[gordont]

Is this diatom algae. I know that it is common in new tanks but my tank is almost five years old. I haven't added anything new or done anything to encourage it's growth. My tank is a 175 with diverted filtration, RO, and Coral Reef's Denitrification unit with Phosphagone. My phosphates don't register high and my PH is 8.18. The lighting for the system is 4 6' VHO's. I have been doing water changes more recently than normal in the hopes to help and the system has a auto top-off system. Any idea what the source for the growth is and what I could do to get rid of it.

[jimw369]

Hey Gordont! I see you have 6 years experience so I am assuming you know what you are talking about. The areas you show look concentrated and Diatome are usually spread out and brownish over a larger area sometimes over the entire tank.

To be honest it looks like old Red slime that is on its way out. Just MHO

[plecosword]

eww its brown! lol

[sarha]

have you changed your blubs in your lights? light bulbs loose thier light spectrum when they age and can cause favorable growing conditions for that type of algea

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by sarha

have you changed your blubs in your lights? light bulbs loose thier light spectrum when they age and can cause favorable growing conditions for that type of algea

What type of algae is it?

[gordont]

Thanks for the ideas; as for the bulbs they are just under a year old. I have been told in the past that I should be able to get 12-16 months out of them. If anyone has any other insight in that please let me know. I plan to try leaving the lights off for a few days to see what impact that would have. The things that concerns me is that yes it may knock it down or out but the spores and food source for the algae are still available for repopulation. This is what I feel all of us battle and finding a way to control this is where the secret is. Please lets open a productive dialog and set up some paths of action so all of us can get control or at least manage the dreaded algae bloom.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by gordont

Thanks for the ideas; as for the bulbs they are just under a year old. I have been told in the past that I should be able to get 12-16 months out of them. If anyone has any other insight in that please let me know. I plan to try leaving the lights off for a few days to see what impact that would have. The things that concerns me is that yes it may knock it down or out but the spores and food source for the algae are still available for repopulation. This is what I feel all of us battle and finding a way to control this is where the secret is. Please lets open a productive dialog and set up some paths of action so all of us can get control or at least manage the dreaded algae bloom.

Your corals need light if you have any ( I assumed you did)

Cut back on your light cycle dont shut it down completely you are starving corals that need the light.

Im sorry I assumed after 6 years you had battled this stuff before.

Decease light cycle
Increase flow to affected areas
Check phosphates and Nitrates and do water changes as needed to lower these
Change bulbs
Cut back on feedings and dosing(if you are dosing plankton or zooplex)
Check salt for silicates
Remove as much of algae as possible without spreading it to rest of tank
Run Phosphate removal media as needed (phosphate reactor)
Remove juice from frozen food before feeding
Make sure skimmer is working properly and is clean

If you want post your tank params along with your tank set up. That might nail down the source of your problem. Bubble sponges,cannister filters, bio-balls, Bio wheels, not using RO/DI water are all things that open us up to pest algaes.

Here is a little read about Cyano. Not saying for sure this is what you have but just a little more knowledge on something I guess.
http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/n...-rid-them.html

[sarha]

looks to me like cyanobacterq bloom here a link to helpREEF JANITORS -REEF AQUARIUM RED SLIME CONTROL

[sarha]

i agree with jim on everything but the decrease light cycle
i would increase it to burn it out so to speak

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by sarha

i agree with jim on everything but the decrease light cycle
i would increase it to burn it out so to speak

Bad advice. IMHO

Please back up your advice with an article or quote from some one with extensive reef keepping experience.

I am prepared to do the same. Let me know when you are ready.

Is there a moderator here on RB that says,"do NOT decrease your light cycle with red slime spreading in your tank"? Is there a moderator here at RB that would say, "INCREASE your light cycle to help burn off red slime"?

If I am wrong here I will really have to eat humble pie!

[sarha]

go to my link go down to "things to do while you wait" also hasd worked every time in mine for the past 6 years (i've only had the problem twice though)

[sarha]

read number nine
Cyanobactera, Red Slime Algae help - Nano-Reef.com Forums

[sarha]

heres another one but i can't seem to find anything that supports the idea of decreasing light
Algae Control

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by sarha

read number nine
Cyanobactera, Red Slime Algae help - Nano-Reef.com Forums

9) You can consider reducing lighting but this is often of little help

Please read this sentence carefully. The author is not saying decreasing lighting does not help. The author actually says, "You can consider reducing lighting"...
The author says, "often (what is often) of little help. He is saying, "little help".

7) has an EXTREMELY FAST growth rate and can double every 20 minutes

I would like to call your attention to #7

If I can, "consider reducing lighting," and it might be of little help then thats just what Im going to do. Red Slime out of control as #7 suggests can happen can over run and ruin your tank.

