I need help please!! DINO?? not DINO? how to fix it!??

Discussion in 'Algae' started by GSUBiology, Nov 26, 2012.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. GSUBiology

    GSUBiology Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2012
    Messages:
    226
    This would be true if the water in the barrel had phosphates. It doesn't. At least not that I can tell from my test kit. I only use my RO water.
    I barely feed, and I have only 2 shrimp, 1 star and a big hermit crab. I really don't know where the phosphates are coming from.
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. GSUBiology

    GSUBiology Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2012
    Messages:
    226
  4. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2012
    Messages:
    7,660
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Try to get in and pull out as much as you can. Use a siphon as well.....it's disturbing looking, that's for sure. I'm not seeing the bubbles like you see in dino. I think the piece of advice to treat it like dino is probably the best. If it's any kind of regular algae, the GFO and carbon should help. You really need to get in an remove as much as can as soon as you can. I'm sorry your tank is experiencing this. You have been so cautious and thoughtful in your whole set up.
     
  5. GSUBiology

    GSUBiology Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2012
    Messages:
    226
    I have, that's why this is so frustrating. Perhaps when the stuff arrives I will be able to get it under control. Problem is, I leave for vacations this Monday. This time for the whole month. I can only do so much if the stuff doesn't arrive on time. Im hoping that what ever it is, will slowly disappear over the course of one month.
     
  6. m2434

    m2434 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2011
    Messages:
    3,471
    Does this come off easily, or is it attached good (if it comes off easily, it may be more of a bacteria mat, such as cyano or some combination). Anyways, if you want a quick fix, I would personally, prepare a big water change (30%+) and get some airline hose, or some slightly bigger, but small tubing from HD/Lowes etc... and use the entire water change to sipon as much as possible. Turn off the lights for 3 days, run lots of carbon/GFO/skim, then after 3 days do another 30%+ water change, siphoning anything remaining. This should help...
     
  7. GSUBiology

    GSUBiology Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2012
    Messages:
    226
    ok, I will try this and see what happens. any more thoughts?
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. Tom Owens

    Tom Owens Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2007
    Messages:
    47
    Location:
    Suwanee, Georgia
  10. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2010
    Messages:
    19,652
    Location:
    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    This is what I would attempt next as well.
     
  11. Servillius

    Servillius Montipora Digitata

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2011
    Messages:
    1,062
    Location:
    Houston, Texas.
    Here is my theory and recommendation that is consistent with the recommendation others have made. Rock can be a great phosphate sponge. If your rock was poorly cured and/or has been soaking up phosphates from your water (your water shows low phosphates over time because the rock is sucking it up) then it has gotten to a critical mass for whatever this stuff is and this stuff is efficient at pulling the food it needs right back out of the rock. Now you still show low phosphates because its in the algae.

    You have lots of phosphates and you need to get it out. The best way to do this is a phosban or some other reactor and lots of GFO. Definitely do the water changing and the siphoning. Get it out by any means possible. But also get the GFO in there so that it can start out competing the rock for it and start transporting it out of your tank.

    Do turbo snails eat the stuff? If so, add several. They will probably have to go later along with most or all of the GFO, but for now, you want to start moving the nutrients into solution then sucking it out. It will take time, but if you keep at it, one day, you'll notice it start to fade away. Hopefully.
     
  12. GSUBiology

    GSUBiology Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2012
    Messages:
    226
    I do understand this theory.. But shouldn't I have phosphate readings in the water from the barrel?
    I don't understand why that water shows 0 phosphates if there is nothing to absorb the phosphates in the barrel.
    Otherwise where are they coming from? I barely feed...
    I don't just want to take the phosphates from the tank, I want to eliminate the source of the problem so that it won't return.

    I am waiting on the GFO to arrive, so hopefully that will fix the problem in the tank.

    However, have we ruled out Dino already and just saying this is regular hair algae?
    Or do we just not really care much of what it is since both treatments are similar to each other?

    I tried pulling it off the rock, and it does come off fairly easy. However it is kinda hard to grab because it's kind of slippery.