Potential Algae Outbreak

[the_bandit]

About a month ago, I added some large pieces of dead rock to my 55g, most of which was white colored. Over this month, I have observed that it has growth on it but the growth is thick dark green algae and lately I have had a red algae start to form. This isn't hair algae but I can't think of what else it is. The green algae wont come off with a magnet so I have to scrape it off the walls and equipment with a razor. Funny thing is, my Sailfin tang wont touch it when its on the walls but when I scrape it, he goes crazy. My Diamondheaded Watchmen Goby jumped so the sand is also starting to get some red algae on it. All my parameters check out good, all coral and fish are alive, I feed only twice a week, I have a LMB to keep algae in check but he cant, I have a CUC, I keep my lights on from around 1 p.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. and on top of all that I have been putting in AlgaeFix (Algae killer). Also, I use Ro/Di water and do water changes every week. 5g each time and sometimes I do more than one water change each week. I really need some help here. I was thinking about adding a GEC to try and reduce some of the algae on the rocks. I am open to any and all helpful comments

 

[saltyjewell]

I just went through the diatom algea out break. I have a little green and hair algea on the glass and a tiny little itty bitty spot of red on two rocks. I unfortantly lost my anemome while I was away for a couple days.
This aloud me to cut the lights back to 5hrs(2pm to 7pm) I got the cierth snails at about the same time and that is when my algea really started to get under control. The sand is 99% better. The rocks are all *clean* except the odd very small bit. The front and side of the tank are 99% clear. I have some algea that I need to scrap off the back, for some reason the snails perfer the front/side. I'm going to get another 2 or 3 mexican turbos(this site recommends 1 per 20g but they can break corals if you have them)
I'm upping my time the lights are on by 30mins a day to see if I stay in the clear.
I have a CUC crew of (for 170g)
5 mexican turbos snails(they are GREAT on the rocks and glass)
9 cierth snails(want more but thats all they had)
4 tri-colour hermit crabs
4 scarlett hermit crabs
1 red startfish
(just bought yesterday)
10 drawf blue-legged hermits and two peppermint shrimp.
I want more cierth snails and some nass too.
I also have a diamond goby

 

[the_bandit]

It's not a diatom bloom. I already had that. It's been up for four months now. My Diamond Goby jumped and now the sand is starting to get covered in red algae. Need more suggestions please.

 

[bizzmoneyb]

do you have any snails? if not grab some turbos for the rocks and some nassarius for the sand.
try upping your water changes to 10 gal at a time.
feed alittle less and cut your lighting down alittle bit.

 

[saltyjewell]

I'd still cut the lights down. I think that max you need is 8hrs a day but I'd cut it to 6hrs for a while. More snails and keep on top of the water changes.
Oh I'd also get another goby and cover your tank. I had one jump too. I have it partly covered reducing the risk of a jump but not causing a green house effect. Going to get mesh soon to cover the rest.

 

[the_bandit]

I'm starting to believe its either Cyano (whatever that is) or red slime algae. On the sand bottom, it is a light red color and is stringy like hair algae. Im reducing it by dosing the tank with algae killer, reducing my feed and lights, and placing my snails directly on the algae so they will eat it. Is there anyting else I can do?
P.S. What is cyano? And how to I deal with it?

 

[the_bandit]

Well I have figured out that I am having an outbreak of Cyanobacteria I think. Its on some rocks, its "furry" and rubs off easily, and its all over my sand. Its maroonish colored with hair on it. My 3RD!!!!! sand goby jumped so I've given up hope with them. Every water change I do, I suck a thin layer of sand off that has the algae and then I scrub it off the rocks with a toothbrush.
I have reduced my lighting to about 6 or 7 hours per day. Sometimes less.
I have reduced my feeding to practically spot feeding my fish only till they stop eating. 3min or less on that. I feed a select few corals once a week.
I have more than enough flow. Two 1200 MJ's with a Koralia 3 to move any water behind the rock work.
I want to try Blue Life Red Slime Control but I have read extreme mixed reviews with it. I have heard that some people have had great luck with it. Where they have seen a reduction of it within a day. And on the other side of the spectrum, I have read that it has completely killed corals and not killed the algae. Has anyone used this product before or something like this and had any luck?
I have been using this AlgaeFix stuff but all it is doing is apparently depriving my Xenia of whatever it needs to survive. The Xenia has never looked worse. I have stopped using AlgaeFix for obvious reasons.
I need help. These forums rule and have always helped me with whatever the problem may be. Dont let me down everybody.

