Huge algae bloom-help!

[Giglio324]

So my new tank 90 gal is going through a huge algae bloom I think. When I bought it and we broke down the tank I brought 60 gal of the established water back with me. Where I think the issue was is the live rock I bought. I got it from a guy in Leamington who was experiencing a bad hair algae problem. Could that have been the issue, and how can I battle this I'm running a gfo reactor and a carbon reactor. My skimmer is rated for 220 gal and my total volume is roughly 125 sump included. Help please. Could bio pellets be my solution, I have no fish in there I put a turbo from my small tank in tonight to see if he does anything. I'm gonna test everything later and give you a rough idea what is going on. Thanks

 

[Neopimp]

How long has the tank been set up? and how long has GFO been running.

 

[Giglio324]

Tank has been set up for 2 weeks and has had live rock in it for roughly 1.5 weeks. I just went and checked the sump and everything looks fine both the gfo and carbon are pumping water. Should I think of maybe changing the media inside both of those and see what happens

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

I did a tank transfer went from a 55 to 65 and its been 4 months of algae on and off. I turkey baste the algae off rock  but it getting less as time goes on

 

[Giglio324]

I feel like maybe when we moved everything since the sand all got sloshed and mixed around it released everything into the system. The tank had been running for 1.5 yrs when we took it down. So that 1.5 yrs of detritus I just stirred up

 

[jones02]

Sorry to thread jack but I started getting HA also, my tanks been up for about a year. Been running gfo and carbon, phos read 0 on a hanna. Do have nitrates annd my bulbs are around that time to be changed, would the lights be the one to make the HA? And is it bad to add the pellets with this bloom?

 

[davesolo29]

if the tank is only two weeks old, then you most likely dont have any coral in it yet.  if you dont have coral, lights are not a necessity.  keep the lights off til the tank has fully cycled and slowly up the lighting cycle from then.
no light, no algae. 

 

[Salty Cracker]

Overfeeding is a good way to get HA too.  If the GFO is not changed or can't keep up, the HA will gobble it up right away.  As for lights...I found that cyano was more likely to show up when the lights started to change in spectrum... HA for me was always an abundance of food (of one kind or another).

I feel like maybe when we moved everything since the sand all got sloshed and mixed around it released everything into the system. The tank had been running for 1.5 yrs when we took it down. So that 1.5 yrs of detritus I just stirred up

Very likely you released a TON of 'food' and bacteria into the system.  Basically, you have a brand new tank filled with tons of food for HA.  Probably too much for GFO to handle until the natural population has a chance to re-establish.  If I recall correctly, a lot of the bacteria in the sand bed needs little or no oxygen to flourish, you may have just apocalypted a gazillion little bacteria.  Check your nitrate and ammonia levels.  Basically, you need to treat it as a new build (with old substrate and rock). 

 

[Giglio324]

So your saying basically I'm just gonna have to wait out the storm. Keep the lights off and keep up with maintenance. I'm thinking of buying 6 turbos and letting them help out a bit with what is there, I'm gonna let the tank run for a week then replace my gfo and carbon and hopefully before Christmas ill be able to get a fish...if I'm lucky

 

[Salty Cracker]

So your saying basically I'm just gonna have to wait out the storm. Keep the lights off and keep up with maintenance. I'm thinking of buying 6 turbos and letting them help out a bit with what is there, I'm gonna let the tank run for a week then replace my gfo and carbon and hopefully before Christmas ill be able to get a fish...if I'm lucky

I dunno, can't say that the turbos won't die from the water conditions without proper tests on the water.  Don't know if they would help at all.

 

[Reef Hero]

You are going to have to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate in order to determine what is happening.....you are going to cycle.....the snails are not necessary....


