Attack of the Algae

So i came home from being out of town for 9 days and have had an explosion of this slimy green algae. It looks very cyano looking but obviously it is green and it has been hanging around for weeks with only growth happening.

All regular parameters are optimal, but this stuff continues to grow and is now unsightly and really becoming an eyesore. It is also encroaching on some of my coral which is not acceptable.

So here are the pics. some of these look like they may not be the same type of algae and was wanting to also show how much there is at this point.

 

I'm sorry. Some of that is from me. Aka the green stuff.

 

Looks like a Blue Green Cyanobacteria, actually pretty common. The image below is an older growth so it looks more dark green.

Reef Cleaners

Since the tank looks young you could knock it down with some API Algae Fix and with little to no worry.

Aquarium Pharmicuticals (API) Algae FIx Algaecide - Reef Central Online Community

I have used the product with good results in the past. I would not hesitate to use it, but every hobbyist have to weight their own risk.

Other hobbyist have had issues so do the research. Increasing O2 to the tank during treatment is often a suggestion.

 

Yup. I just clean it once a week. If I keep up with it I can control it. I have never tried any products to rid it.

 

I just tossed an email to reef cleaners to see what they recommend i add to my cuc.

I am not keen on chemicals and I agree with what this thread says about trying to find why it is growing. My salifert phosphate shows 0 and my api nitrate also shows 0. Both kits are less than 3 months old and are far from expiration.

With that information, What steps do I need to look into to find the source of this problem? For it being a type of Cyano it seems it should have run its course since it has been hanging around for about 6 weeks now.

 

Your test kits are not accurate in that low range.If you have cyano you have nutrients.

 

I know i have nutrients. I know I have enough for my chaeto and other macro algae to grow. I figure the reason it shows me 0 is because the cyano is sucking it all up.

I have tested my ro/di water, and my fresh mixed SW for WCs, neither are showing any nitrate or phosphate.

I don't feel that I overfeed but there is no real way I know of to really judge that.

Could my rock be leaching phosphates but not so much that it registers on my phosphate tests?

What other things can I look into?

I know there are chemicals which can help with algae reduction but that is only treating the effects and not the underlying problem.

I test my phosphates from the water entering my sump, should I get my water sample from somewhere else?

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.