• The aquarium is overgrown!

  • Catherine

Hello forum members, I am reaching out for your help to identify what this is and for advice on how to deal with it. The aquarium is 2 years old, and I previously had issues with cyanobacteria, which I successfully battled twice. However, this started about six months ago when all the rodactis began to split into smaller ones and eventually died off. During this time, the aquarium began to overgrow as shown in the photo, and several more corals died. Over the course of a month, I managed to stabilize things, and the corals stopped dying, but I can't seem to get rid of this nuisance. During water changes, I collect as much of this algae as possible, but within a week, it grows back to the same state, spreading everywhere - on the rocks, sand, glass, and on the rocks closer to the light with bubbles, while there are no bubbles on the sand. The aquarium is 140 liters with a 60-liter sump. Salifert tests show: NO3 - 0, PO4 - 0, TDS - 2, Ca - 400, Alk - 7 (currently raising), pH - unknown. I'm curious why NO3 is 0 and PO4 is 0? I found information on websites that this kind of picture usually indicates dinoflagellates, but since I previously dealt with cyanobacteria, I also suspect it might be Calothrix?

Jennifer7159

It seems to be bryopsis, although I could be mistaken. Please correct me, dear veterans of marine aquaristics. If this is it, here is a method that has been tested multiple times and personally by me. Translate using a translator, the method has been tried and tested repeatedly.

Wendy8540

Something similar happened in my aquarium, just a bit smaller. If your aquarium really has zero nitrates and phosphates, then raising magnesium above 1500 ppm might help. It worked in my aquarium. But first, measure nitrates and phosphates with other tests, for example from Nyos; I have a feeling the results won't be zero.

David7773

Check with other tests; I am sure there are phosphates in your reef, and also check your osmotic TDS with another device. It is advisable to test for silicon SiO2. In Lviv, there are enough sailors; ask them for help. Good luck.