Disgusting brown goo

[christyf5]

Hey guys,
So I have this algae problem that I'm sure some of you have heard about [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
Hair algae mostly, but there is a newcomer on the scene. Disgusting brown goo I call it. Some classified it as a diatom and suggested I get new light bulbs (2x250W MH). I got them a week ago and while I wasn't expecting success overnight, I haven't experienced any success at all and the growth hasn't slowed even a little bit. I hardly feed the tank (although you'd never know it by the amount of hair algae all over the place) and the phosphates of course read zero as they are all tied up in the ferocious growth cycle of algae. I checked my top up water and replacement water and the fresh is 0 for phosphates and the replacement SW was marginal so I used a phosphate sponge on it to get it down to zero. So any ideas? Suggestions?? I am at my wits end here. So far I have lost one SPS, another one is half gone (a few polyps remain on my montipora) and my leather is the saddest looking creature I have ever seen. HELP!!

Here is a pic, you know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. This crap is all over some rocks (those that aren't covered in hair algae, and the sandbed. Its the sandbed that is the grossest tho). This algae clumps the sandbed into a hard mass and it has to be cleaned off in sheets.

Christy [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img]

[StirCrazy]

That looks like the cyno outbreak that creaturs had a couple months ago, I am just going of course by what some one showed me and told me was cyno so I could be out to lunch if he was pulling my leg.

Steve

[One_Divided]

blehh.. that's some ugly algea! [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

It sounds like you are doing just about everything you can. Have you done lots of water changes? It would probably help us all get to the source of your problems if you could fill out the info in the tank specification forum.

[ 23 February 2002: Message edited by: One_Divided ]</p>

[Canadian]

If it's brown, "gooey", and has air bubbles trapped in it, then it's probably not diatoms or cyanobacteria; it's likely dinoflagellates. Of course this is based on your description, as I'm having a difficult time making an assessment based on the picture.

Based on the description of your setup in the Tank Specification Forum, I'd say your problems are arising from insufficient water circulation and an inadequate protein skimmer. Removing inorganic phosphates from the water column with a phosphate sponge isn't going to cut the mustard because most of the nutrients in your tank are bound to various substrates (including animal and plant tissue).

Assuming that this is a dinoflagellate outbreak here's what you need to do:

<ul type="square">[*]Get a better protein skimmer.[*]Increase water circulation.[*]Temporarily reduce the photoperiod.[*]Syphon out the dinoflagellates religiously without blowing them all over the tank.[*]Do frequent water changes.[/list:u:3531e57500]

I've gotta head out right now, but when I get back I'll post a more specific reply.

[SuperFudge]

Christy,


What does your alk sit at right now? ,Marc.

[ 23 February 2002: Message edited by: Superfudge ]</p>

[Aquattro]

Christy, I'm with Andrew on this one. dinoflagellates is what it looks like. One thing that comes to mind is that you are using natural (pastuerized?) seawater....maybe try some fake stuff for a coupe of good water changes to see if it helps.

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

IMHO, the brown stuff with bubbles is more likely to be diatoms...just lots of diatoms. It really doesn't matter - the solution is the same. I had the same problem about 3 months ago. My source of the problem was silicates/phosphates from my top off water. So this is what I did:

1) stopped water changes.
2) stopped additives except for calcium/alk (i.e. my Calcium reactor)
3) make two tubs of (doesn't need to be fresh) saltwater. Take some of the rocks and scrub the algae off in the saltwater in tube 1. Rinse everything off in the saltwater in tube #2. You can do a couple of rocks at time. Put the rocks back in the tank.
4) top off water - this was my problem. Before I added top off water, I added 1/8 tbl of kalk per gallon and let it settle for 12 hours. This is small enough to cause some of the phosphates/heavy metals to precipitate and not enough to add too much calcium to my system. I would drip that clear kalk top off water back in to my tank. Don't drip the precipitate in the kalk solution.
5) alk was set very high (like 15 dKh)
6) Put some fresh carbon in the system every two weeks - since we are not doing water changes...this should help.
7) 30 Astrea snails. Any snails will do in this case. This helped clean up the small bits that I didn't get in #3 -- but they can't get throught the big slabs of algae (too thick).
8) algae on glass/pumps ? Remove and do not let it float and stay on the water. The fine algae is good for the corals (food), but the big chunks are not.
9) Remove all sponge/mechanical filters.
10) Add air stone to skimmer -- this helps the skimmer with the lowest cost. IMHO, this is optional, but it helps in severe cases.

You will find that not doing water changes may affect the water quality (nitrates and such), so, you'll need to monitor the corals and fish for stress.

You will also find that you may be repeating step #3 for a couple of times -- each time you wash the stuff off...the slower it should re-grow. Eventually, the snails should be able to grasp on to what is left and finish it for good.

Hope that helps.

- Victor.

[ 23 February 2002: Message edited by: reefburnaby ]

[ 23 February 2002: Message edited by: reefburnaby ]</p>

[Canadian]

Here's a picture of dinoflagellates (I seriously doubt what you have is diatoms):



As per my original post, and in agreement with Ron Shimek, physically remove the dinoflagellates, increase nutrient removal (better protein skimmer), and enusure that your source water is not problematic. In addition, along the same lines that Marc was apparently thinking; ensure your alkalinity is closer to the higher end of the scale (along the lines of 4 meq/L or so).

Assuming your water source is "clean," then syphon out the dinoflagellates and you're going to need to do a small water change every time you do so to account for the water you removed from the system.

[DJ88]

Christy,

I was one who told you to change your lighting. Sorry. Wish it had helped. Now that I see a pic I'd go with Dino's as well.

Here is what I will suggest.

Boost the alk if you can.
Skimming is important. big time.
RO/DI.
Removal by hand. Water changes.
Circulation. Get some more powerheads in there. Two hagen 302's isn't enough. Increase circ somehow.

Diatoms don't form mats like you are showing there. So I wouldn't add more snails. You'd be at risk of losing them. Snails don't eat dino's. It can kill them tho.
Diatoms can get thick. but don't form that slime you have.

My biggest suggestions are two. Circulation and Skimming.

keep us posted

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

Its hard to say if it is dino or diatoms. Both are slimy and both form jelly mats, but I through dinos where brown or red and diatoms were brown or gold. Really doesn't matter....

Christy, is there anything unusual that we should know about your tank ? Are your snails all dead ? Did something recently die in your tank ?

BTW...is that bubble algae or calerpa in the picture ?

- Victor.