Algae problem

[AngieRN]

Ok, I need help! I have a several types of algae in my tank and I don't know why I have diatoms, bubble algae, red slime algae, Cyanobacteria, and (I think) hair algae!

Here are my current parameters:
Nitrates: 0
Phosphates: 0
pH: 8.2
Salinity: 1.023
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Temp: 76-78

I'm using a ecoxotic panoramic LED fixture for reef tank and my protein skimmer is working properly. Does anyone know what the problem might be and how to fix it? Ignore the aptasia; I'm currently treating it with joe's juice & peppermint shrimp

Hair algae

[/URL][/IMG]


Red slime & some cyano (?)







Bubble algae

 

[PSU4ME]

What do you have for a clean up crew? What are your water params? What do you feed and how often? What's your water source?

 

[PSU4ME]

I meant how are you testing your water params, what kind of kits!?!?

 

[AngieRN]

What do you have for a clean up crew? I have 10-15 blue leg hermits, 20+ Astraea snails, ~8 Mexican turbo snails, an urchin, a serpent star, a brittle star, 2 peppermint shrimp, an emerald crab, several (not sure how many) certify snails, and a fighting conch. I also have a yellow tang and a scribbled rabbitfish that graze all day. What are your water params? These are listed above, but everything is within normal range. I also forgot to include KH, which is ~10 and calcium, which is 380 ( a little low) What do you feed and how often? Frozen shrimp twice a week and newlife spectrum twice per day. What's your water source? I only use RO/DI water.

That should say cerith snails, not certify, lol

 

[AngieRN]

I meant how are you testing your water params, what kind of kits!?!?

I use API saltwater master test kit & API reef master test kit

 

[goma]

Pick the bubble algae off being careful not to break them and toss in trash. Water source?? RO/DI??

 

[AngieRN]

Yes, it's RO/DI and I just changed my filters in the unit about a month and a half ago :/

 

[PSU4ME]

Darn, all sounds good. Maybe it's just leaching from your rocks.

 

[AngieRN]

It's really got me scratching my head, lol...and it's growing and spreading every day!! I've had this tank for about 8 years and I've never seen anything like this!

 

[Oxylebius]

It's really got me scratching my head. I've had this tank for about 8 years and I've never seen anything like this!

Has this recently started to be an issue? What have you done differently lately? New lights?

 

[AngieRN]

Yes, it started about 3-4 weeks ago, and I did switch my lights around the same time...I had 2-250w metal halides and switched to the panoramic LEDs

 

[Oxylebius]

Yes, it started about 3-4 weeks ago, and I did switch my lights around the same time...I had 2-250w metal halides and switched to the panoramic LEDs

Culprit? New light spectrum set off the algae?

Correlation does not imply causation, but it sure seems like it here.

 

[AngieRN]

Right now, lights are on ~ 10hrs/day. Should I reduce it to maybe 6-7 hrs to see if that helps?

On a positive note, I was able to gently remove all the bubble algae except 3 little ones that I can't reach. Maybe the emerald crab will take care of those...

 

[Oxylebius]

Try running at 8 hrs a day.

 

[AngieRN]

Ok, thanks. I'll try that