orange algae now with video!

i have this orange algae thats taken over my tank worse than my GHA. it started around the suction cup for my powerhead and spread like crazy. i scrape the glass and within 5 hrs u cant see through it anymore. and its like dust when i scrape it. ill post a vid in the AM and my water perams. im thinking its time for another blackout like i had to do for the cyano. any thoughts?

YouTube - orange algae

5 gal water change is done every week. current tank temp is 77 degrees it varies between 76 and 80. perams will be added after the algae settles and i can get a clean sample

 

Send some pics here

 

if it grows that fast it almost sounds like dinoflagellates!

 

bump for video

 

lol I had some orange algae too orange as a carrot XD

 

Cyanobacteria

 

It looks like a fairly new tank. How long has it been set up? The reason I ask is that what I'm seeing is a very bad case of diatoms. But don't worry too much if that is what it is. They will all die off when the silicates (present in any new set up) are used up. You will see diatoms any time you add any new plastics to your tank, ie. new pumps, pvc but not so severe.

 

ok i didnt think it was diatoms i figured they were more of a brown than a bright orange. i never got a diatom bloom when i started the tank in march. i guess it finally came lol. my anemone hasnt stayed in the same place since this started it keeps moving back and forth. any ideas on how to make it happy again? it was securly footed in the front center of the tank for a week when i got it. im just worried about the nem the fish are fine. also it smells really bad lol. should i do another water change? could it be because i used distilled water from target instead of the distilled i usually get from walmart? i know i need an rodi unit but i bought a skimmer this week so thats waiting till after christmas

 

If the tank was set up in March then it wouldn't be diatoms. I would definitely keep up with the water changes and test for nitrates/phosphates. You'll need to find the source of the problem to fix it or anything you do will just be a "band-aid"

 

1. use RODI or equivalent 0 TDS water when mixing your saltwater.

2. Increase your flow.

3. Test for nitrates and phosphates. find out what is causing your nitrates and phosphates to be so high and reduce them.

4. Are you running a skimmer? if not, get one.

5. remove as much of the algae as possible by hand or by sucking it out with an airline tube.

6. make several 25% water changes, using the new 0TDS water with salt mix.


If you don't do all of the above, it will be very difficult to get rid of your algae.

It can also help to run ecobak pellets, but this is optional, and really won't fix the problem until you're doing all of the above.