What the #%$ is this?

[rachekc]

Can someone tell me what this stringy (algae?) is? It started about a month ago and has seem to have gotten worse. I clean the tank and scoop out the strings which breaks apart very easily but the next morning it comes back. What is it? and How do I get rid of it?

0 Nitrites
8.0 pH
80ppm Nitrate
Alkalinity 120ppm
0 Ammonia
80.4 Temp.
SG 1.028

I run a single AI Hydra LED light that is programmed to run at 60% power.

 

[salt_for_brains]

It looks like a bacterial bloom. Are you dosing carbon?

OR you have an overload of vermetid snails.

 

[rachekc]

It looks like a bacterial bloom. Are you dosing carbon?

OR you have an overload of vermetid snails.

The only thing that I dose is Iodide and no vermetid snails that I know of. I haven't put any in there and haven't seen any.

 

[Aquarian]

I think it's bacterial, I get a small bloom every year as the weather gets warmer.

 

[salt_for_brains]

It really looks like a bacterial bloom. Your nitrates are pretty high. What is your water change routine? Are you using RO/DI water? Are you running a skimmer?

 

[ReeferRob]

Yea, that looks like a bacterial bloom of some sort. You need to get those nitrates down.

 

[rachekc]

I do use RO/Di water and a skimmer although I would have to admit I do not have a change "routine" just change on a weekend if I have time and top off when needed. Do you think water changes and getting the nitrates down will get rid of it?

 

[ReeferRob]

Water changes will help. Check your RO water too. Something happened to my membrane and I started getting algae like mad. With the new membrane and extra prefiltering I'm good now.

 

[rachekc]

Hey just to update everyone on this algae.

I went to our local saltwater aquarium store and showed the guys there a picture of the algae. These guys are very good with aquariums and have always been a good source of knowledge for me. They immediately identified it a Dinoflagellates. They recommended adding SeaGel to my filter to remove the phosphates and silicates from the water. He also recommended cutting my lighting to 8 hours/day.

I will start an new thread on my light schedule and hope you can assist me.

Thank you for all your inputs, it is greatly appreciated.