Help me with my algae problem!!!!

So here is my algae issue. It is like a brown fuzz/slim. I have had it in my tank for quite some time and can seem to get rid of it. I barely feed my tank. Maybe 1-2 times a week and the two fish I have eat all the food. My tank is going on about 4 years. I have LEDs thAt are turned down to around 20 percent which isn't a very good reference but before I had this algae issue they were around 50. I have tried a week and a half black out with no avail. The other issue I have is that everything is growing I. My tank better then it ever has. I have never had my polyps extend as far as they are right now and really don't want mess things up.

 

You're going to have to treat it if you want it gone, could be Dino, not sure, if not than a severe case of cyano. What is your pH?

How quickly does it return after manual removal?

Everybody is going to want to know phosphate and nitrate levels.

 

looks like heavy cyano to me. not at algae but rather a bacteria

 

Hi, I had cyanobacteria in new tank, no light for 1-2 days, increase flow, stop feeding, siphon gravel, get some storm and they will be gone, not in 1 day, but they will

 

while this will remove it from your field of view it will not resolve this issue causing it. and with time it will most likely reappear.... could you post your water parameters?

 

I will get parameters as soon as I get home.

I will notice it to start coming back by the next day if not earlier.

 

If you have cyano you have nutrients. Lowering bioload or increasing nutrient removal methods are what you need. Testing is moot.

 

Seems a bunch of us are getting hit with the same algae issues this month.

As Vinny said, finding the source of the nutrient is the key and by eliminating the source(s)will help resolve the problem.

Turning lights off is great but the minute the lights go back on, the problem returns.

I have to thank all the knowledge I gained from our fellow reefers because I have my cyano under control.

From all I have learned I did a few key things that have helped.

1. Lowered bioload by getting rid of a fish
2. Cut lights to 8hrs
3. Cut all natural light from windows(cyano loves this)
4. 2 small water changes per week for control but I normally do 1- 10% weekly water change regularly( blow detritus off rocks as well)
5. Vacuum the algae from substrate (i vacuum it weekly regardless)
6. Feed 1x a day and a tiny amount. Should be gone in 40 seconds
7. Cleaned all filters, skimmers etc ( nutrients will buildup in these)
8. Changed my flow, sometimes its not enough or not directed correctly
9. Added chaeto

This has helped tremendously.

 

Alk- 8.232 dkh (Hanna)
Calc. - 400ppm (Red Sea)
Mag- 1580ppm (Red Sea)
Phos. - 0.00ppm (Hanna)

These are the test I have at the moment.

 

would be worth getting your hands on a nitrate (NO3) test kit too