Brown/red thin stringy algea

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I hope you can help with this.  My tank has been through so much lately.  I have had it since June of 2009.  Everything was fine at first, but was using B-Ionics and somehow my water chemistry went terribly wrong.  All readings were to high.  I have done several water changes to get back on track.  My calcium is at 420, Alk. 10-11,ph 8.0, nitrates, nitrite, phos, amonia readings are all 0. So, now I have brown/red stringy algae all over my sand bed, live rock and corals.  I am trying to raise my ph and adding magnesium.  Is there anything else I can do.  My corals are not doing well at all.  They are not opening.  I also have flatworm problem.  I treated my tank for this about 4 wks. ago with flatworm exit.  But I still have flatworms.  Please help. I forgot to tell you my salinity is 1.023.  Thanks for any advice and help.

ANSWER: Hey CArol,

Well, sounds like you got a bunch going on... Im surprised you are as composed as you are.. I would be jumpin up and down and pullin hair out of anything/anyone near by... hehehehe


I guess, I would first have to ask you what you mean by 'ALL READINGS WERE TOO HIGH'

Unless they were nitrates/ammonia/pH/and some other tests, then too high shouldnt be a problem..

i.e. calcium/ALK/MAG  cant really be TOO high...

I would also ask what size tank do you ahve... and what type of corals do you have and how much corals do you have...

Next question would be, how often do you do water changes, and how big are they, and what salt water/mix do you use???



ALSO,

Sorry, dont mean for this to sound like an interrogation... (My new forum is a little easier to carry on a 'discussion/coversation'... but for now...

also...  have you tested the NEW/Fresh salt water, PRIOR to doing a water change?




NEXT QUESTIONS regarding your 'top off water'...

What type of water are you using.. and how often and how much do you use for top off water...


The type of algea you are talking about is a PITA... it is tough and will linger...

I would suggest buying the biggest TURBO snails you can.. at least TWO of them...

and every time you see they are NOT on the algea, pick them up, spank thier butts, and put them back on top of the algae patch...


They are grounded to thier algae until it is all gone!!!

This is a patch, and not the cure...

I would suggest you test your top off water... make sure it is clean.. if you have a RO/DI filter. make sure it is operating correctly and the filters are functioning...


If you mix your own salt water and use that water, again, make sure the water is clean and has minimal TDS  (Total dissolved solids)



I would appreciate it, and i think you will understand it better if you join my new forum at www.thelittleocean.com and introduce yourself there.

We have a good community and most are kind new to intermediate level, (maybe similar to you??)

We also have a bigger community of female, and is not the typical male dominated BS forum...

Most talk is Reef related with SOME off topic 'get to know each other' type of discussions...

we have memebbers from germany, england, Canada, and all over the US




anyways, i hope to hear from you soon and hopefully we can kick some slimy brown algae butt!


good luck


Bill

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Some more information that you asked for to help me solve my problem.
Tank 40 gal. Solona HQI Pendant light 14000k Medal Halide lamp.
Test readings before problem started: Cal. 500, Alk.13, PH 7.4, Mag. Low
(not sure what reading was)Amonia 0, Nitrates 0
Started water changes every other day 9 gal. each time.  Did this for 2 wk.
Now test readings are: cal. 380, Alk.11, PH 8.0 add mag. every night now.
Tank is 8 mo. old. Corals: Montepora, candy cane, nepthitus, zoas, leather and couple other not sure the names. 2 fish,  bicolor blenny and one other blenny.  I also have flat worms, waiting on flatworm exit, it is on back order.  Ro water from my saltwater dealer, had been using Seachem salt.  I tested the stores water: PH 8.2-8.4, and salinity 1.023 the algae is still present, looks like brown red stringy spider web on everything.  What do I do now?  Please any help would be appreciated.  This algae appeared after the water readings came down some and when my ph got really low, completely drop.  Thank you, appreciate any help with this problem.

Answer
Well, i love your tank.. I really wanted to get one, but ended up getting something that looks just like it but a little bit bigger, (65g rimless cube)

I also like the disco ball lighting...

your test results are a little bit 'off', in that they dont make sense. but first off, STOP dosing the magnesium... It really wont help and it isnt needed for coral growth or critter health..It is needed for the 'chemical process' for the CALC and ALK and the waters ability to hold those minerals in balance...

If CALC or ALK were off, (just one or the other), then that would be the indication that you need to suppliment MAGnesium..

But for now, just save the money...

I have heard discussion about using MAG and having UBER high levels to combat some algaes, but, that is not the answer or cure.. It is akin to the 'rain dance' of old times.. just becuase it stopped raining after days of dancing doesnt mean it was the dancing that caused it to stop...


ALSO, i appreciate the great test results, BUT, i need/want ONE MORE.. PLEASE...

TDS on the RO/DI water .. Most algaes are from higher then normal tds resuilts on RO/DI water...

Although, i am not a firm believer that it is the 'high' level that cuases it... I think that the change in TDS or anything for that matter has a part role in problems in our tanks...

that is to say, if you used RO/DI water that had a 20tds, and you used that all the time, then your tank is used to that type of water..

but, if you used zero tds water, and then started using water that had 5ppm then your tank could explode with algae...

I dont expect my water to be zero coming out of the ro/di filter.. if it is less then my tap water then i am happy...

but some folks have an expectation that they should have zero, all the time, and when thier testing starts going up, they change out $20 for new filter...which isnt that bad, (for most folks)

but anyways, please check the ro/di water and let me know


Also, i suggest getting a larger turbo snail or two, and getting the work for you.. keep moving them back onto the alge if they stray off...

Also, maybe a sand sifting starfish, or a diamond/orange spot goby, (make sure you have a lid or screen on your tank, cause they jump)

But, get soe more action in your tank and move some sand around...


This type of algae is a pita, and it sticks around for a long while, but it will go away.  it always does... and when it does, you will look at your sand and probably think outloud how white it is, and how you cant recall the algae issues you had before...

so, hang in there