unkown brown algae

[ir0n_ma1den]

I've been battling with this brown algae for months. I cannot find out what type it is but it seems like green spot algae but brown.

What is it, what causes it, and how can i get rid of it?

I've posted this thread on both APC and TPT but i cannot get a solid confirmation of what type of algae this is. I'll upload a few more pictures later tonight.

thanks

 

[Carissa]

I'm not sure, but I see gsa there too. This is evidence of low phosphate. Whatever it is, if you are dosing fertilizers correctly, it will probably go away.

 

[Mooner]

Please list all of your parameters so we may help you.

 

[ccLansman]

that picture looks like an oil pastel artists impression of "looking through the glass"

Almost looks like bba, is it fuzzy at all?

 

[Gerryd]

Looks like some slime algae (BGA) as well..........Check/clean your filters, vacuum the substrate well, add more KN03......IF that is some of what type it is.

Although a filter and substrate cleaning are never a bad thing really......

Please provide more spec as requested so we know what your setup is like......Lights, filtration, c02, dosing, substrate, all of it.

We are just guessing at this point...........

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

Here is another picture:

Okay I have a 65W 6500K light, Filstar XP1, 1x maxijet 400, eco complete, full co2 system @ 2bps, temp around 73-76F

Dosing: EI method for the 29g tank

so 2x dashes of KNO3 and 1x pinch of PO4 alternating with 1x pinch of Micros

I was doing weekly water changes of 80% but will start doing water changes of 50% next WC.

If you need any more information please ask.

No it is not fuzzy.

 

[Carissa]

Weird looking stuff. I would try a general algae removal procedure - scrape and remove, water change, do a blackout for 3 days, then crank up co2 and try double ferts for a while.

 

[Panda]

First, I would remove all the algae manually. How do you diffuse the CO2 ? how many hours a day are the lights on? why is the power head pointing upwards?
you are going 2 bps but maybe they are not reaching some parts of the tank...

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

Today I did a 50% water change and scraped it off the front glass. It comes off easily with a razor blade and is definitley a reddish-purple color.

Before today I never did anything about it except hoping it would die off by itself.

It affects everything except my Bylxa and the fish/inverts.

Lights are on for 10 hours and the same for CO2.

I diffuse CO2 through a glass diffuser.

The power head is pointing upwards for no specific reason. I got it a few days ago because I needed more flow. What direction should it be pointing?

Also before this water change, I was doing 80% WC's which might be causing the problem, but its just a hunch.

 

[Carissa]

Are you using a drop checker for your co2?

The power head should be positioned in such a way as to provide as much water flow as possible through your plant beds. That's how plants get their nutrients.

I think you need more phosphate, because you do have gsa which is indicative of low phosphate. Not sure if this would affect this other strange colored algae or not, but can't hurt to bump up your dosing.

For now I would do a 3-day blackout, and a series of water changes to suck up all that stuff once it settles to the bottom. Then dose ferts very well, crank co2 a bit more, and reduce your photoperiod to about 7 hours/day and see how it goes. If all goes well, start increasing your photoperiod 1 hour/week till you see algae, then slack back. Each week do 50% water change, dose ferts 3x/week, and algae scrape once/week before the water change.

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

Thanks Carissa I will follow your instructions.

I do have a drop checker but do not have 4dhk water...

 

[Carissa]

It's easy to make, if you have a KH test kit. Just get a bottle of distilled water, add a very small amount of baking soda to about two cups or so, test it, and just keep diluting it down until you get around 4KH. It doesn't have to be exact, within .5 degree should still work ok.

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

After scraping it off, doing a 3 day blackout, and using bleach, the problem STILL persists.


Ugh...

I'm am getting real close to scrapping this tank and starting fresh.

Does anyone have a clue on what this type of algae is?

 

[Carissa]

Did you increase ferts and co2, and reduce your photoperiod? Removing algae won't get rid of it, if the underlying conditions remain. Algae is more of a parasite than a disease, it crops up when conditions are good and dies back when conditions change. It's not a disease that can be wiped out completely.

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

Yes I did increase ferts/CO2, and reduced my photoperiod.

I am beginning to think that this isn't even algae.