 

[the_bandit]

bump

 

[the_bandit]

Well since Im not getting any answers, has anyone used any chemical to remove Red Slime Algae (Cyano) with success or failure?

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3120502
Well since Im not getting any answers, has anyone used any chemical to remove Red Slime Algae (Cyano) with success or failure?

I am so sorry nobody with any real experience has logged on to this thread...I know everyone who answered you were doing their very best using what knowledge they have.
Yes you are having a cyano outbreak. Algae that has to be scraped off is coralline algae and it is a good thing. You don't want it on the front glass. I bet you have an acrylic tank, coralline loves plastic for some reason. Coralline has many colors..green, orange, red, blue, pink and purple.
You need to test for phosphates, increase your water flow over the rocks and sand. Remove as much of the red algae as possible and do small water changes every other day.
There is a product called Red X...however you need to figure out what caused it in the first place to stay rid of it. Too much Red X, and it will stop working, the cyano gets immune to it. Also be very careful to follow instructions to the letter.
Be careful not to overfeed. Rinse any frozen foods in RO water before putting it in the tank.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3120520

I am so sorry nobody with any real experience has logged on to this thread...I know everyone who answered you were doing their very best using what knowledge they have.
Yes you are having a cyano outbreak. Algae that has to be scraped off is coralline algae and it is a good thing. You don't want it on the front glass. I bet you have an acrylic tank, coralline loves plastic for some reason. Coralline has many colors..green, orange, red, blue, pink and purple.
You need to test for phosphates, increase your water flow over the rocks and sand. Remove as much of the red algae as possible and do small water changes every other day.
There is a product called Red X...however you need to figure out what caused it in the first place to stay rid of it. Too much Red X, and it will stop working, the cyano gets immune to it. Also be very careful to follow instructions to the letter.
Be careful not to overfeed. Rinse any frozen foods in RO water before putting it in the tank.
P.S. NEVER use algae killer in your tank! I don't know what you can do now that you used it...change your water ASAP.

 

[meowzer]

Just out of curiosity....have you done a search using "cyano" there are a LOT of threads that tell you what to do
AND...Do you have a pic.....
I suggest cut lights, add flow, siphon, waterchanges, use ro/di, and feed better foods (less)

 

[the_bandit]

No worries about no responces. It may be difficult to answer. I have increased my flow on all sides. I currently have 2 1200 MJ's and a Koralia #3. My Corals and fish cant take much more flow lol. I understand the difference between Coralline algae and Red slime and what I have is Red Slime. Its a a thin mat that can be easily removed with my fingers or a toothbrush. Im doing Biweekly water changes. I just cant figure out the cause. My lights were running from 9-10 and the way through 11-12 pm. I know rediculous. They are now running from 3-9ish +/- an hour. I feed corals once a week a little meaty food for the LPS and Kent ChromaPlex to other coral. I feed my fish twice a week Frozen food. I rinse it in RO water before hand and only use aquarium water to let it defrost. I cant see any loop holes that Red slime algae could slip through.
I have quit using Algae killer. It didnt do anything good to my Xenia/
When I research Cyano on here, all the threads say that water changes and what Im already doing cured it. Ive been going at this for about 2 weeks now.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3120623
No worries about no responces. It may be difficult to answer. I have increased my flow on all sides. I currently have 2 1200 MJ's and a Koralia #3. My Corals and fish cant take much more flow lol. I understand the difference between Coralline algae and Red slime and what I have is Red Slime. Its a a thin mat that can be easily removed with my fingers or a toothbrush. Im doing Biweekly water changes. I just cant figure out the cause. My lights were running from 9-10 and the way through 11-12 pm. I know rediculous. They are now running from 3-9ish +/- an hour. I feed corals once a week a little meaty food for the LPS and Kent ChromaPlex to other coral. I feed my fish twice a week Frozen food. I rinse it in RO water before hand and only use aquarium water to let it defrost. I cant see any loop holes that Red slime algae could slip through.
I have quit using Algae killer. It didnt do anything good to my Xenia/
When I research Cyano on here, all the threads say that water changes and what Im already doing cured it. Ive been going at this for about 2 weeks now.
Okay...I started a thread to see if the algae killer will do you any harm. I am no expert...
Do you run a skimmer?

