Need Help with Algae

[jonto]

Hello Folks,
My 75gal has been running since Feb. Cycled in 2 weeks and was clean for 2 mos. A few algae spots started and continued to grow. Added a few cleanup crew and 6 smaller fish. Phosphates are zero and other parameters are fine. LED lights run for 9 hrs. Have a Octo1000 skimmer and Aquafilter110 with Chemipure Blue and Poly Filter. About 65lbs of dry Pukani that was acid cleaned and clear when put in. Use RODI water and Red Sea Coral Pro salt.
Everything ran clean for 3-4 mos and then the algae started.
It a thin layer algae and doesn't have any roots.
Anyone have any ideas what it is and how to get rid of it?
Thanks for any Help!
Jim

[RobZilla04]

Does it appear to be long strands of green algae (hair algae) or more like a carpet covering surfaces?

In either case you may be getting a false positive with phos readings because the algae is consuming it quickly to grow. Try reducing the lighting period/intensity. Specifically the white channel if you can.

[ReefNomad]

Are you talking about a thin layer of almost powdery algae, that you can smear off with a finger? It sounds like diatom algae.
Essentially, this is letting you know that the bottom end of your Nitrogen Cycle is completing. When you stated your tank cycled in 2 weeks, what you were describing was the top end of your cycle... ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. What's happening now is the result of deeper, anaerobic and anoxic processes that break down the unusable byproducts of your top end cycle into usable nitrogen gas. In response to this fresh influx of nitrogen, your diatom algae is blooming. Just like with the top end of the cycle, the diatom bloom at the end can last from 7 to 21 days before equilibrium is achieved and the bloom recedes.
In the meantime, you can cut your lights back a bit, but an end-of-cycle diatom bloom is one of those little issues that sorts itself out if you just let it run its course.

[jonto]

The algae is a carpet type. Doesn't seem to be a long hair.

http://jonto.zenfolio.com/p384443828...ef32#h9bebef32
http://jonto.zenfolio.com/p384443828...ef32#h9bebef27
http://jonto.zenfolio.com/p384443828...ef32#h9bebef31

Sorry about posting links. Keep getting an error when I try
to upload pics to reefcentral.

I will try to water test for all I have available to see whats there.
Will also order a larger cleanup crew, though that's not really
solving the root problem.
Don't know what to do.
Thanks for ANY help for what to do.
Jim

[RobZilla04]

Lawnmower blenny may clean a lot of that up. They are a fish with personality too.

Other options are a black out for a few day. Unfortunately that wont get to the root of the issue but you have time then to export those nutrients. GFO or macro algae reactor, large water change(s), frequent filter changes. Look into poly filters as well.

[mcgyvr]

Could just be too much (too strong) light IMO...

I don't see any corals.. Cut your lights off for a while or only run them for an hour or 2 a day if that room doesn't have enough ambient light to allow the fish to eat...

[jonto]

Thanks folks.
I'm using Poly Filter and Chemi-Pure Blue in my Aquafilter110. The Octo1000 Hang on skimmer is also pulling out quite a bit. Might look into GFO or macro algae reactor.
I use the lights 8 hrs a day but might try turning down the intensity. The algae seems to have stopped growing on rocks and glass. Just need to get rid of whats still there. Will get a good cleanup crew and see if they will eat out whats there. The Lawnmower Blenny looks good too.
Thanks
Jim

[jonto]

Might also mention the algae started growing before I put any fish in and I spot feed what they can eat in 5 min once a day. Also lowered the temp from 80 to 78.5.
Jim

[snowlynx]

Originally Posted by jonto

Might also mention the algae started growing before I put any fish in and I spot feed what they can eat in 5 min once a day. Also lowered the temp from 80 to 78.5.
Jim

Where did you get your dry rocks? Did you have to cure it first?

I use an Aquaclear 70, polyfil, matrix and chemi-blue. I have same
algae on rocks as you, not as severe. I cut white lights down to 4 hours now.

[Jeramirez85]

Agree on cutting the lights off early or leave them off for a couple days.

[jonto]

I got the Pukani rock from BulkReef Supply. Ran it through an acid bath and then pressure washed. It was clean for 2 mos before the algae hit.
Will try cutting down on lighting and see if that will kill it.
It doesn't seem to be spreading any more and the glass stays clean. Don't know
if it went through a cycle or not.

[BeachVacationer]

I'm buying a tuxedo urchin to rid some algae in my tank. Heard that are great algae eaters. We shall see. Anyone have these currently in their tank?

[jonto]

Think I will get a full size cleanup crew but what to get? Some
places have cc packages but don't know if they are better or
save some bucks.

[jonto]

Do the Foxface do a good job? I also read a Lawnmower does good.
I have a lot of rock that's fairly high.

[Bulldog39]

Just commenting so I can follow thread. Good info here. Hope it works out

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[jonto]

Will the Dolabella Sea Hare climb the rocks to eat or is it
just a bottom feeder?

[jonto]

Being new at this, I see snails and crabs for algae. My tank rock is more verticle and not as much bottom. My question is what will best climb the rock to eat algae or should I try to get fish for the upper rock? Really need some help here at to what to get. Don't want to waste my money! LOL
Thanks
Jim

[jonto]

Tonight I ordered a Nasso Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and a One-Spot Foxface. Will update with how it goes.

[BlackBeardPete]

When i started i always resorted to clean up crews, fact is they die off rather quick specially snails and add that extra nutrient that can cause potential outbreaks, i found that cosmetically, sand sifting gobbys and blennys do a great job at keeping sand and rocks free of any algea

[jonto]

I do have a Tail spot Blenny and his end of the tank does look better than the other. But all my fish seem to hang on that end of the tank. Weird.

[BlackBeardPete]

Maybe a new aquascape, i have a few clowns that like to sleep near the overflow, no matter what i do they prefer that over any rbta...so i know what you talking about

[homer1475]

Just so you know, that naso will outgrow your tank rather quickly.

They get a little over a foot in length.

[jonto]

Well, the Lawnmower Blenny and One-Spot Foxface made it through shipping. The Nasso Tang was almost DOA but now, after 1 hr, is full DOA. Will seek a refund from Vivid Aquariums.

[jonto]

Wow, the Lawnmower Blenny is amazing. He is really an algae chow hound!

[tjm9331]

My tank also has Pukani from BRS, I acid washed and pressure washed my rocks as well. The only bad thing about pukani is it leaches tons of phosphates for the first 6-8 months of it being in the tank.

In hind sight I should have cured the rock in a barrel first but the reality is I didn't so the phosphates just leached into my DT, the rocks were clean for the first 2-3 months like you had and then boom green algae.

I'm glad to hear that the lawnmower blenny is starting to get the algae under control.

I just wanted to let you know that I guarantee that the rock is most likely feeding the algae