Still Getting Nuisance Algae

Hi Guys,

I am hoping that someone will tell me that I am missing something, but I am still getting nuisance algae. I found two pieces of bubble algae in my tank last week that I safely removed and seem to be experiencing a cyano outbreak. It isn't bad, but anything is bad to me. I haven't added anything and nothing had died. The only thing that has really changed at all is that I changed my GFO media and my carbon last week. Nothing else has changed. I have cut my feedings back and only feed for 2 minutes every day. I alternate feeding them nori and frozen food that I rinse with RO/DI water. I don't think that a lot of food goes to waste, but it is possible that I am still overfeeding. I use RO/DI water for water changes and I just replaced my DI cartridge. My TDS reads at 0 to 0.1. I do weekly water changes of 5 gallons. I know that flow is the answer to cyano but I just don't see adding more without blowing things away. I messed with my powerhead placement yesterday for about an hour and didn't really change much. I toyed with adding a Koralia 1 pointed directly across the bottom front (where the problem seems to be) but it was blowing my zoa's and lavender mushroom away. My actninic lights come on at 8 in the morning and go off at 8 at night. My white lights come on at 10 in the morning and go off at 6. I was wondering if changing the carbon and GFO media at the same time would have caused an imbalance. If not, does anyone know what else I can try? Thanks in advance!!!

Regards,
Ivy

My last readings we tested on Oct. 2:

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Phosphate: 0 ppm
Magnesium: 1485 ppm
Calcium: 440 ppm
Alkalinity: 11 DKH

 

You might try running your issues past reefcleaners.org and seeing if your CUC is lacking in any areas. I think there is a crab that eats bubble algea... not sure about cyano

 

When bubble algae pops it releases spores in your tank and well... starts the chain of growth all over again... What you did by removing it is your best thing to do.. Cynao is just a P.I.A. to get rid of... What i try to do to help get rid of it is to Cyphon it out during a water change.. Also if you have one.. check and make sure you Skimmer is workin properly or it may be time for some good ole fashion Rutine maintance..

Just a couple ideas..

Best of Luck...

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I think that my CUC is okay, but I think I might have too many hermits. I haven't seen as many nassarius or florida ceriths lately. I have to order from reefcleaners again but I am waiting for John to get an emerald crab in for me. I was really afraid of popping the bubble algae so I took the whole rock out. I was surprised to see how hard the bubbles actually was. They just rolled right off.

My skimmer seems to be working okay. I have to empty it about twice a week. I keep raking and scraping with my siphon on to get rid of it as I can. i just did a 10 gallon water change Sunday and it was there by Monday afternoon. Just trying to figure out where I am going wrong. Thanks again!!!

Regards,
Ivy