[sarha]

another interesting read on the subject About Red Slime Algae - Cyanobacteria - in Saltwater Aquariums - What Red Slime Algae Is - What Makes It Grow & Solutions for Eliminating

[sarha]

Originally Posted by jimw369

9) You can consider reducing lighting but this is often of little help

Please read this sentence carefully. The author is not saying decreasing lighting does not help. The author actually says, "You can consider reducing lighting"...
The author says, "often (what is often) of little help. He is saying, "little help".

what i got for that is it wasn't worth the effort to decrease the lighting because it is of little help

[sarha]

Originally Posted by jimw369

9) You can consider reducing lighting but this is often of little help

Please read this sentence carefully. The author is not saying decreasing lighting does not help. The author actually says, "You can consider reducing lighting"...
The author says, "often (what is often) of little help. He is saying, "little help".

7) has an EXTREMELY FAST growth rate and can double every 20 minutes

I would like to call your attention to #7

If I can, "consider reducing lighting," and it might be of little help then thats just what Im going to do. Red Slime out of control as #7 suggests can happen can over run and ruin your tank.

because it grows so fast one can fight fire with fire increase the lighting and let it desimate its food source no food source no algae
the point i am trying to make is that it is such a fast groing algea that it will burn itself out if you allow it to do so
the first time i encountered this algea i was in the dark living in a town of 400 people no internet and a few books the lfs is 2 hrs away i tried everything i could think of to get rid of this junk not knowing then the main causes of the porblem it was an uphill battle finnally i decided to leave the light on continually and in 2 days, after fight ing it for seamingly months it was gone so we tcan throw links at each other all night to suppwrt both sides but all i know is what worked for me, and frankly after six years exsperiance
i'm going to stick by what i learnd at the school of "hard knocks"

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by sarha

heres another one but i can't seem to find anything that supports the idea of decreasing light
Algae Control

John Tullock!!! I have several of his books!

Very knowledgeable man. Been around and seen much. His book on "Natural Reef Aquariums" is the best on that subject I have read yet.

He follows it up with "Saltwater Aquarium Models".

I also have enjoyed his book "Water Chemistry for the Marine Aquarium"

The first book I bought of his was "Successful Saltwater Aquarium" a beginners guide. I bought that the same time I bought Saltwater for Dummies. LOL

I will check out the indexes in these books and see what he says about Cyano. I know he mentions it but I do not remember any treatment he recomends.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by sarha

because it grows so fast one can fight fire with fire increase the lighting and let it desimate its food source no food source no algae
the point i am trying to make is that it is such a fast groing algea that it will burn itself out if you allow it to do so
the first time i encountered this algea i was in the dark living in a town of 400 people no internet and a few books the lfs is 2 hrs away i tried everything i could think of to get rid of this junk not knowing then the main causes of the porblem it was an uphill battle finnally i decided to leave the light on continually and in 2 days, after fight ing it for seamingly months it was gone so we tcan throw links at each other all night to suppwrt both sides but all i know is what worked for me, and frankly after six years exsperiance
i'm going to stick by what i learnd at the school of "hard knocks"

Im still waiting for a link that supports NOT reducing your light cycle.

When would you like me to post my resources supporting a reduced light cycle? How many would you like and it will take me some time to post all that I can find.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by sarha

what i got for that is it wasn't worth the effort to decrease the lighting because it is of little help

I got ,"you can consider it".

[sarha]

bring them on big guy what have you been whating for

[sarha]

Originally Posted by jimw369

Im still waiting for a link that supports NOT reducing your light cycle.

When would you like me to post my resources supporting a reduced light cycle? How many would you like and it will take me some time to post all that I can find.

well you wouln't expect me to argue your side would you that wouldn't be any fun now would it

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by sarha

another interesting read on the subject About Red Slime Algae - Cyanobacteria - in Saltwater Aquariums - What Red Slime Algae Is - What Makes It Grow & Solutions for Eliminating

This is from your link:

Because they interact with light to absorb only certain wavelengths, pigments are useful to plants and other autotrophs --organisms which make their own food using photosynthesis. In plants, algae, and cyanobacteria

Cut the light you cut the food.

I will start my list supporting my beliefs tomorrow. Ill start with the link you posted above.

I am still waiting for 1 from you.

I do value our relationship here at RB. If you feel the least bit of animosity for me then I want to stop. Fair?

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by sarha

bring them on big guy what have you been whating for

Thankyou! Ive never been accused of that before.

[rlcline76]

OMG
Nothing to do on a Saturday night?
lol