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[Reef Hero]

Overfeeding is a good way to get HA too.  If the GFO is not changed or can't keep up, the HA will gobble it up right away.  As for lights...I found that cyano was more likely to show up when the lights started to change in spectrum... HA for me was always an abundance of food (of one kind or another). [quote author=Giglio324 link=topic=3661.msg31604#msg31604 date=1354066800]
I feel like maybe when we moved everything since the sand all got sloshed and mixed around it released everything into the system. The tank had been running for 1.5 yrs when we took it down. So that 1.5 yrs of detritus I just stirred up

Very likely you released a TON of 'food' and bacteria into the system.  Basically, you have a brand new tank filled with tons of food for HA.  Probably too much for GFO to handle until the natural population has a chance to re-establish.  If I recall correctly, a lot of the bacteria in the sand bed needs little or no oxygen to flourish, you may have just apocalypted a gazillion little bacteria.  Check your nitrate and ammonia levels.  Basically, you need to treat it as a new build (with old substrate and rock).
[/quote]

+1 on the lighting affecting cyano.... I started running a 6500k a few months ago.....ever since then, cyano....not a lot but still....no HA! Just cyano! I have researched and found this to be a common problem with those running GE 6500k t5 bulbs....especially if bulb is not replaced every 3 months.... I have also read many posts saying that lighting will affect HA growth but it still will need the nutrients as well whereas cyano seems to be able to still grow even in ULNS with po4 zero and nitrate zero.


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[teebone110]

I would bet that the nutrient balance of the tank has been disturbed and is now out of whack since the transfer and new set upThere is a chance your rocks and sandbed have some phosphates from the previous ownner using tap water.  . Patience is key..... I would wait it out with good husbandry. Regular water changes with RODI, and keep the GFO and carbon going. In time things should neutralize. Don't over feed and make sure your levels are within range. Go slow and keep things steady.

If your getting cyano, lights off and siphoning will help take care of this too.

 

[teebone110]

Sorry to thread jack but I started getting HA also, my tanks been up for about a year. Been running gfo and carbon, phos read 0 on a hanna. Do have nitrates annd my bulbs are around that time to be changed, would the lights be the one to make the HA? And is it bad to add the pellets with this bloom?

Hey Jonesy, HA means you have a phosphate issue, regardless of your readings. Keep the GFO running and replaced regularly. If your lights are past their time, then changing them could take care of that variable. Overfeeding can lead to high phosphates. Your reading of 0 phosphates is a relative number, since it is the phosphates that are feeding the HA. Biopellets are a good option if you want to push the limits and overfeed and overstock your system.

 

[jones02]

[quote author=jones02 link=topic=3661.msg31611#msg31611 date=1354067559]
Sorry to thread jack but I started getting HA also, my tanks been up for about a year. Been running gfo and carbon, phos read 0 on a hanna. Do have nitrates annd my bulbs are around that time to be changed, would the lights be the one to make the HA? And is it bad to add the pellets with this bloom?

Hey Jonesy, HA means you have a phosphate issue, regardless of your readings. Keep the GFO running and replaced regularly. If your lights are past their time, then changing them could take care of that variable. Overfeeding can lead to high phosphates. Your reading of 0 phosphates is a relative number, since it is the phosphates that are feeding the HA. Biopellets are a good option if you want to push the limits and overfeed and overstock your system.
[/quote]

I cut back on feeding to like every other day to see if that was it and no change, do you think if I add my pellets its going to make more issues with this HA? And don't I have to take my gfo offline to start runnning pellets?

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

I had HA and i turey baste it all off the rock. And lights off for days

 

[Giglio324]

So I tested everything tonight. Here is what I am getting
Ph-8.0
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0-5.0
Phosphate-0.5
It didn't seem like anything ridiculous to me. I do think my gfo needs replacing the output line isn't moving a lot of water it seems.

 

[Salty Cracker]

that phosphate number is really high.

When my tank was pure HA and cyano, it read .78  Things didn't clear up until that number was ~.05

 

[Reef Hero]

Yes, agreed. That is a high number for phosphate...... What are u using to test with? Is it accurate?


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[Giglio324]

I'm using the shit ass API kit I think I'm gonna bring a sample to that other shit ass place corbrets and they'll test it for me. I'm gonna get some chaeto for my sump cuz I think that may help a bit. I'm gonna change my gfo and my carbon and just let the tank run for a couple weeks lights off. We'll see how things are after that. I did throw a turbo in a few nights ago and he has been going to work so maybe ill get a few more of those. That's my plan of attack for now.