Need an Algae ID

[shift_9k]

Here are some pics guys, I dont know what it is, but it seems to grow in patches all over the tank. The rocks are free of this stuff, its just the glass, back and power head seem to fall victim. Oh and the magfloat is terrible at cleaning this stuff. I have to go over each part over and over and over again before it comes off.

So what is it? Whats the best way to get rid of it?

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooob

 

[shift_9k]

I added some red arrows to point out the tiny white specs. Pods?

 

[saltwater4life]

woah never seen that type of algae is it pieces of hair algae

 

[shift_9k]

The strange thing is that there is none, i mean nothing on the rocks.

 

[socal57chevy]

Pics are blurry, but looks like green hair to me. What are your water parameters? Particularly phosphate and total dissolved solids.
What type of lighting do you have and is your tank exposed to sunight *SUNSMILE* at any time during the day?

What does the waste from your skimmer look like...is it adjusted properly?

 

[shift_9k]

I got my phosphate checked since I didnt have a kit for it. It was .50 i remember ....not sure. The guy told me phosban and my tank died. Now the tank has restabilized. I dont have a skimmer, its a 24g Aquapod with 150HQI MH.



*edit* And no sunlight at anytime during the day. Walkout Basement with black curtains. No light gets in at all, I can be sort of a vampire at times.

 

[socal57chevy]

I got my phosphate checked since I didnt have a kit for it. It was .50 i remember ....not sure.

I dont have a skimmer, its a 24g Aquapod with 150HQI MH.

Phos level should be 0.0 to 0.03ppm

Introduce a phosphate magnet and do some serious water changes.
.10ppm is considered critical and at .25ppm coral growth is retarded.
.50ppm is waaayyy too high.

 

[socal57chevy]

BTW you should be skimming. A skimmer removes particulates from your water and will help curb unwanted algae growth improve overall water quality.

 

[Pure]

Just a guess but the tiny white specs are snail eggs.

 

[shift_9k]

I've read a skimmer is overkill on such a small tank. Since there is no refuge or anyother overflow type piping I havent even found a good HOB skimmer for a nano that works well or fits.

 

[Lorna]

Actually a skimmer on a 24g is not overkill.....you can get away with it but you need to be dilligent and relentless on waterchanges and constantly be monitoring for nitrates and phosphates. Aqua remora makes a nano hob skimmer that if it is anything like the full size model is very efficient. I have a cpr bakpak2 rr on my 29 and it pulls alot of stuff out that amazes me.

 

[socal57chevy]

As Lorna mentioned Aqua C makes a great skimmer designed specifically for nanos. Any marine tank will benefit from a skimmer. BTW I read some of your thread on your tank setup. A refractometer is the only good way to test your SG/salinity. Swing arm hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate. Your test kit should contain tests for the following:

Test kits for the following:
pH
Carbonate Hardness (KH,dKH)
Calcium
Phosphate
Ammonia
Nitrate
Nitrite
Strontium
Iron
Iodine
Dissolved Solids/Redox if you want to test for water "purity"...your water's ability ro "reduce" and "oxidize" contaminants. (google it for a better explanation)

 

[socal57chevy]

..........milzed................

Here's a link I found concerning water tests.
Testing the Water

and one about redox testing:Aquarium Redox Potential; How it relates to proper aquatic health

hey mods...if these links are inappropriate please remove them

 

[zoalover34]

the white dots to me look like encrusting (sp) snails

 

[socal57chevy]

Totally forgot your white speck issue. Hard to tell from the pics. Try to get a better pic. They could be isopods or spirorbis (tiny cornet worm)...need better pic to ID them.
Are they spiral shaped?
Do they cling to the glass with one end and sway in the current?
They are hard to scrape off, right? If so prolly not isopods.

 

[Lorna]

Great articles on redox and water testing.......thanks!

 

[socal57chevy]

glad to help. I didn't know if the links were allowed or not. I'm also a member on another saltwater board...tons of great info to share.

 

[shift_9k]

I have most of those testers, lookin into a refracto soon. But this algae, what should be the best way to limit it? Its not growing on the rocks. Oh and my tank is getting really really cloudy with those white specs all over the place!

heres a crappy video link of it. check it out!

YouTube - Aquapod Reef

 

[Lorna]

nice rockwork....not sure about the white specks.... Need a good clear close up

 

[shift_9k]

Cool i'll post up some pics then.