Question Need help about to quit hobby!

[Daduate]

If anyone can offer advice as to how to identify this algae and then treat it I would be extremely grateful. The tank is 1&1/2 years old. It is 125gallon I use a 40g breeder sump I absolutely cannot get rid of this algae. I scrape the tank everyday and everyday it grows back. I use rODI water and an 8.4 ph buffer I add and do water changes constantly trying to rid myself of it and nothing works . If I don’t scrub the walls for a couple days it’s overgrown like something from I am legend. If anything appears to be wrong with my setup I post in pictures please I welcome criticism. I used to have a 13w uv sterilizer that did nothing.

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[Daduate]

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[Daduate]

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[Moro12]

I can give you some tips that you maybe are doing or maybe not.... I'm not sure what kind of algae is but these works and all kind of algae. But, please remember: BE PATIENT.
1- Ad bacteria every day (I do it during the night and use Microbacter 7, 1 ml per 10 gallon)
2- Reduce your light schedule (at least until you get rid of the algae)
3- Increase your flow.
4- Feed a little bit less.
4- Re-stock your cleaning crew.
5- Clean your glasses, back wall and blow the rocks with a Turkey baster or small pump every day.

As I said, be patient brother, I have been dealing with red Cyano for about 3 months, and now is when I start see my tank doing better.... By the way, my tank is really old and mature.

 

[coralcruze]

Only way to get positive ID on algae is to show it under a microscope. Even with that there are litterally thousands of strains. If it's mat like and short fuzzy on the rock it's most likely a type of turf algae. Turf does NOT blow off the rock. If you are using rock that has trapped po4 and no3 or die off than it's leaching nutrients and main reason turf growing on the rock and no where else. Time and persistence will allow leaching to come out of the system.

Don't quit. Keep at it.

 

[grsfish]

What’s your nitrogen and phosphates level. Also if you are cleaning that off and then not getting rid of it(like vacuuming it out) it will just add back more nutrients to your tank. Do you have a refugium in your sump??

 

[Daduate]

Thanks for the input


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[Daduate]

I can give you some tips that you maybe are doing or maybe not.... I'm not sure what kind of algae is but these works and all kind of algae. But, please remember: BE PATIENT.
1- Ad bacteria every day (I do it during the night and use Microbacter 7, 1 ml per 10 gallon)
2- Reduce your light schedule (at least until you get rid of the algae)
3- Increase your flow.
4- Feed a little bit less.
4- Re-stock your cleaning crew.
5- Clean your glasses, back wall and blow the rocks with a Turkey baster or small pump every day.

As I said, be patient brother, I have been dealing with red Cyano for about 3 months, and now is when I start see my tank doing better.... By the way, my tank is really old and mature.

I’m going to try this for sure


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[Daduate]

What’s your nitrogen and phosphates level. Also if you are cleaning that off and then not getting rid of it(like vacuuming it out) it will just add back more nutrients to your tank. Do you have a refugium in your sump??

Not sure I’ll stop by my lfs and have him do a full test he uses Hanna instruments


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[Daduate]

Only way to get positive ID on algae is to show it under a microscope. Even with that there are litterally thousands of strains. If it's mat like and short fuzzy on the rock it's most likely a type of turf algae. Turf does NOT blow off the rock. If you are using rock that has trapped po4 and no3 or die off than it's leaching nutrients and main reason turf growing on the rock and no where else. Time and persistence will allow leaching to come out of the system.

Don't quit. Keep at it.

I did add all that dry rockscape about 6 months ago shouldn’t that have died off


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[Timfish]

Are you just talking about the algae on the glass? Use paper towels to actually remove it instead of just knocking it off for it to resettle in a little while.

 

[heuerfan]

Personally i would stop using Marine Buffer I found this product spikes your ALK. In my opinion i don't ever check my PH. But definitely ALK, CA and MG.

Like most said, patiences, scrubbing and water changes.

Be grateful you don't have this,

Good luck!

my 2 cents....

 

[Daduate]

Are you just talking about the algae on the glass? Use paper towels to actually remove it instead of just knocking it off for it to resettle in a little while.

Love this


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[steve0199us]

I’m going through the same! My algea has slowed down the past couple months, I’ve added fish, pods, and scape weekly… going to do another brush today and have a large CUC on its way this week. Last year, I read it was too high phos, but I wasn’t feeding much and the number was low when tested, then I read about lights, but I was using mostly blue and zero whites…. The tank was bought as a used setup, so the rocks were seeded and mature… I also slowed down water changes

I just keep brushing the rocks, make sure you turn off your pump, then I go back in and net it all out, let everything settle and met again, clear out the HOB sponge and eventually it’s gotten better for me… months ago, I’d have to scrape every other day… getting better slowly

 

[Josh]

@Moro12 has a great list of options you can try.

 

[Daduate]

I really appreciate all the feedback. I feel bad I’m turning this into a self help thread. I started toweling off my algae instead of scraping and I stopped using the marine buffer and my tank looks noticeably better. Couple of questions now though. I have two of the emperor size b carbon screens in the chamber of my sump where the skimmer is . I have had them there for a while . This morning I woke up and my skimmer filled up the 5 gallon bucket. I have it connected to with water when I went to look at the skimmer I noticed that where are you normally see the bubbles in the reactor chamber the cold or whatever that’s called I’m no professional it’s like water in there.
My sump is now spitting tiny bubbles into my aquarium .


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[piranhapat]

Our great leader Jake Adams would tell you this is a very easy fix. Shut your lights off. I only see one coral he can go 3 days without lights. If you want to go dark longer take the coral out. During this cut back your feeding. Go gets some copepods Also keep your nutrients in check. If you don't want to do that . Cut back the lights in hours or lower percentage.

 

[reef bandit]

Nutients and algae have a direct relationship. Your phos and nitrates are probably on the higher side. If u cut back on them, u will notice the algae grow a lot slower. Also, white, red, green promote algae growth. Either cut down on their spectrum or shorten the light schedule.

 

[Geraud]

You can also check this video...

 

[Adriana Graaf]

It is important to identify the type of algae in your tank in order to effectively treat it. Some common causes of excessive algae growth include poor water quality, excessive light, and an imbalance of nutrients. To start, you may consider testing your water parameters and ensuring they are within the appropriate range for a reef tank. You can also consider adjusting your lighting schedule or installing shading to limit the amount of light reaching the tank. If the problem persists, it may be worth adding or adjusting chemical filtration methods such as carbon or phosphate absorbers. Additionally, consider seeking advice from a local aquarium shop or online forum, or consulting with a professional aquarium specialist.