Ultimate Nuisance Algae Thread

There is a sticky for Great Threads About Algae. This thread is one of the threads linked.

 

Thanks! it needs to be updated though... I am going to jump on it this week I think

 

+1 for the cotton candy algea lol

 

Good work!!! Didn't know there was that many species myself honestly.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rk_R-jB8hA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

So if you watch this video I think you will see just about every type of algae mentioned in this thread. Only thing I'm not real sure of is the red things on the branches of my hammer coral? this tank is bout 7-8 months old...& I have been battling some phosphates a lot lately...
My whole thing is I've heard some algae in a new tank is good... so is it good? What's good? What comes out first? The video has my fuge/skimmer/sump trio box in it, so you can see what's going on there & how it works... any & all input is greatly appreciated! thank you!

 

[/ATTACH]Calothrix or GHA?? Help!

I have been battling this algae for about 3 months now and I am near my breaking point.

What I've tried:
API Algaefix- Worked at first, but no effect now.

Algaefix + Lights out for a solid week- Some die off.

In tank rock scrubbing- grows back in two days.

Tank info:

(14 months old)
Display: 240 gallon
Sump: 120 gallon with refugium.
Skimmer: SRO 5000.
Lighting: (5) Ecoray 60's.
Flow: two separate closed loops .
1.Reeflo dart 2400gph.
2. Mag-Drive 1200 1200gph
Return: Mag-Drive 1800
Media reactors:
1. Marineland premium activated carbon.
2. Marineland premium activated carbon.
3. Aquamaxx phosphate out.
Started Vodka dosing two weeks ago. (I know long term result.)
All water is made from Kent Marine HiPhos RO unit


I moved what remaining coral left to a quarantine tank, so I am open to anything. I'm lacking a strong clean up crew, due to triggers. I have banished the triggers and just bought some mexican turbos and a scopas tang from my LFS.

Thanks.

 

I've heard algae scrubbers can work miracles. Just put one together myself, been running about 3 days so far. Sounds like it'll take a month or so before I see a drastic change but I guess we'll see.

 

Just did a few hours of research on the scrubbers. I will start mine soon. Thanks.

 

Sure thing. Did you decide to go with a water fall version or the newer up flow?

I decided to go with the tried and true first. I might eventually play around with the upflow version but honestly if this works then I'll probably just make a nicer one. I do need to add better lighting to it. Maybe I'll get my act together and finally throw up the build thread that I keep saying I'm going to do lol.

 

I liked the waterfall design.