[fftfk]

So my tank has been up and running now for two months. I was hoping to get an Algae ID on this growing on my java fern:

I think it might be staghorn or BBA but not sure. It does not appear as far as I can see on any other plants.

I have been dosing frets for about a month. Nilocg PPS-Pro at about half the daily dose. Since starting the dosing I’ve been having a problem with my filter socks getting clogged up with some sort of algae/fungus. I typically change the socks every three days but have switched to two days. Here is two days of growth:

I’m not sure if you can tell but in the photo looking down the stick the stuff grows across the opening in stringy clumps.

While I didn’t get a photo of the socks here is a photo of 3 days of growth on the diffuser plate thingy:

Three days of growth and the sick is completely black and plugged up with the growth.

The sump is in a windowless room in my basement and gets zero light other than when I’m in there. Any idea what this stuff is. I did two Sanitary washes with bleach and a third rinse wash and the socks still don’t look clean. I’m thinking about tossing them and getting new socks but worry the stuff will just grow in them too. I never had this issue with socks in my saltwater tanks so trying to figure out what is going on. Thanks.


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[Blue Ridge Reef]

Looks like BBA on the equipment. As for the Java fern, likely staghorn but hard to tell from the photo, almost looks like trails of Java moss growing on the leaves. Excel dips (very quickly, then rinse if using full strength or soak for a half hour at a cup per gallon) work, and pruning to encourage plant growth should help. Keep filter media and substrate as clean as you can. I'd be inclined to trim leaves with algae growth on them to get them out of the tank altogether. Algae blooms 2 months in are pretty standard, but if you can stay on top of them it will go a long way towards the tank's health. Peroxide dosing the aquarium not exceeding 1.5 ML per gallon of actual water volume daily is safe and will keep growth down but won't nuke it like glut (Excel) can. Hang in there!

 

[Michael Chan]

I'm interested to know if you managed to get control of this algae? I'm looking at building a similar high flow rate shore to shore overflow, but am worried about bba growing in the flow, exactly like you have there.

 

[fftfk]

I'm interested to know if you managed to get control of this algae? I'm looking at building a similar high flow rate shore to shore overflow, but am worried about bba growing in the flow, exactly like you have there.

Sort of...I removed the plants covered with BBA, increased my CO2, and turned up the flow in the display tank to lessen dead spots and provide for more even mixture of the CO2. I also increased my water changes. It appears to be under control. I say sort of because I am not sure I would have gotten rid of it if I had left the plants in.


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