Dave.stevens Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Hi all, I have not been a member for long but have a problem with my 150 gallon salt tank. I think I have black algae or some kind of black mold growing. I have a couple of photos attached and hope that you all can give me some kind of help with it. The tank is about a year old and just has the following in it right now. Live sand, live rock, 2 emerald crabs, one large hermit, one small hermit. Three fish (in a photo #4), I have been having an issue with my protein skimmer so it has been on and off. I am not sure if it started after I added some new rock or not (the new rock is in the back of the photos of the mold #5 and #6). I have been patient and really want to get this tank up and running but if I need to do something drastic this would be the best time I think. Looking for any help that I can get to fix this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 That looks like cyanobacteria to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 I'm almost certain it's cyanobacreria. It comes in many colors, this being the purple variety. Purple and blue/green are the most common in my experience. Is this a new tank and what type of sand are you using? Typically it shows up when there is excess NO3, PO4 or a abnormal ratio of the 2. Certain type of sand that contain silica can greatly contribute to it as well as old light bulbs or poor quality lighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 +2 cyanobacteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 (edited) +3. Stir up the sand, do a 20% water change, and add some carbon and it'll start clearing up and get your skimmer working Edited January 14, 2013 by brian.srock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave.stevens Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 Thanks to all of you great people for the great information. I have just started with salt and I like it so far. I am going to work on the skimmer today and follow your suggestions Brian. I hope to meet some of you or all of you at this months meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Another thing that caught my eye was that you state the tank is about a year old... Old bulbs could play into this some as well... Not sure, as you didn't include much information about that. Also do you have any power heads and is the Cyano occurring in places with less flow? You may need to increase water flow within your tank and replace bulbs along with the other recommendations that have been included above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave.stevens Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 Will work on those too, Woods. Looking for all the help I can get right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerrickH Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 I would not stir the sand bed. It will relase more nutrients into the water column. This will feed the cyano even more. Chemiclean will get rid of it. Just turn your skimmer off when using chemiclean or you will have a major mess on your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+etannert Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 If the new rock had a lot of detritus or die-off that could have sparked the cyano. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogdan Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Siphon out the cyanobacter carefully with the upper layer of substrate attached to it. Check water parameters especially PO4 and NO3. Do not overfeed and most importantly increase the water movement in the substrate proximity. Get the skimmer running. Be aggressive or it will reappear soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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