Experienced Reefer needs help identifing what type of algae this is

waterart · 11/23/2012, 03:21 PM

My phosphates are very low (.01), and no algae grows on the glass....however, I can't get a handle on this unidentified algae. It is not bryopsis. They are green puff balls that grow in the cracks of the rocks and on the top of my substrate. Any ideas?

waterart · 11/23/2012, 03:39 PM

waterart · 11/23/2012, 03:41 PM

waterart · 11/23/2012, 03:42 PM

waterart · 11/23/2012, 03:53 PM

waterart · 11/23/2012, 03:54 PM

waterart · 11/23/2012, 07:28 PM

waterart · 11/23/2012, 07:46 PM

Perhaps turtle weed, or Derbesia marina Hair Algae?

waterart · 11/25/2012, 11:42 AM

I was thinking that this was some weird type of resilient algae, since my phosphates are so low. However, I just discovered that my saltwater mixing 50 gallon container had PO4 of .12. So, it feeding the algae growth when my auto water change system kicks in everyday.

I will dump the saltwater and replace with fresh RODI and see if this fixes my problem.

Also, I have never seen hair algae grow in balls like this stuff is doing.....it actually rolls around the substrate.

Anyway, will see if this solves my problem.

btw...I apparently enjoy talking to myself....

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

coralreefdoc · 11/25/2012, 02:36 PM

Please divulge, for everyone's knowledge, what container you are/were using, waterart ...

waterart · 11/25/2012, 03:04 PM

HDPE

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

waterart · 11/25/2012, 03:06 PM

I am using an HDPE container

coralreefdoc · 11/25/2012, 05:37 PM

Thank you, waterart. Interesting that container is leaching PO4s ... Are you positive your 'product' water source isn't laced with Phosphates ? Don't make an assumption here.

What test(s) have you done on the product H2O coming from your RO/DI ? What were the results of said test(s) ...

Thanks again for looking into the details, waterart

waterart · 11/26/2012, 06:59 PM

product water read 0 PO4, and new fresh mixed saltwater read .03 PO4...used a Hanna meter.

so, I suppose time to reduce feeding and lighting period.

EricShane · 11/28/2012, 05:53 PM

Weird.. I like it lol it looks like gsp

needmore-reef · 11/29/2012, 04:20 PM

I agree it looks like derbesia.
Great looking tank otherwise!

Maivortex · 12/01/2012, 03:52 PM

Looks like some type of cyanobacteria

11/23/2012, 03:21 PM	#1
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	Experienced Reefer needs help identifing what type of algae this is My phosphates are very low (.01), and no algae grows on the glass....however, I can't get a handle on this unidentified algae. It is not bryopsis. They are green puff balls that grow in the cracks of the rocks and on the top of my substrate. Any ideas? __________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/23/2012, 03:39 PM	#2
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	__________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/23/2012, 03:41 PM	#3
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	__________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/23/2012, 03:42 PM	#4
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	__________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/23/2012, 03:53 PM	#5
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	__________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/23/2012, 03:54 PM	#6
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	__________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/23/2012, 07:28 PM	#7
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	__________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/23/2012, 07:46 PM	#8
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	Perhaps turtle weed, or Derbesia marina Hair Algae? __________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/25/2012, 11:42 AM	#9
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	I was thinking that this was some weird type of resilient algae, since my phosphates are so low. However, I just discovered that my saltwater mixing 50 gallon container had PO4 of .12. So, it feeding the algae growth when my auto water change system kicks in everyday. I will dump the saltwater and replace with fresh RODI and see if this fixes my problem. Also, I have never seen hair algae grow in balls like this stuff is doing.....it actually rolls around the substrate. Anyway, will see if this solves my problem. btw...I apparently enjoy talking to myself.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank Last edited by waterart; 11/25/2012 at 12:10 PM.

11/25/2012, 02:36 PM	#10
coralreefdoc Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cavitation Bubble Posts: 776	Please divulge, for everyone's knowledge, what container you are/were using, waterart ...

11/25/2012, 03:04 PM	#11
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	HDPE Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/25/2012, 03:06 PM	#12
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	I am using an HDPE container __________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/25/2012, 05:37 PM	#13
coralreefdoc Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cavitation Bubble Posts: 776	Thank you, waterart. Interesting that container is leaching PO4s ... Are you positive your 'product' water source isn't laced with Phosphates ? Don't make an assumption here. What test(s) have you done on the product H2O coming from your RO/DI ? What were the results of said test(s) ... Thanks again for looking into the details, waterart

11/26/2012, 06:59 PM	#14
waterart Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 239	product water read 0 PO4, and new fresh mixed saltwater read .03 PO4...used a Hanna meter. so, I suppose time to reduce feeding and lighting period. __________________ Never let yesterday use up too much of today. Current Tank Info: 150 Starphire, Sump Room, Auto Dosing Station Ca Alk Mg, Cont. water change 30% mth, Auto Topoff, 60 Gal saltwater mixing barrel, Media Reactors, 700 GPD RODI, SRO 3000 Skimmer, Radion x 3, 2 MP40, 65 Gallon Sump, 30 Gal Prop Tank

11/28/2012, 05:53 PM	#15
EricShane Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 136	Weird.. I like it lol it looks like gsp

11/29/2012, 04:20 PM	#16
needmore-reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 425	I agree it looks like derbesia. Great looking tank otherwise!

12/01/2012, 03:52 PM	#17
Maivortex Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PARADISE, us Posts: 666 Blog Entries: 1	Looks like some type of cyanobacteria