😎 Cool KidsCoral Nerd

Joined Aug 202611 posts47 pts📍 Huntington Beach

Beginner Help·Aug 23· edited Sun, Aug 23 · 7:03 AM·👁 103#1

Green leafy algae

Hello all. My issue has been opposite of most. I couldn't keep my nitrates up and they kept crashing. A couple of batches of bad neo (story for another day). I upped my feeding drastically and pulled carbon from my caddy stacks. I think I have stabilized nitrates around 6ppm (for now). I've blown off the leafy green algae with a baster but it seems to come back. It does blow off really easy but kind of ugly and would like to get rid of. 110 gallon total system. Glass bottom. Running 2xr30s at 37%, 2 MP40s (at 25%) , bubble magus skimmer, M4 for my return and an S2 for my 25w UV. guidance/help greatly appreciated. Alk is 8.2.

— 110 gallon total system. 80 gallon display

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@BackbayReef
SCRM😎 Cool KidsReef Guru
Joined May 2026265 posts1,033 pts★5.0(2)
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Aug 23#2

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Very nice setup - how old is the tank, po4 levels levels, and can you post the pic of the algae in white lights? I’m more inclined to say that it’s likely just ulva and not bryopsis since that’s brutal to come off.

— /yolo

@BackbayReef

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Joined May 2026265 posts1,033 pts★5.0(2)

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Aug 23#3

Also, how many CUC do you have and are they taking care of their daily chores?

— /yolo

@Ndrwater

SCRM😎 Cool KidsSPS Slinger

Joined Aug 202687 posts395 pts

Aug 23#4

I know that over the years I have had many different kinds of nuisance algae. Sometimes they come and go, sometimes it becomes a bigger issue. Looks like your parameters are well in check. For now I would continue with manual removal. But maybe a Tang or a fox face might be helpful beyond your normal cleanup crew. Yellow tags and fox face can be voracious eaters.

— Yup....

@kwerber

😎 Cool KidsCoral NerdOP

Joined Aug 202611 posts47 pts📍 Huntington Beach

Aug 23#5

I have a yellow and hippo tang. CUC- one tuxedo urchin, 2 large cleaner shrimp and 10 turbo snails. will get pic in a few hours when lights come on. Need to test phos.

— 110 gallon total system. 80 gallon display

@kwerber

😎 Cool KidsCoral NerdOP

Joined Aug 202611 posts47 pts📍 Huntington Beach

Aug 26#6

sorry took me a few. nitrates 7 alk 8.2 phos 0.03.

— 110 gallon total system. 80 gallon display

@Ndrwater

SCRM😎 Cool KidsSPS Slinger

Joined Aug 202687 posts395 pts

Aug 26#7

@kwerber wrote: sorry took me a few. nitrates 7 alk 8.2 phos 0.03.

— Yup....

@Ndrwater

SCRM😎 Cool KidsSPS Slinger

Joined Aug 202687 posts395 pts

Aug 26#8

Your parameters are about as perfect as I would hope for. Corals should be very happy.. but the algae is obviously something else. It is very possible that the nutrients the algae is taking up are giving you skewed readings. There are probably other elements at play here as well, but without something like ICP testing its hard to know for sure. I also agree with what was said above with things like urchins and snails, coupled with tangs and other herbivores, you should get a handle on things in relatively short order. I would be very interested to see what an ICP test were to tell you..

— Yup....

@Drexl

SCRM😎 Cool KidsSPS Slinger

Joined Aug 202688 posts364 pts📍 Porter Ranch, CA

Sep 1#9

That kind of looks like green cyano to me. If it blows right off, then it would be cyano (bacteria) and not ulva, which usually has pretty good attachment. I would say your PO4 is low and that your nutrients are out of balance with each other, which is why you're seeing the cyano. This may seem counterintuitive, but raising your PO4 to around 0.08-0.1 would probably help a little. PO4 around 0.03 is virtually zero in our tanks, so raising it up a little will help. Siphon up the cyano in a 5 micron sock or by doing a small water change will help too.

— Clams and acros

Green leafy algae

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