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View Full Version : Help Needed: Neon green algae spread like carpet

firsttank
07/16/2010, 09:16 PM
Reefers,

I have been getting neon green algae in my tank for the last 1.5 months, I have tried reduced feeding, 48 hrs black outs but nothing seems to help the situation.

My params:

Alk - 3.6
Calcium-330
Mag: 1300
Phosphate: 0.08 (Hanna)
SG - 1.026

Bulb configuration:
Aquascience 22k
Ati Aquablue
Ati Aqua blue
Aquascience 22k

I have had cyno and dino before, but this one is neon green, unlike what I have dealt with before.

I have tried less feeding and 2 -48 hrs black out, its reduces but then comes back in 2-3 days.

Any advice or feedback is really appreciated. I have also heard of some people saying that its a bacterial infection?

It starts off as a very very thin carpet, with turkey baster I can blow it off, but slowly it covers the zoa and the zoas stop opening. It almost looks like its suffocating the zoas.

Below are some pictures, I hope you guys can help me out of it.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548c8b53a000000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548c88d29300000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548d7692f500000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548d7713c400000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548d7492f700000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548d7513c600000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548d7292f100000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548d7313c000000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548d7092f300000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procgtaserv/47a0d933b3127cce98548d7113c200000035100AcMWTRm4YsmIg
needmore-reef
07/16/2010, 10:10 PM
pics aren't loading, but there are many, many different types of cyano. I've had, red, black and bright green. a little in your tank is ok, but they release cyanotoxins and many grazers don't care for it.

Limit feeding, use RO or DI for water to replace evaporation, do a 20% water change and consider using a limewater (calcium hydroxide) drip. this will help percipitate phosphates. erythromycin 20 mg/L also works but can be harmful to a reef.
firsttank
07/17/2010, 11:26 AM
The pics are loading for me. Can someone else plz chime in and let me know if you are able to see the pictures.
tang56
07/17/2010, 12:01 PM
I can see the pictures, but im not sure of the I.D.
zachfishman
07/17/2010, 12:33 PM
It looks like your tank gets a bit of direct sunlight. I wonder if that is giving that particular algae what it needs to grow as it is.
firsttank
07/21/2010, 10:06 AM
I am trying dark cycle again in combination with Microbacter7 dosing. will let you all know if I see any effect.
chimmike
07/21/2010, 01:48 PM
yah, what's the TDS of your water source?

How old are the bulbs?
firsttank
08/01/2010, 05:57 PM
yah, what's the TDS of your water source?

How old are the bulbs?


The TDS from RO is 0.5ppm .

The bulbs are about 6 months old.

I tried the MB7 and started seeing immediate improvements in 6-7th day. I combined it with a dark cycle and seemed to have helped.

But I also noticed meanwhile that my nitrate is on the high side so I am working on bringing it down. I am thinking that the nitrates was also helping the algae grow.
Tuscaquatics
08/01/2010, 07:36 PM
It's green cyano. The nitrates are definitely fueling it. How old is the tank?

And I'd stop dosing the Microbacter or anything like it for now.

I notice you're sand bed is pretty coarse, almost like a crushed coral. What did you use? And how deep is it? One of the main causes of cyano on the sand bed is having too much or too coarse of a substrate. It collects detritus and slowly leaches nutrients back out which can cause the film of slime.
muttley000
08/01/2010, 07:42 PM
I believe the bubbles that are in it give it away as cyano also. Thousands of threads on Reef Central on how to deal with it!
firsttank
08/02/2010, 11:14 AM
I believe the bubbles that are in it give it away as cyano also. Thousands of threads on Reef Central on how to deal with it!


Thanks for the tip.

Yea, I initially thought it was cyno and tried to check and do everything. I completely forgot that nitrates also fuel cyno. So now I am working on brining my nitrates down.
MCary
08/02/2010, 12:26 PM
I agree, increase your flow to those areas and reduce nitrates, it'll go away.
MCary
08/02/2010, 12:27 PM
BTW, it siphons up real easy too, in big chunks, and in doing so, you remove nitrates also.
firsttank
08/02/2010, 12:57 PM
It's green cyano. The nitrates are definitely fueling it. How old is the tank?

And I'd stop dosing the Microbacter or anything like it for now.

I notice you're sand bed is pretty coarse, almost like a crushed coral. What did you use? And how deep is it? One of the main causes of cyano on the sand bed is having too much or too coarse of a substrate. It collects detritus and slowly leaches nutrients back out which can cause the film of slime.

The sand bed is caribsea arognite . Its about 2 inches deep. Do you think its very coarse?

Also I have lots of LPS, so giving a lot of flow might be a problem for me. Any other way to resolve this?
MCary
08/02/2010, 03:07 PM
LPS like and need flow. I don't understand that? It doesn't need to blast them off the rock, just keep water moving. I like caribsea argonite, one of my fav's.
firsttank
08/05/2010, 07:38 AM
LPS like and need flow. I don't understand that? It doesn't need to blast them off the rock, just keep water moving. I like caribsea argonite, one of my fav's.

There is flow and decent flow.I meant to say that I cant give a strong flow towards the sand bed as the lps dont like high flow.

Can you tell me why you like the caribsea argonite? I have started using it since last 8 months.