black stringy algae

[greystreet41]

hey guys, still having this problem. I've done the things I can think to do as a newbie...increased water flow thinking they were only dead spots, increased water changes, monitored my lighting on/off times more consistently. one of the lfs recommended meds, but I declined on that one. Copper was even suggested as I presently have FOWLR. Phosphates, nitrites and nitrates are not a culprit either. It begins to accumulate only 2 days or so after I do my water changes. It's not as visible (if at all) on my LR and base rock as it is on my substrate which is CC. suggestions please...thanks,
casey

[aquaman67]

Does it look like this?

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/561/13805dinoflagellates_on_sand_bed.JPG

If so it's dinoflagellates.

It's kinda like cyano or red slime, hard to get rid of.

You can search ( I hate to do that to you) or post in the reef forum for better help. I've never had them so I'm not too sure how to fix it.

You did good by not using copper with live rock...that would have been bad.

Good luck, sorry I wasn't more helpful!

[Countzer0]

if it looks like the picture above increase your waterflow and it will help alot there is also a new product on the market that is supposed to be reef safe and inert safe that rocks ... I'll post tomarrow the product name it alludes me at the moment.

[greystreet41]

thanks guys, it does look like that but even thicker, but definitely that wavy, stringy lengthy texture and consistency. I'll take a pic of it tonight before I do my water change here soon.

[Countzer0]

yeah scoop out what you can and thow a powerhead on it and it will make a world of diffrence

[fishdoc11]

Whatever you do don't use copper, whoever suggested that is an idiot. How long has your tank been setup?
Chris

[greystreet41]

:lol: thanks fishdoc, it's been set up about 10 months now as FOWLR. Actually, the guy he suggested the copper product said it was something new that doesn't affect inverts, but he wasn't adamant about it. I'll find out exactly what it was called. The guy actually is a nice guy, he was just brainstorming on ideas for me.

[fishdoc11]

Are there silicates in your top off water?

[rcmike]

Yeah, the copper would probably cause more algae because of all the nutrients from all the dead stuff in the live rock that it killed.

[greystreet41]

It seems my black algae problem started about a month ago after I put some coral skeletons in as well as a pipe organ skeleton we picked up while in Florida last month. I'm hoping there's a correlation in there some where but probably not. They're out now...we'll see.

[rcmike]

That is possible. The skeletons could be leaching phosphates into the water and the algae is taking it up so fast you can't detect it.

[reefstyle]

Looks like cyno, you should remove as much as you can, more flow is a great idea, plus you can add a product called chem clean to remove cyno bact with 24-48 hrs. Help this helps. Dennis:D

[gflat65]

How old are your lights? My just be a conincidence, but when my lights start to go, I usually see a thin film of cyano for a couple of days after changing lights. Could the be skeletons, though. They could be acting as phosphate tabs.

[greystreet41]

actually it also started about the time I got my new lights too. I'll know over the next few days if there's any change

[gflat65]

Now that you mention it, I had a friend who put a new pc setup over his 42 hex and it immediately covered in cyano. I couldn't think of why new lights would cause that (definitively). Anyone got any ideas?