film. Bubbles it makes get trapped under it and make parts of it float and just hang there attached to the rocks.

Any one know from the description what this sounds like and what I need to do? I don't have anything to test phosphate but my other priority parameters are good. Ammonia low or zero, nitrates low (less than five but probably more than 1) nitrites low or zero.

I don't know if its related or not but my zoanthids don't seem to be opening up as much as before. It makes me sad cause I thought they were doing really well.

Any suggestions?

[matt880305]

take a sample of water to your local fish store and have them test the water what type of lighting do you have also. and how big is the system and what type of skimmer do you have?

[nrbelk]

Test the water for what? I have the API tests that I thought were decent.

I run t5 lights and as for the skimmer, I don't know what kind it is but it does enough that every other day or so I need to clean out the dark green goop that builds up in the collection cup

[New90Gal]

getting in emerald crabs and astra snails help so i heard. give them a try if u dont already have them.

[mthomp]

Test the water for what? I have the API tests that I thought were decent.

I run t5 lights and as for the skimmer, I don't know what kind it is but it does enough that every other day or so I need to clean out the dark green goop that builds up in the collection cup

just because your test kits test one way, it cant be a bad idea to take a sample into your LFS and have them confirm your readings yes?

how long is your light cycle? how old are the bulbs? how long has the tank been setup?
another question, do you have snails?

[nrbelk]

I have some snails, not as many as is recommended. My tank has been going for a month and a half now. I'm keeping on the lights for 12 hours.

[mthomp]

your tank is brand new. its going to do some wierd stuff.

[Toddrtrex]

It sounds like Cyano bacteria to me -- it is usually red, but greenish happens too.

It is fed by excess nutrients in the tank. Are you using RO/DI water? If yes, what is the TDS?

Ammonia shouldn't be "low" it needs to be zero.

What all do you have in the tank -- livestock wise
How long has the tank been set up?
What size tank?
What do you have for filtration?

[mutateddogbone]

sounds like dinoflaggelates to me. if its brownish in color and bubbles get trapped make it look like snot coming off your rocks and sand then its dinos. dinos feed on silicates and phosphates in your water and what leeches out of your rocks. if you dont use RO/DI water i would start or your problem will only get worse. along with that, there are almost no creatures out there that will eat that stuff, being that it's toxic and can actually release its toxins into the water column and cause your fish and coral to get sick and die. make sure your water stays super oxygenated because dinos are bacteria and use O2 from your water. do weekly 25% water changes and try to siphon out as much of the stuff as you can without sucking out your sand and DEF make sure you use RO/DI water and never tap water

[Trademark]

I would also lighten your light schedule for a couple of weeks (9)hrs day,, I did this on one of my new tanks a while back and it worked pretty good.

[nrbelk]

Well, after looking at different tank pictures I do believe I have something like dinoflagellats. Although I think they have been mislabeled or my trusted source (wikipedia :) ) is wrong.

Wikipedia states that they are a full class, including some predatory families.

So how do I properly identify which type I have so I can combat it? I won't be able to get a RO/DI unit until I can sell a kidney or two to get money (I jest about selling kidneys, but not about not being able to afford an RO/DI unit). I do plan to get one, I just can't right this second.

What are other ways I can combat my algae. It really looks bad and I'm worried about it messing up my water quality.

On a slightly related question, how do people make their sand nice and white? Will mine get that way when I stop having this algae problem?

[Ithreeputt2]

This is an expensive hobby....

Even after you get the RO DI system you will need to replace the filters often to keep things in check. I would say this...while there are many philosophy's on how to do things; there are not alot of short cuts. Be prepared to spend and spend often if you want a nice tank.

The only short cut I can see in your situation is to do water changes often...even that comes with an expense in salt....let your water breath for several days to at least get the chlorine out...best bet is to get the RO/DI system.

The other issue that most people have trouble with is patience...be very patient. Read read read. Read as much as you can and adopt what you can afford when you can. Many people will buy a $100 fish and put it in crappy water and then ask why did it die...buy a $10 fish and a $200 RO/DI system instead of the other way around.

good luck

[mutateddogbone]

if you are not adding only RO/DI water to your tank you will just be making your headache worse and take longer to go away. your LFS should sell salt and fresh RO/DI water. and dinos will mess up your water pretty bad they do release toxins, but if you use tap water to do water changes you will only fuel the algae. dont do water changes until you are using RO/DI water