Need Help With Algae Problem

[joeb558]

I have a 54 Gal corner tank running for about three months. 60 lbs of live rock, various hermits, emerald crab, fish and LPS. I do a 25% water change every two weeks. Use RO water, carbon,GFO in a reactor, uv, sump with macro algae and 1000ss skimmer. LED lighting 8 hrs a day. I clean my filter sock every 3 days. Phosphates 0 nitrates 5-7. I thought I was doing everything right but have lots of green and brown stringy algae. I try to siphon out what I can when doing water changes but it just comes back stronger. Some of the stringy stiff is 8 to 10" long at times. I cant keep snails the hermits just kill them. Any ideas?

 

[mnat]

Put some pictures up if you can, it could be diatoms or dinos or cyano. Each can have a different path of action to rid them.

 

[The_Codfather]

 

[dnov99]

Put some pictures up if you can, it could be diatoms or dinos or cyano. Each can have a different path of action to rid them.

+1

 

[joeb558]

+1

I did a water change yesterday and got the big stuff out. Looks like I may have a few types here.

 

[The_Codfather]

By the looks of the pics and what i can see.. it looks like Dinos.. seems very stringy with a few air bubbles.. if you see air bubbles at the tips of the snots when the lights are on it's dinos.. First off you need to do a 3 day light out to weaken them then what dnov99 (Darren) did was just keep the Blues on.. i had the same thing but i dosed hydrogen peroxide 1ml per 10gl and in 9 day they were gone

 

[joeb558]

yes before I cleaned it out there were tiny bubbles at the tips of all the strands. Thanks for the advise.

By the looks of the pics and what i can see.. it looks like Dinos.. seems very stringy with a few air bubbles.. if you see air bubbles at the tips of the snots when the lights are on it's dinos.. First off you need to do a 3 day light out to weaken them then what dnov99 (Darren) did was just keep the Blues on.. i had the same thing but i dosed hydrogen peroxide 1ml per 10gl and in 9 day they was gone

 

[joeb558]

By the looks of the pics and what i can see.. it looks like Dinos.. seems very stringy with a few air bubbles.. if you see air bubbles at the tips of the snots when the lights are on it's dinos.. First off you need to do a 3 day light out to weaken them then what dnov99 (Darren) did was just keep the Blues on.. i had the same thing but i dosed hydrogen peroxide 1ml per 10gl and in 9 day they were gone

I should have asked. What is the duration for dosing with peroxide? Is it every day for 9 days?

 

[The_Codfather]

I didn't have a big outbreak and my system is 60gl total but it took me 9 days.. it might take longer for you by the looks of it.. Darren dosed too but it only put a dent in them.. but doing a combo with lights out and just blues on with peroxide should do the job.. some info on dosing http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-discussion/52084-dinoflagellates-my-experience-h2o2-reefing-tool.html

 

[joeb558]

I have started the black out period and peroxide treatment after day two of the black out. I will post my results as I progress. After reading the tread on r2r I decided to dose earlier and will most likely turn the lights on tomorrow.

 

[The_Codfather]

I have started the black out period and peroxide treatment after day two of the black out. I will post my results as I progress. After reading the tread on r2r I decided to dose earlier and will most likely turn the lights on tomorrow.

Do a 3day light out.. Trust me Dinos are a PITA.. 3 days will not harm any corals...." It's not always sunny on a reef'

 

[wienerdog]

What was your first day dose? I know it's 1ml per 10 gal, but what is the first day dose? Do you count your sump gallonage as well?

 

[MadReefer]

You need to take entire water volume into account when dosing. I estimate about 90g total including my sump but I only dose 6ml of peroxide daily.

 

[wienerdog]

You need to take entire water volume into account when dosing. I estimate about 90g total including my sump but I only dose 6ml of peroxide daily.

Sorry to hijack....I have a 90g DT and a 30g sump=120g's So, tonight I dosed 6ml's .5ml's per 10g's for the initial dose. Tomorrow I will dose 12ml's, 1ml per 10g. I was under the impression that it should be done for 9 days then for maintenance I could dose 4-6ml's a day. Waddya think?

 

[joeb558]

What was your first day dose? I know it's 1ml per 10 gal, but what is the first day dose? Do you count your sump gallonage as well?

My first dose was the recommended 1ml per 10 gal. I have a 54 corner with a 1/2 full ten gal sump. Deducting rock displacement I figure around 50 gal of water so a total of 5ml per day of peroxide. After three days of dosing and around 56 hours of lights out I can already see an improvement. Have a ways to go but looks like things are headed in the right direction.

 

[joeb558]

Do a 3day light out.. Trust me Dinos are a PITA.. 3 days will not harm any corals...." It's not always sunny on a reef'

I will absolutely go the full three days. Corals seem fine. Been checking them with a flashlight. I also have a black cover over the glass. Not the top though. Want to keep airflow.

 

[wienerdog]

I will absolutely go the full three days. Corals seem fine. Been checking them with a flashlight. I also have a black cover over the glass. Not the top though. Want to keep airflow.

Hey Joe...following ur thread. As I am probably heading in the same direction. I have something like a turf algae, HA, and possibly some dino's. Started lights out with just actinics. May start the H2O2 dosing today. I have a 90g DT and a 30g sump...120 gallons, with the rock and equipment taken into consideration I am looking at about 110 gallons So I may dose 1ml per 10g's equalling a total of 11ml's. Any suggestions as you are a few days ahead of me.

 

[joeb558]

Hey Joe...following ur thread. As I am probably heading in the same direction. I have something like a turf algae, HA, and possibly some dino's. Started lights out with just actinics. May start the H2O2 dosing today. I have a 90g DT and a 30g sump...120 gallons, with the rock and equipment taken into consideration I am looking at about 110 gallons So I may dose 1ml per 10g's equalling a total of 11ml's. Any suggestions as you are a few days ahead of me.

Everything in the tank seems fine after dosing or three days. dinos are dieing off and the corals and fish are fine. Skimmer is behaving normally, no adjustments needed .I did get a lot of info from this recommended tread. Worth the read if you have any reservations. http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/ree...gellates-my-experience-h2o2-reefing-tool.html

 

[The_Codfather]

1ml of h2o2 per 10gl of total water with or without rocks... 100gl DT with a 20gl sump = 12ml h2o2 Do this until Dinos are gone( maybe a few days afterwards just to make sure).. 3 day light out at the beginning then just actinics on... again...It took me 9 days including lights out due to the fact I didn't have a big outbreak it might take you longer depending how bad you have them.. Dinos have never returned that was months ago

 

[wienerdog]

Great advice thanks guys. Next question. My chaeto was dying and I believe was the source of phosphates for the algae. Should I replace the chaeto in the sump with some healthy stuff with a new lamp? I replaced the bulbs with 6500K 75W CFL's.