Rapid film algae growth

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by Doug

Thanks Christy. Sure would be nice to know wither what caused the sps loss and if thats what created all the phosphate or visa versa. I guess it remains one of those never solved reef keeping mystery,s.

Yeah, sadly some things in this hobby remain a mystery. I think thats why we get so jazzed when we finally figure a select few things out

[Lance]

Atta go Doug! Glad the problem is fixed.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Lance

Atta go Doug! Glad the problem is fixed.

Thanks Lance. Need to go raid a friends tank and Mike,s tank now. Kind of lonely in mine.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by Doug

Thanks guys. Almost had the 20g running. Just to clarify a point Wayne. No beads in my system yet, although its a sure bet there will be. Its a regular gfo, Phosban type stuff that I,m using still.

AH oops! My Bad

[Myka]

Sorry I don't have time to read the entire thread, but just reading the first page...do you have somewhere you can get the corals babysat at, and do a 72 hour blackout on the tank? Then do a 50-75% water change? By black period I mean like ZERO light penetration...get a blanket all tucked around it. I suggest this because an algae/bacteria that grows that fast should also die fast (in a blackout). Blackouts don't usually work for stuff like GHA, bubble algae, chaeto, etc which are slower growers (in comparison).

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Myka

Sorry I don't have time to read the entire thread, but just reading the first page...do you have somewhere you can get the corals babysat at, and do a 72 hour blackout on the tank? Then do a 50-75% water change? By black period I mean like ZERO light penetration...get a blanket all tucked around it. I suggest this because an algae/bacteria that grows that fast should also die fast (in a blackout). Blackouts don't usually work for stuff like GHA, bubble algae, chaeto, etc which are slower growers (in comparison).

Thanks Mindy. I did move my remaining corals and ran little light got a couple days but as soon as back on, the film returned. The last page shows how I finally corrected it with a proper reactor and gfo. Thats the short version.

[Myka]

Hey Doug, it's solved now? Well I'll be darned.

Usually "little" light won't solve any problems at all since it only weakens algae/bacteria instead of killing it where the point of a 72 hour complete blackout is to kill the algae/bacteria at which point it is often wise to suck up the released phosphate, nitrate, and DOCs with GFO and carbon, obviously preferably in reactors.

It's good to hear it was simple for you. Now, if you figure out a simple way to get rid of red and green bubble algae you let me know, ok? Puuuulease???!!! As I continue to battle these lovely algae I have started to really delve into the biology of algae; production, reproduction, photosynthesis, uptake of nutrients, as well as the nutrients that algae leach, and the effect that has on the reef's inhabitants. I know most people would find it quite borrrring, but I find it rather quite interesting (*note old english accent).

[Doug]

Seems to be fixed Mindy. Still not sure if the cause of the algae growth and my sps loss is the same or if something else caused the sps loss and the resulting rtn fuelled the algae growth.

I had a fair bit of bubble algae recently. I was getting tired of siphoning it during water changes and my green mythrix never seemed to keep up. One day I was in an lfs in Winnipeg and he had red mythrix. Purchased two.

They ate algae non stop, including most of the bubble algae. Started growing and getting scary looking but never touched a thing besides algae that I could see. After their last molt just getting to large for my tank, so gave them to a couple friends. Mike has one and another large tank the other. Both have lots of bubble algae or other little pickings for them.
Of course also told them no guarantee on what else they may eat. Suppose to be safe but still are crabs. Sure grew fast though but best darn algae eaters I have ever seen.

With my recent problems and now with them removed, I have noticed some bubble algae clumps coming back. IMO, the standard green mythrix does nothing to help or never has for me. I still have one and may add a couple more to see if it helps and if not back to get another red.