50gallon reef under attack by algae

Parker7 · 10/25/2013, 05:37 PM

Hi guys so Idk if any one can help me out with this but lately I've had a massive issue with algae and its killing me inside
I have a 50 gallon tank with a 10-15 gallon sump with chato mangroves, a red sea prizim skimmer and 2 bags of 10 oz chemi pure, I would guess 70-100 pounds of rock in the tank and its DOMINATED by reef its just every were I have a vortech mp 40 an mp 10 a 500 gph power head and a 1200gph power head in the tank and maxspect Mazzara p series leds I only have 2 small clowns 1 is 3/4th an inch the other is 1 inch I have a 4 inch purple tang and a 1 1/2 inch candy cane goby I do 15 gallon water changes every 2 weeks or every week does any one have any advice?

acabgd · 10/25/2013, 06:09 PM

Without your parameters and the type of algae you have problem with, I doubt that anyone can help you.

bader · 10/25/2013, 06:20 PM

I would drop the Chem pure . Are you running a gfo reactor or carbon if not u should be

Dsotto · 10/25/2013, 06:29 PM

Post some pictures and water parameters if you can.

Parker7 · 10/25/2013, 08:25 PM

Specific gravity 1.026
PH 8.2
Phosphate .64 ppm at the very highest I'm using the red sea kit for this
And nitrate 10-20 ppm
Its mostly hair algae and no I dont run gfo or a carbon reactor I only have the chemical pure carbon on each side of my return pump and the plants
I'm sorry the photos are sideways and attachments because I'm using taptalk

Dsotto · 10/26/2013, 05:44 AM

There are many things to be tried in this. I would make a couple of reactors my next purchase, one for gfo and one for carbon. I don't like my nitrates to be that high or phosphates. Check your source water and make sure ro filters are not bad. Make sure you feed in proportion to your tank and it's inhabitants. Minimal amount in your case. Reduce the time your lights are on depending on your lighting schedule as of now. I believe a sea hare would eat the algae. I can't quite tell if that is green hair or green turf algae. Maybe someone else could add a few more things where I left off.

steelwrap · 10/26/2013, 09:31 AM

Marine algeafix will kill the HA on the rocks then work on getting phosphates down .03 is where you want to be

Josh40996 · 10/26/2013, 09:43 AM

I think its safe to say that this is from a nutrient issue. You may want to up WC's and husbandry and run GFO for the time being until your algae is gone and Nitrate/Phosphate are much lower.

Touring · 10/26/2013, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parker7

Specific gravity 1.026
PH 8.2
Phosphate .64 ppm at the very highest I'm using the red sea kit for this
And nitrate 10-20 ppm
Its mostly hair algae and no I dont run gfo or a carbon reactor I only have the chemical pure carbon on each side of my return pump and the plants
I'm sorry the photos are sideways and attachments because I'm using taptalk

And your okay with these levels? I think you answered your own question

brandon429 · 10/26/2013, 10:30 AM

If your tank was mine simple things would happen.

100% water change. Put fish in bucket, change water, re acclimate, Challenge thread rock cleaning technique. Gfo use, skimmer dialed in sized correctly for this size tank. Never see algae again, ever, starting in a week.
Repeat as needed

Or you can use methods that take months, your choice. Notice the above is a set of deliberate actions. I agree nutrients are high and eutrophication is set in.

Sk8r · 10/26/2013, 02:31 PM

Phosphate in excess is my guess. GFO or NPX. Takes a little time, but everything will be happier if you can get the phosphate way down.

buffalo123 · 10/26/2013, 04:14 PM

Hard to believe we ran reef without GFO just a few years ago and still keep reef not dominated by algae.
Try doing weekly water changes 10-20%. remove as much algae as u can. You should notice algae weaken

jmoney 402 · 10/27/2013, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandon429

If your tank was mine simple things would happen.

100% water change. Put fish in bucket, change water, re acclimate, Challenge thread rock cleaning technique. Gfo use, skimmer dialed in sized correctly for this size tank. Never see algae again, ever, starting in a week.
Repeat as needed

Or you can use methods that take months, your choice. Notice the above is a set of deliberate actions. I agree nutrients are high and eutrophication is set in.

If you do a 100% water change, will the new water go through a cycle again?

Dsotto · 10/27/2013, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoney 402

If you do a 100% water change, will the new water go through a cycle again?

Yeah I wouldn't do 100% of water. I would manually remove as much algae as possible and do a 50% change and then wait to do another 50% change in a week. The source of the problem still needs to be discovered though (excessive feeding, source water, rocks leaching, etc.)

sh0ck · 10/27/2013, 05:21 AM

How long you are running that 50g ?
With these NO3/PO4 values it is not strange to have algae.
Better not commenting on purple tang in that state.

D-Nak · 10/27/2013, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dsotto

There are many things to be tried in this. I would make a couple of reactors my next purchase, one for gfo and one for carbon. I don't like my nitrates to be that high or phosphates. Check your source water and make sure ro filters are not bad. Make sure you feed in proportion to your tank and it's inhabitants. Minimal amount in your case. Reduce the time your lights are on depending on your lighting schedule as of now. I believe a sea hare would eat the algae. I can't quite tell if that is green hair or green turf algae. Maybe someone else could add a few more things where I left off.

This sounds like the best approach.

