Experienced Reefers, strange algae ?

[RayAllen]

Guys I am having something strange going on in the aquarium which in all the years I have not experienced.

I have what seems to be black algae growing on the rocks. Actually most of it started on my ric rock but now it has spread to several others. The coral do not seem to be effected by it but its not the prettiest algae, if in fact it is algae.

Anyone have any idea what this may be. My only thoughts so far is that I do use BRS carbon in my BRS Reactor and have noticed that my skimmer stays black even with the prefilters, but I have used carbon for years so I do not thing its the culprit.

I can scrape it of with my nail to a certain degree. Any thoughts ideas? I do 5g water changes each week, Water parems spot on. Use RO/DI water only 0 TDS etc.. Again the live stock do not seem to mind.

I will get some better pics if needed when the lights come on

You can see it in this picture on the far left on the rocks with the rics in front of the toad stool

The dark greyish/black spots on the rock

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/frogguy1/IMG_20130423_203531_492_zps0e6e4996.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/frogguy1/media/IMG_20130423_203531_492_zps0e6e4996.jpg.html)

[Fracture]

I just got a few frags of zoas from someone an it has the same stuff in it I have been wondering to. It doesn't seem to be effecting them so far.

[RayAllen]

That how I know I got it. Purchased some frags from someone and walla. I noticed it then, but with it being a small spot didnt thing much of it....

[Big_Pun]

that would be black algae of death! it will over take and kill stuff. I toss out anything that shows it.

[Fracture]

Can it be removed? Or can I remove the coral and throw the plug? Or use coral dip ?

[RayAllen]

that would be black algae of death! it will over take and kill stuff. I toss out anything that shows it.

Nice thats good to know!

[RayAllen]

I got to figure something out because its on several of my rocks and I am not ready to throw out all my zoas and rics. I think it being a biggest threat would be to SPS because they are hard skeletons and ive seen all sorts of algae grow on them.

[Southern Flame]

Just wondering does anyone kno what causes it to grow?

[SABOB]

Might contact John at Reef Cleaners (Sponsor)
They have a listing of a lot of nuisance Algea,might be able to identify for you


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[edshas2]

see if you can brush the stuff off with a toothbrush, thats what ive been doing lately with great success with hair and other unwanted algaeas

[Big_Pun]

that's just a nick name it's more of a sponge I think. the one I had was thick

[johnsutter71]

Not to hijack a thread but I have this black thing growing in my tank but I just thought it was another weird sponge since it looks like all my other sponges up close. In the last pic my 6 line decided to be that guy and snuck into the photo.

[FireWater]

Ray,

Try a hard bristle toothbrush on the end of your siphon hose to brush and vacuum. That way you can stay ahead of it. How about a quick peroxide dip on the zoas?

[johnsutter71]

Well from the pics I've seen on google mine looks more like black sponge. I've had mine for several months and it hasn't taken over my tank

[johnsutter71]

Well from the pics I've seen on google mine looks more like black sponge. I've had mine for several months and it hasn't taken over my tank

[Sherita]

Looks like black sponge to me too. In the past, I have used a stiff bristle brush on it and just kept whooping on it till I killed it. It never seems to bother anything, but I hated the way it looked.

[RayAllen]

Thanks guys I will see what I can do. When I scrape it with my nail it seems to just turn to dust. Im do for a water change tomorrow morning so I will scrub the rocks then.

[ramsey]

Could it be blue-green cyano? I've seen pictures of it where it looks almost black.

[RayAllen]

Good News

I jumped to conclusions..

This morning I went to town with a toothbrush. I do not think its algae after all. I think its dark detritus that is collecting it certain areas of the tank with layers if that makes any sense. It literally just turns to dust with a light scrub from a tooth brush. No algae I know is going to go that easy. Rock looking much better. Next I am going to go through the tank with a little koralia and blow off all the gunk that has settled. My deep sump has developed a bed of dark detritus so Im going to try and get most of it out also.. Any how glad to know this isn't deadly algae.

[Zack]

Could it possibly be carbon dust?

[RayAllen]

Zack that is exactly what I was thinking before I thought it was some sort of algae. Hence why I mentioned using BRS carbon in my BRS Reactor. Man if that is the case that is a lot of dust! My skimmer does stay black when I use it though so that could definitely be the problem.

[Big_Pun]

do you have the carbon squished between sponges so it doesn't tumble?

[RayAllen]

No sir, It tumbles at the bottom and the sponges are on top. You know I set it up that way because I had my GFO running before which is supposed to tumble, clearly carbon not. I have my BRS order of new carbon and T5 bulbs coming in tomorrow.

I will put it between the sponges tomorrow and see if that helps. You knows sometimes it makes more sense when someone points it out. One of those instances. Thanks Chris.

I also need a little more flow in the tank also along the bottom of the aquarium to help keep the detritus from collecting. I put the MP 10 on the mode to use Nutrient Export at the end of the cycle every night.

[Zack]

Zack that is exactly what I was thinking before I thought it was some sort of algae. Hence why I mentioned using BRS carbon in my BRS Reactor. Man if that is the case that is a lot of dust! My skimmer does stay black when I use it though so that could definitely be the problem.

That'd be my first guess. I've had some carbon bags that I have had to rinse for what seemed like forever to get them to run clean. Maybe you may have put the carbon in a bit too dusty and it got on your stuff?