 

[meowzer]

Well let me tell you from experience...keep doing it...It will take time..it too kme a couple of months to rid it from my 54G, and I still see a speck pop up here and there...patience, lots of w/c's, and some siphoning...will get it done

 

[the_bandit]

Thank you for helping Flower I really appreciate it. I was recommended this AlgaeFix by a LFS.....

Ya I know. Not a smart move.
Im running an Aqua C Remora Skimmer.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3120630
Thank you for helping Flower I really appreciate it. I was recommended this AlgaeFix by a LFS.....

Ya I know. Not a smart move.
Im running an Aqua C Remora Skimmer.
Okay...with cyano phosphate tests usually say nothing..because the cyano feeds on the phosphates. You are getting a high reading of phosphates even though you have cyano feeding on it.
That means to me that you must have some really bad phosphate problems. I use a product called phosphate-E marine by Brightwell aquatics.
It will make the water very cloudy for a few hours, afterwards clean the filter. It won't do any good to take another test too soon after using it, you will get a false positive reading...the instructions explain why.
BEFORE you try this...You need someone with more experience because you have already dosed your tank with chemicals, and I don't want you to do more damage.
So post a new thread asking... if after you dose with whatever products,...be sure to list them, if you can use something else to remove phosphates and what would be safe.
I wish I was more help. but I would rather admit I don't know than hurt someone seeking help...good luck. I will be watching to see what comes of all this.

 

[the_bandit]

Okie dokie I will make another thread when I have time. That test radings was from a couple days ago and before a water change so I will test it again tonight. Thank you for your help Flower and Meowzer.
Ive thought about the original outbreak of this and I have narrowed it down to me being careless with feeding. But like I said before Ive become far more consious with how I am feeding.

 

[shrimpy brains]

Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3105923
About a month ago, I added some large pieces of dead rock to my 55g, most of which was white colored. Over this month, I have observed that it has growth on it but the growth is thick dark green algae and lately I have had a red algae start to form. This isn't hair algae but I can't think of what else it is. Are you sure this rock is ok, for use in SW aquarium. Did you rinse it well before adding to tank? The green algae wont come off with a magnet so I have to scrape it off the walls and equipment with a razor. Funny thing is, my Sailfin tang wont touch it when its on the walls but when I scrape it, he goes crazy. If you have to scrape it, it is coralline.
My Diamondheaded Watchmen Goby jumped so the sand is also starting to get some red algae on it. All my parameters check out good, all coral and fish are alive, I feed only twice a week, I have a LMB to keep algae in check but he cant, I have a CUC,So the only fish you have are the sailfin and lmb? How many snails/crabs etc. in cuc?
I keep my lights on from around 1 p.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. and on top of all that I have been putting in AlgaeFix (Algae killer). Also, I use Ro/Di water and do water changes every week. 5g each time and sometimes I do more than one water change each week. I really need some help here. I was thinking about adding a GEC to try and reduce some of the algae on the rocks. I am open to any and all helpful comments

Sorry about the delayed response, Flowers new thread brought it to my attention. It sounds like you have come a long way.
You added what sounds like plenty of flow, maybe you just need to change direction of flow towards areas that seem to get the worst outbreaks.
You say you only feed twice a week, but are you overfeeding to compensate for this?? I would suggest less food, more often. Only feed enough for your fish to consume in 1 minute. Add a little more if you feel they are hungry, but again only what they can consume in 1 minute. If possible, suction out any leftover food.
My thought on this, is that your problem is coming from the rock you added. If you are sure it is dead coral rubble rock, then I am wondering how long it sat on a shelf collecting dust and whatever else? It may be possible that you are getting phosphates or silicates from this rock! I think, it will take some patience, As Flower and Meowzer have stated. Frequent water changes trying to suck out as much algae as possible.
This is JMO, I am not an expert. Good luck!

 

[nuro]

a) what are the specifics of the lights ur running? and does it get any sunlight?
b) how often are you doing water changes? this can greatly reduce algea IMO if your levels are out of wack