Moving stock problems

[Reef Pilot]

While still being hesitant to draw any clear conclusions, here is what I have observed with my bubble algae (and other algae). I've had it, went away, and then it came back.

My main DT tank (10+ year running) was initially full of bubble algae (and many other nutrient related pests). I eventually got the nutrients under control, and when the phosphates reached zero (Hanna checker), the hair algae let go, and the bubble algae disappeared. So, removing P04 definitely seemed to make a difference. I should mention here that the colour chart phosphate P04 test kits read zero long before the Hanna checker. You need the latter, before you know for sure your phosphates are fully under control.

I should mention, too, that at the same time, I had set up a 2nd tank downstairs using 1/2 the live rock and sand from the initial nutrient laden upstairs DT. But since I only have 1 GFO reactor (being used for the upstairs DT), high phosphates (>1.0) remained in this tank. But what was interesting, I did not have a bubble algae or HA algae problem in this tank, despite the high P04. However, it may also be because I had a Kole Tang and Foxface in this tank,... more on that later.

Then this past summer, I had to combine sumps because I only had one chiller, so my upstairs tank now had higher P04 water again, too. It did not take long at all, probably within a couple weeks, when algae returned with a vengeance to my recently pristine upstairs tank. And bubble algae started to appear again. But my downstairs tank remained the same, with no algae.

With frequent GFO changes (and using Foz Down) my P04 eventually came down to below 0.10, but not consistently zero like before. However, the algae and bubble coral persisted, but only in the upstairs tank, despite both running off the same sump and water.

Not long ago, I moved my Kole tang to my upstairs tank, and within days, he cleaned up most of my film and glass algae, but not the HA or bubble algae. And since that move, I have started to see algae appearing on the back glass of my downstairs tank. But still no bubble algae.

Meanwhile, my upstairs tank continues to gradually improve with less algae. I give the Kole tang a lot of credit for that. But I think the lower P04 is also helping. It is still not zero though, like I had it before. But I expect to get there in the next month or so, and see what happens then.

So what does all this mean? I think there is no doubt that P04 contributes to algae problems including bubble algae. But the P04 needs to be right down to zero (as read by the Hanna checker) before the algae is completely defeated. However, that doesn't explain why my previously high P04 laden downstairs tank didn't have the algae problem. I think perhaps the Foxface might have something to do with that, and maybe he eats the bubble algae. And there is no doubt the Kole tang helped keep it clear of the regular algae.

Needless to say, I am trying to get another Kole tang. Have been looking for a while, but all the LFS's seem to be out of stock for now.

Having said all that, I don't think these observations or results are necessarily conclusive, and am still waiting to see what happens in a few months. Hopefully when my P04 consistently stays at zero, my bubble algae will also disappear again.