reddish/brownish/maroonish algae???

valval1029

valval1029

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Aug 29, 2004
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HI! I haven't posted in awhile, but my 18 G Nano is doing great except over the last couple of weeks, there is a lot of algae on the sand and blows in the current a little. I don't really see any on the sides of tank or even on the live rock--- just on the ground (sand)...

I have stirred up the sand a few times but within a day or two it comes back... All levels are good... 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite 10ppm nitrate. Ph is hard to read but has been the same since I started in December... Somewhere between 8.4 or 8.8...

I have about 10 hermits, 10 snails, 1 green emerald crab, 1 cleaner shrimp, and 2 false percula clowns... also 1 alviopora and 1 mushroom coral...

Is this algae okay? OH- I also have 54 watts of PC lighting over tank... for about 9 hours a day... Thanks!
 
It sounds like red slim. It may start to propagate on the rock. You can just siphon it out. Also, there are antibiotics that are safe for reef tanks that is call, oddly enough, "Red Slime Remover" by Ultralife Reef Products. I have used it and it works well.
 
Yep, it sounds like cyanobacteria. I have found a regular schedule of water changes and good circulation do a pretty good job of getting rid of it in the long term.

It seems to do better when the alkalinity is low, how's yours?
 
Nope, although they're related. It's the buffering capacity of the water, basically the ability to resist changes in pH in response to addition of acid. Because the buffering in seawater and ASW is mostly carbonate, it gives a good measure of the amount of carbonate (critical for coral skeletons), as well. In my opinion, one of the most useful tests of general tank health.

There are plenty of test kits out there, but be sure to get one that provides a number, rather than simply "low" or "high." Salifert, as always, is very good. Aquarium Systems FasTest is also OK, although the quality control can be a bit variable.
 
Thanks. I'll get a kit. I just updated my pics and you can see the reddish "stuff" in the last several pictures... Do you think it is what you said?
 
HI. I have a CA 1200 pump/powerhead & a Venturi Protein Skimmer...

I actually haven't changed the water in a long time even though the test levels are good, so I'm going to do that tomorrow...
 
I think i might have that too, but its only on my glass. It comes off easliy but it'll grow back in full force after a week and a half. Is it the same thing mogrunda? It's the same color, I do a water chance once every three weeks and theres 3 maxi jet 600's in there. (29gallon). I dont know why it likes my walls so much.
 
If it's maroonish and comes off in slimy sheets, it's probably cyano. I generally see it grow on the glass in dead spots, especially where the snails can't get to it.

I get some on the substrate of the mantis nano, probably because the mantis eats anything that might stir the sand.

I am no expert in algae control, but my best luck with cyano has been to do all the things you're supposed to do, like keeping nutrients under control (careful feeding, skimming, water changes, for example), and keeping ORP and alkalinity up (water changes, lots of circulation, kalkwasser additions, etc).
 
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