How are you making your salt water? Are you using tap water or RO/DI or buying pre-made salt water? If the problem is in your source water, you're not going to see any improvements with water changes.

With most phosphate test kits, your results should be close to 0. The logic is that if you have algae they are consuming phosphate, so even though the reading is 0, you probably have phosphate in your system.

Aside from the above, you can also dim your lights a bit and see how it affects your corals.

brandon429 · 10/27/2013, 10:29 AM

The answer to the question about the full water change is no. I do them all the time, it doesn't re cycle. Try all other methods for months, then when you want it fixed let's just fix it. Easy fix. Takes some elbow grease

People do not realize that you can force a reef to be algae free, they think it's part luck and skill that is only for some to attain. Not having full command over what cycles a tank and what doesn't causes deliberate actions to take a back seat to second guessing. Fear of destabilizing a tank causes inaction.

brandon429 · 10/27/2013, 10:37 AM

Part of the correct action for this tank is thoroughly cleaning out detritus stores in and among the rock, the tank needs to be taken down and cleaned, and this can be done with no re cycle, depending on who you believe. I will add this however... Common methods were followed, and common outcomes were attained. Take more common corrections, watch your tank bounce around for months. Coral recession due to gfo over stripping comes next.

10/25/2013, 05:37 PM	#1
Parker7 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 89	50gallon reef under attack by algae Hi guys so Idk if any one can help me out with this but lately I've had a massive issue with algae and its killing me inside I have a 50 gallon tank with a 10-15 gallon sump with chato mangroves, a red sea prizim skimmer and 2 bags of 10 oz chemi pure, I would guess 70-100 pounds of rock in the tank and its DOMINATED by reef its just every were I have a vortech mp 40 an mp 10 a 500 gph power head and a 1200gph power head in the tank and maxspect Mazzara p series leds I only have 2 small clowns 1 is 3/4th an inch the other is 1 inch I have a 4 inch purple tang and a 1 1/2 inch candy cane goby I do 15 gallon water changes every 2 weeks or every week does any one have any advice?

10/25/2013, 06:29 PM	#4
Dsotto Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 133	Post some pictures and water parameters if you can. __________________ Tankless for a little while

10/26/2013, 05:44 AM	#6
Dsotto Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 133	There are many things to be tried in this. I would make a couple of reactors my next purchase, one for gfo and one for carbon. I don't like my nitrates to be that high or phosphates. Check your source water and make sure ro filters are not bad. Make sure you feed in proportion to your tank and it's inhabitants. Minimal amount in your case. Reduce the time your lights are on depending on your lighting schedule as of now. I believe a sea hare would eat the algae. I can't quite tell if that is green hair or green turf algae. Maybe someone else could add a few more things where I left off. __________________ Tankless for a little while

10/26/2013, 02:31 PM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Phosphate in excess is my guess. GFO or NPX. Takes a little time, but everything will be happier if you can get the phosphate way down. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/25/2013, 06:09 PM	#2
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	Without your parameters and the type of algae you have problem with, I doubt that anyone can help you.

10/25/2013, 06:20 PM	#3
bader Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: st johns michigan Posts: 72	I would drop the Chem pure . Are you running a gfo reactor or carbon if not u should be

10/26/2013, 09:31 AM	#7
steelwrap Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan City IN Posts: 148	Marine algeafix will kill the HA on the rocks then work on getting phosphates down .03 is where you want to be

10/26/2013, 09:43 AM	#8
Josh40996 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 415	I think its safe to say that this is from a nutrient issue. You may want to up WC's and husbandry and run GFO for the time being until your algae is gone and Nitrate/Phosphate are much lower.

10/26/2013, 10:30 AM	#10
brandon429 Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,460	If your tank was mine simple things would happen. 100% water change. Put fish in bucket, change water, re acclimate, Challenge thread rock cleaning technique. Gfo use, skimmer dialed in sized correctly for this size tank. Never see algae again, ever, starting in a week. Repeat as needed Or you can use methods that take months, your choice. Notice the above is a set of deliberate actions. I agree nutrients are high and eutrophication is set in.

10/26/2013, 04:14 PM	#12
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	Hard to believe we ran reef without GFO just a few years ago and still keep reef not dominated by algae. Try doing weekly water changes 10-20%. remove as much algae as u can. You should notice algae weaken

10/27/2013, 05:21 AM	#15
sh0ck Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 229	How long you are running that 50g ? With these NO3/PO4 values it is not strange to have algae. Better not commenting on purple tang in that state.

10/27/2013, 10:29 AM	#17
brandon429 Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,460	The answer to the question about the full water change is no. I do them all the time, it doesn't re cycle. Try all other methods for months, then when you want it fixed let's just fix it. Easy fix. Takes some elbow grease People do not realize that you can force a reef to be algae free, they think it's part luck and skill that is only for some to attain. Not having full command over what cycles a tank and what doesn't causes deliberate actions to take a back seat to second guessing. Fear of destabilizing a tank causes inaction.

10/27/2013, 10:37 AM	#18
brandon429 Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,460	Part of the correct action for this tank is thoroughly cleaning out detritus stores in and among the rock, the tank needs to be taken down and cleaned, and this can be done with no re cycle, depending on who you believe. I will add this however... Common methods were followed, and common outcomes were attained. Take more common corrections, watch your tank bounce around for months. Coral recession due to gfo over stripping comes next.