Pesky Algae

[BfishLpond78]

So the back wall of my tank looks like a brown furry teddy bear...or a meadow of brown flowy grass...its not really thick but I know its some sort of algae.

What is the best way to combat this. Im guessing I have high phosphates or nutrients...

Is there someone that wouldnt mind showing off their tank to me and possibly testing my water if I brought it to them??? I get my red sea pro test kit on Sunday but I didnt know if anyone had any of the good ones. I can reimburse if needed.

Thanks all.

Mike.

[BfishLpond78]

Heres a crappy picture

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk

[Captainfester]

Come to Meriden I'll test it and show you what to use to combat. I'm in Norfolk until Friday afternoon / night.

[BfishLpond78]

Sounds good Capt...maybe Saturday sometime?

[frankyrivera]

no pox it man, LOL, next time you head down to Puppy center text me I'll meet you there and we can shoot over to my house. I got all kinds of test kits and free goodies you can take

[BfishLpond78]

I heard NoPox needs to be closely monitored...or needing proper test kit.

[Captainfester]

Saturday should be fine. Will know more once we get this ship loaded and I get back from va.

[BfishLpond78]

Ship? Do I dare ask you what you do? Especially in Norfolk...

[Captainfester]

I work in Vessel operations. Coordinating a fleet of ships around the world with our bulk cargos.

So we have a ship down here loading scrap metal. Which sucks for the ship. So i came down to supervise the load and make sure they don't damage the ship.

[frankyrivera]

Doesn't everything is this hobby need to be closely monitored lol. No different than anything else or too difficult

[BfishLpond78]

Lol I agree franky...I just remember something someone said about the stuff...

[mufnman]

What is your pH? I have heard that HA likes 8.1 but not 8.3

[Marc11]

I live in Branford and have red sea test kits. I also use no pox. If there is anything i can do to help let me know. Don't have free goodies like franky but i live a little closer. lol

[BfishLpond78]

Thanks everyone...I just may fill up a jug and go on a tank tour of fellow reefers and get my water tested...lol

[sneaton]

i think its grizzly algea...lay down in the fetal position and it should go away

[MarkL]

The description you gave sounds very much like the rear of my tank too. Mine does not appear to be HA but more like the brown film algae that I clean from the other sides of the tank with the magnet scrapper. Since I dont clean the rear of the tank it can grow a little more. I may be wrong but this type of algae only grows on the rear of the tank and will not usually grow on the coralline on the glass.

It grows and recedes some on a week to week basis for me. Usually when it disappears I do a heavier feeding because im always paranoid about underfeeding.

[BfishLpond78]

I agree...I have small circles of coraline algae growing and the coraline over takes it and it doesnt grow anymore. I dont have any algae scrapers...But im going to try and get to the root of the problem this weekend..hopefully.

[MarkL]

Hey if your willing to head over to Wallingford, I have the hanna phosphorus test. I dont really test nitrates anymore but have an API. The rest I normally test, dkh, ca, mag, I use red sea and really like those tests. I can make it tonight if you want, the kids go to bed around 7:30.

[DLANDINO]

Looks like diatoms to me. Caused by excess silica in the water column. To battle this one you need to find the source of silica in the tank. Sometimes this can come from newly installed plastic equipment like frag racks or power heads etc. If it is coming from new equipments eventually the diatoms will consume all of the silica and then their numbers will decrease as the available food source dwindles. If it is coming in from your water change, like from old RO/DI filter resin, then you would have to change the resins and wait it out. In this instance, water changes will further exacerbate your problem by continually adding fuel for the diatoms to eat and spread. You can purchase a cheap silica test kit to see if there are high numbers in your water. I think those run about 12-15 dollars. Good luck!

[BfishLpond78]

Somethings that have changed recently...changed out 6 new ATI bulbs over the course of 5 weeks...3 blue+, purple+, coral+ and AB special...added a larger frag rack to hold FFM purchases (basic light grate I got from Bob). I did give my skimmer a good cleaning after going 3 months without doing it.

My TDS meter reads 0 on my RO water...hmmmmmm....ill look into the silica testing after this weekend...

Thanks for the response!

[DLANDINO]

http://www.google.com/search?q=diatoms&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=1i9rT5LBJeTx0gH1t4XcBg&biw=1920&bih=1047&sei=2C9rT-GiG-fk0QGa4uHFBg#um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=diatoms+reef+tank&oq=diatoms+reef&aq=0&aqi=g2g-S1&aql=&gs_l=img.1.0.0l2j0i24.11567l12477l0l13974l5l5l0l1l1l0l77l280l4l4l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=421e2bb21578a17e&biw=1920&bih=1047

Was the problem present prior to the frag rack installation? I would think so as that is a very small amount of time for the issue to develop.

[BfishLpond78]

I believe it was...ive always had a little bit...i guess its really just filling in