Algae taking over tank

About two months ago I added a pistol shrimp and goby in hopes to get them to pair. After a week of the addition it seems that the shrimp dug up the dead in my sand and I got a massive algae infestation. I first thought it was cyano and I would easily just fight that off with some syphoning into a filter sock and weekly water changes. Water changes seemed to make this stuff worse (using reef crystals salt mix). So I stopped with the water changes and added phosguard for a week straight to soak up any phosphates. That did nothing but piss off my leather coral. Nitrates continue to test 0 and I currently can't test for phosphates because I'm out of kits, but guessing they are close to 0 also after all that phosguard. Brushing the stuff doesn't work either because it's really attached to the rockwork unless I use a wire brush. This stuff turns stringy and if I remove it, by the time I get to the other side of the tank it starts growing again. Did a blackout for 2 days and that kinda did the trick but it came back. Currently I added some chaeto in the first section of my aqueon proflex sump under the filter socks before the skimmer and biopellet reactor. I've been running vodka and then biopellets for about 7-8 months with no issues whatsoever. Really considering a restart of the tank if it doesn't get any better. I'm a rookie in need of assistance lol....took some iphone pics, hope they are clear enough for you guys to see this stuff I got growing.

 

Last 2 pics look like dino. Take a look here...

Problem Dinoflagellates and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

I was thinking dino also especially since he said it gets worse after water changes and that phosguard hasn't helped.

 

ugh that's what I was afraid of. I'm reading through the article now.

 

What kind of water are you using?

 

i have a 4 stage RO/DI unit from BRS

 

This is the same stuff I have been dealing with, just never had a good enough camera to take a pic that could be seen of it.

 

i'm going to follow the article, continue with the manual removal and up the carbon that i have in the system, i'll throw the phosguard back in as well to try and soak up all the additional phosphates if any

have you had any luck?

 

NOPE! I just read that entire article. I haven't tried raising my Ph though. I have been siphoning it out daily, extra water changes, but like you said and in my case it grows back by the following morning. It also said to lower the light cycle. I just moved and thought it was part of the cycling process? I guess that was wrong! Only thing I can think of is my next big clean, which will be tomorrow is to completely clean out my sump so that my return isnt shooting that crap right back up into my tank? I'm at a loss after that

 

my PH is at a steady 8.1-8.2 i'm a little worried about raising it to 8.5ish