Help Wanted : Algae Bloom

[Peter Peng]

My tank has been up for around 2 and a half months.
I have a skimmer and a phosban reactor running biopellets right now

I have a purple tang, and 5 anthias

I feed mysis usually 2 - 5 times a day due to my anthias

I have my lights on for 12 hours a day

Phosphates around 1ppm and nitrates 1 - 2

Ive been getting lot of this algae on the sand and on the rocks, none on the glass

Im not sure how to remove it so any help will be appreciated

I think its Dinoflagellates

https://scontent.fash1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t35.0-12/12633108_947688405316568_1412127667_o.jpg?oh=5f6e0 ae7c801c38ccae714a766b201e8&oe=56A5356A

https://scontent.fash1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t35.0-12/12633278_947688458649896_1858941748_o.jpg?oh=d412f 90e58547a9cafd9731647099b20&oe=56A5582B

https://scontent.fash1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpl1/v/t35.0-12/12591765_947688478649894_681274754_o.jpg?oh=316d0e f3ba5b65c397683356a0293922&oe=56A4FBEA

https://scontent.fash1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t35.0-12/12557626_947688541983221_1330217165_o.jpg?oh=23500 1dd59f1eda8821f32ebaa694138&oe=56A50F35

https://scontent.fash1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t35.0-12/12596974_947688601983215_67625135_o.jpg?oh=0f2b77b bdf977b59453debeb0296b6be&oe=56A4D46D

[gobytron]

make sure it's not Cyano before you start to diagnose.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Looks like maybe Cyanobacteria on the sand and Dino on the rock. Dinoflagellates looks like slimey snot. Is it slimey snot-looking on the sand? Can't really tell for sure from the pics.

http://rimlessreef.weebly.com/home/dinoflagellates-and-the-treament-of

[Coasting]

Looks like Cyano to me.... Or at least the cyano I have
I get it on my sand from a serious lack of flow in that area, and on areas that have been stung by other corals.
That seems like some heavy duty feeding for anthias...

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

The bubbly, snotty stuff in the pic with the green rhodactis mushrooms and toadstool is dinoflagellates, but the stuff on the sand is cyano IMO. Good luck cleaning up this mess:wink:

Try rinsing off your mysis before you feed it. The nutrient-rich juices are probably fueling the nasties.

[Peter Peng]

Thanks for the help,
I did a 15% water change just now and sucked all the algae off from the rocks. The algae on the sand is still however covered.

I adjusted so my rocks get more flow but I will look into powerheads to make sure my sandbed has enough flow

[George]

What kind of water did you use to prepare your water changes. I meant do you have a RO/DI filter?
What kind of skimmer? Is the tank 40g as in your signature? Is your light new or used?
You mostly have LPS and soft corals. You don't need that many hours of light. I would say cut it back to 8 hours a day for your regular schedule. Some people down the road will suggest you to completely turned off the light for a few days to get rid of the dino/cyano you have to be prepared for that.
I agree increasing flow will reduce your cyano.
You tank is only a few months old. This phase happens to a lot of new tanks. So hang on for now. Try to reduce your feeding to 2 times a day and make sure all food gets eaten (i.e. turn of powerheads during feeding).
Remove the biopellets. again your tank is mostly LPS and softies, you don't need biopellets for now. The carbon from biopellets just fuels the growth of dino and cyano.
Water change with ro/di water and removing as much dino and cyano as you can.
There are some very effective chemicals that kill cyano. But I will do all the above and wait for a few more months before using those chemicals.
Good luck.