Does anybody know what this stuff is and how to get rid of it? It has appeared on everything in the tank. Removed it from the glass and used toothbrush on some of the DIY rocks but not on the live rock. It has been white not green and slimey feeling.
http://sklawiter.com/images/IMG_0411.jpg
The alkalinity is low and calcium is high. Using reef builder to raise alkalinity.
all other parameters are ok
90 gal, 2-250 MH, 2 VHO actinics
NO3 - 0
PO4 - <.1
NO2 - 0
NH4 - 0
PH - 8.2
Ca - 600+
Alk - 0
Sp gravity 1.025
RO/DI with <4ppm TDS
Tank had only been set up 6 weeks and this showed up after 3

By the way I have been listening to the podcast and almost caught up now that I have a MP3 player. They have been very informative. Keep up the good work.

I'm not sure about the white feathery stuff and I can't wait to see the outcome. However your calcium is at 600+ I am assuming 600ppm? If thats the case thats a little high and i would consider bringing it down a little. IMO of course.

If your calcium could reach that high a level.. I would imagine that you had a snow storm and you are seeing precipitation of calcium carbonate. Otherwise *shudder* it looks like hydroids!

Dave

i agree dave, it almost looks like bleached out macro algae that is powder coated like from a Ca precip event.

also the Ca that high is because your Alk is so low.. you have your Ca/Alk balance all out of whack, i bet it was a precip (precipitation) event in there

not to impose on his question and problem but I have the same stuff but green, what kind of macroalgea is that?

Duke,

I'm still not sold that this is an algae or not. If you have something that looks like that, but green, it could be common hair algae, or bryopsis. Another, that looks similar, but is a different algae all together is Maiden's Hair.

Google em :)

Dave

is there a site I can go to that has descriptions of different types of these pests? That shows pics as well?

I have them in little single strands but they look like individual feathers they are not clumped altogether like that.

if it is feathery, and very tiny, it could be bryopsis. If it is feathery, and a larger (macro) algae, it is could be caulerpa taxifolia.

I'm not sure about any one stop source for ID of this kind of thing.. but Renee (SeahorseDreams) is putting some kind of a "What-s-it" post together. Maybe she'll chime in here.

Dave

Sarah Lardizabal has a great article in reefkeeping this month on macro algae
including a section on "Dealing with Nuisance Macroalgae"
This section also includes great links and information on how to identify the macro algae in your system
here is a link
Beyond the Refugium: A Macroalgae Primer by Sarah Lardizabal - Reefkeeping.com (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-01/sl/index.php)

oh great thanks Rob, and thanks DavidP :)

:stupid: *sigh* and I've been praising Sarah for all of her work... why didn't I think of this too.. Rob...this is the second time ya got me today :) I need more coffee... BRB

D

:stupid: *sigh* and I've been praising Sarah for all of her work... why didn't I think of this too.. Rob...this is the second time ya got me today :) I need more coffee... BRB

D
lol.. we cover each other, thats what were are here for.. :)

All that looking and I found out that it is simple hair algea but a different type of hair algea. Anyway there wasnt much so I removed almost all of it, with the understanding that it might be back.

a bleached hair algae wt calcium deposits on them?

no not me steveK my hair algea is green.

Okay it been a little while since I took that first picture.
I have my calcium down to the 500-520 range, still have low alkalinty most of the time but once in awhile it is normal. ph also tend to be 8-8.2. I have been using Seachem's Reef builder to raise Alkalinity and Reef buffer to raise the ph. Seem to be a constant struggle for those two, is this normal? Any opinion on this product or maybe something else to try? I had also tried a little of the Seachem Marine buffer but did not see much difference.
I took a couple pictures tonight which I will post below.
I still get a film on the glass which in the past if it was not taken off with the Mag float would then to form the clumps show below.
I have taken these types of clumps out and they do look somewhat like the bryopsis but not very green IMO. Should they at least be greener if it is bryopsis? The white particals are from running the mag float over the glass and hit the gravel just before the picture.
http://sklawiter.com/images/IMG_1078.jpg
I also have at least 3-4 other macros (that I do not want vs two I want to keep). I can post pictures if needed. I have what looks like feather Caulerpa, grape Caulerpa (grapes off one side only), Neomeris sp. - caterpillar weed or spindle weed and bubble algea which you can see below.
How do I go about getting rid of the nuisance algea? Is the tuffs/feather stuff algea in this picture even thought it never gets green. It look similar to the picture above to me. Any ideas how would I get rid of this Bryopsis type stuff? It does not come off if I just try to use a toothbrush on it.
http://sklawiter.com/images/IMG_1075.jpg
Thanks for all the help.
Steve

have u try to manually siphon them out. u can use the pipette thats used for target feeding.

Naw, I don't have a pic of that for it's probably a change in something commonly seen brought on by the out of whack water chemistry.

The organic matter in your tank is fueling the algae growth. There are a lot of factors that encourage it's growth but a food source has to be present to support it.

What exactly do you add to the tank.... anything besides the buffer? How often do you change your water? How much do you change at a time? What salt mix do you use or what is your saltwater source.

Your struggle is common but not normal. We need to get to the bottom of it or you'll be fighting it forever with additives and evetually everything will bottom out again... and possibly worse.

Target calcium between 350 - 450.

Instead of hitting ya with a 1000 questions at once I guess we could start there.

I would also test for Mg and CO2.

Sorry it has taken so long but more travel than I care for.
Water changes of 10-15 gal / month. Use Coralife salt with water from my RO/DI system. Just checked water from yesterday and it is 003 ppm TDS.
Just tested the water today. Changed 15 gallons of water 6 days ago.
NO3 - 0
PO4 - 0
NO2 - 0
NH4 - 0
PH - 8.1
Ca - 480
Alk - 1.0
Mg - 1500
Sp gravity 1.024

How and why would you check CO2 if you do not have a calc reactor?

Any thoughts or other things I should look at?

Thanks
Steve

CO2 can be fueling that nuisance algae problem you got going on over there.

Ca and Mg are very nice. What's that measurement for Alk... what "units"?

I believe that it was meq
Is there a test for co2?

8 - 8.2 is pretty normal for PH. Be careful adding buffers and alk dosing at the same time, I would just stick with getting the alkalinity up to normal. What units are displaying your alk as, meg/l, dkh, or ppm, and what brand kit? High Co2 usually also shows up as depressed PH, but yours is pretty normal, I believe Salifert makes a kit for testing CO2. Doing several large water changes will help to bring everything back to normal. It would be a good idea to test your water change water after mixing and make any necessary adjustments to it prior to adding it to your tank. You should also be testing for Mg.

You should also be testing for Mg.

He did. It was 1500 with a calcium of 480. That's pretty balanced.

Red Sea also has a CO2 test which is pretty cheap. Usually all you should be dosing is a 2 part calcium and water changes should take care of the rest.

He did. It was 1500 with a calcium of 480.

Now how the heck did I miss that. :rolleyes: