brown algae...need help

[sinbad]

I made a mistake and replaced my lights a little late, result. -algae bloom.

That was a couple of weeks ago. Now I can't seem to get rid of stuff. I did 30% water change, turned my lights off for 2 days and it is still there. Maybe not as bad, but still there. I know I can try and scrape my glass, but my main concern is my birdsnest. It is pretty well covered.
Anyone have any suggestions

 

[rjrgroup]

Nutrients + light = algae
Lower nutrients via more frequent water changes, adsorption media, less feeding, etc.
Cut back on length of light cycle. We had talked about you adding a reactor at some point with Carbon and GFO, seems about that time.

 

[sinbad]

Good to hear from you. I still have that tube anemone.

I have been running a phosban reactor about a month now. I have not really noticed a difference. I just did another water change, will do another one in a couple of days.

 

[dabo]

where are you getting the water from that you are doing water changes with ?

 

[sinbad]

Publix, water system. I have tested their water and have used it for about a year with no problems.

The only differences that I can think of is the light issue (which reared up about the time the algae started) and I switched salt a couple of months ago. I went from instant ocean reef crystals to red sea coral.

 

[rdnelson]

sinbad;832919 wrote: Publix, water system. I have tested their water and have used it for about a year with no problems.

Have you tested it recently? I could be the filters need to be changed and you are getting phosphates in the water you are getting from there.

 

[racinrevo0818]

I had some brown algae problems that where driving me crazy. The more water changes the worse it was. I was running 2 bags of chemipure elite and nothing helped. I have a 5 stage ro-di system 0 tds. Talked to brs and they said my new water probably wasn't the issue and it could be over feeding. I cut way back on feeding and still no change. Ran 250 ml of phosgaurd and in a week tank was like new. Phosgaurd removes silicates along with phosphates. So I'm planning on running a small reactor in my storage water and see if that helps. I understand how bad it is to look at your tank and just be disappointed. Best of luck!!

 

[reefkeeper]

Sounds like you have a high level of phosphates which maybe be caused from the Publix water. What's you phosphate reading in the tank? You may also want to test the Phosphates level in the water your using for waters changes.

 

[jennm]

Huge water changes can upset the ionic balance and actually spark a diatom bloom.

Test your water - post your parameters. Also, include tank size, what your inhabitants are, how much you feed (and what you feed) and how often, etc. The more info, the more we can consider to help figure out what's going on.

Jenn

 

[rdnelson]

Reefkeeper;832929 wrote: Sounds like you have a high level of phosphates which maybe be caused from the Publix water. What's you phosphate reading in the tank? You may also want to test the Phosphates level in the water your using for waters changes.

I agree with testing the tank water however, they could read 0 because the algae is consuming it. Therefore, in this case, I would test the make up water first.

Edit: If it is diatom, then I would suspect silicates. However, the algae should go away once the silacates are consumed. Unless of course, there is an external source of silacates. Again, testing the make up water seems to be the first course of action I would take. Easiest thing to rule out.

 

[sinbad]

My phosphates test at 0 or very near, I have also recently tested the water from Publix. I have a 90g, with 5 fish and several corals. I have also reduced my feedings.

I am thinking it might be a silicate issues as RacinRevo mentioned. His story sounds very similar to mine. I am going to try the Phosguard today. I will update in a day or two with results.

 

[sinbad]

Just wanted to update - not much difference.

Added the phosgaurd and noticed nothing really. I did switch to a different Publix for water and maybe, just maybe a slight improvement.

All my tests come out near perfect - can't figure it out. I did add a couple of rocks fairly recently (within the last few months), maybe it came from that??

My poor birdsnest is toast, brown toast. :-(

I am continuing to do water changes - around 10% 2-3 times per week.

 

[racinrevo0818]

Maybe post a picture of the algae. Doing large water changes might just be feeding it more. If you are trying to remove phosphates with the phosgaurd and then doing roughly 30g a week of water changes with even slight phosphates or silicate you might be removing better water with worse. There isn't a easy fix and its noy going to be fast. Try changing your phosgaurd as recommended every 4 days and do a lights out and completely wrap tank from any outside lights. Look at a few pictures of dinoflagellate and see if that might be the problem. Biggest thing is just be patient and I know it's hard when coral are dying. That's one think about reef tanks it's almost perfect conditions for algae when your nutrients are even a little high.

 

[kilralpine]

Two things I noticed reading through these posts, phosphates will read near 0 nearly all the time due to them being absorbed first. How long as is been since you changed your media? phosguard absorbs really quickly and needs to be changed regularly. I would agree with the others; most likely scenario publix gave you phosphates and your phosguard loaded up fast. *edit* scratch that you said phosban; though its likely to still hold true.

 

[heathlindner25]

sinbad;836051 wrote: Just wanted to update - not much difference.

Added the phosgaurd and noticed nothing really. I did switch to a different Publix for water and maybe, just maybe a slight improvement.

All my tests come out near perfect - can't figure it out. I did add a couple of rocks fairly recently (within the last few months), maybe it came from that??

My poor birdsnest is toast, brown toast. :-(

I am continuing to do water changes - around 10% 2-3 times per week.

once you get the algae situation figured out, I have a 1 inch frag of ora birds nest you can have.

 

[jef4y]

Another thing to consider is that Algae problems can take a LONG time to resove. They can seem to pop up overnight after a balance gets tipped, but it takes so much longer to get rid of that problem. And overall the problem is resolved by consistent and regimented water care. Monitor the food put into the tank, keep the GFO fresh and change the water regularly.

 

[sinbad]

Thanks - I truly appreciate the support here. I am going to try to post some pics.

Good call on the phosgaurd - I did not notice the 4 day direction, which it has only been in there maybe 6 days.

One thing, most of my corals are doing great - even growing. The fish all look great, have healthy appetites. The only corals that seemed to suffer is the birdsnest and now my toadstool is looking a little peaked. It has done this a couple of times since I have had it, and normally bounces back. (crossing my fingers)

Also, I do notice the algae does not seem to be as bad as it was about a week or so ago. It is definitely still there, but not quite on the rampage it was.

Question - I did the no lights thing for a couple of days, but I did not cover the tank to block out ALL light. Should I have?

Thanks again everyone for your input.

heathlindner25;836135 wrote: once you get the algae situation figured out, I have a 1 inch frag of ora birds nest you can have.

Edit: This is my birdnest - man it was nice. You can see the other stuff around it still looks good.

Edit: You are right. Just so frustrating. Everything was good, just hope nothing else suffers while it is recovering.

JeF4y;836141 wrote: Another thing to consider is that Algae problems can take a LONG time to resove. They can seem to pop up overnight after a balance gets tipped, but it takes so much longer to get rid of that problem. And overall the problem is resolved by consistent and regimented water care. Monitor the food put into the tank, keep the GFO fresh and change the water regularly.

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[sinbad]

Looks like it is over, thank goodness. Tank looks good though it does not look like the birdsnest will come back -
also, I just bought a ro/di system so maybe that will help prevent future breakouts.

Thanks everyone for your advice :yes: