Interesting observation on bubble algae...

Mrramsey · 07/13/2019, 12:03 PM

Howdy all! It's been a good while since I last posted anything. I had something interesting happen this week. A power outage occurred the other day and I failed to check the tank when it came back on. Long story short the return pump was fried and was not running. Fortunately the system is designed in a way that will not flood but since the heaters are in the sump and the probe is in the DT, the sump was about as hot as my hot tub. Cooked it...

Took the opportunity to thoroughly clean the sump and replaced the pump with one that was a bit more flow than the one that came out. I hadn't done any kind of WC in about a year and a half. I have a very light bio load and mostly soft corals. When the last WC was done I had rearranged the rocks for better flow and better for the fish. right after that I had a huge bubble algae problem. I mean there was a lot! I just left it because that's how I roll.

Here's the interesting part. After cleaning the sump, which was about a 20% WC, I also changed my carbon and GFO. Aside from that the only change was the pump and I estimate I am running about 1200-1300 gph through the sump. I was at about 850gph. Since this past Wednesday my bubble algae problem has reduced by 98%. I kid you not in 72 hours it is to the point where you have to look for it.

I don't know if it was the WC, the fresh GFO and Carbon or the higher flow. Perhaps a combination of all three. I have just never seen it dissipate that fast before.

Tripod1404 · 07/13/2019, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrramsey

Howdy all! It's been a good while since I last posted anything. I had something interesting happen this week. A power outage occurred the other day and I failed to check the tank when it came back on. Long story short the return pump was fried and was not running. Fortunately the system is designed in a way that will not flood but since the heaters are in the sump and the probe is in the DT, the sump was about as hot as my hot tub. Cooked it...

Took the opportunity to thoroughly clean the sump and replaced the pump with one that was a bit more flow than the one that came out. I hadn't done any kind of WC in about a year and a half. I have a very light bio load and mostly soft corals. When the last WC was done I had rearranged the rocks for better flow and better for the fish. right after that I had a huge bubble algae problem. I mean there was a lot! I just left it because that's how I roll.

Here's the interesting part. After cleaning the sump, which was about a 20% WC, I also changed my carbon and GFO. Aside from that the only change was the pump and I estimate I am running about 1200-1300 gph through the sump. I was at about 850gph. Since this past Wednesday my bubble algae problem has reduced by 98%. I kid you not in 72 hours it is to the point where you have to look for it.

I don't know if it was the WC, the fresh GFO and Carbon or the higher flow. Perhaps a combination of all three. I have just never seen it dissipate that fast before.

Probably reduction of nutrients with wc and gfo.

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Nereaga · 07/13/2019, 01:51 PM

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good

I never got rid of it that easy in the past, but congrats! Haha

jmm · 07/14/2019, 10:58 AM

I've had bad bubble algae problems just suddenly go away with no changes on my part. And they never came back.

07/13/2019, 12:03 PM	#1
Mrramsey NEO Reefer Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Hudson Ohio Posts: 1,801	Interesting observation on bubble algae... Howdy all! It's been a good while since I last posted anything. I had something interesting happen this week. A power outage occurred the other day and I failed to check the tank when it came back on. Long story short the return pump was fried and was not running. Fortunately the system is designed in a way that will not flood but since the heaters are in the sump and the probe is in the DT, the sump was about as hot as my hot tub. Cooked it... Took the opportunity to thoroughly clean the sump and replaced the pump with one that was a bit more flow than the one that came out. I hadn't done any kind of WC in about a year and a half. I have a very light bio load and mostly soft corals. When the last WC was done I had rearranged the rocks for better flow and better for the fish. right after that I had a huge bubble algae problem. I mean there was a lot! I just left it because that's how I roll. Here's the interesting part. After cleaning the sump, which was about a 20% WC, I also changed my carbon and GFO. Aside from that the only change was the pump and I estimate I am running about 1200-1300 gph through the sump. I was at about 850gph. Since this past Wednesday my bubble algae problem has reduced by 98%. I kid you not in 72 hours it is to the point where you have to look for it. I don't know if it was the WC, the fresh GFO and Carbon or the higher flow. Perhaps a combination of all three. I have just never seen it dissipate that fast before. __________________ Mike My 120 Build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2389417 Current Tank Info: 120g In-Wall \| BA Overflow \| 55g Sump \| SWC Extreme 150 Skimmer \| DIY ATO \| 2 Jebao RW-8\| Fluval SP6 \| Photon 48v2 LED \| GFO and Carbon

07/13/2019, 01:51 PM	#3
Nereaga Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oley, Pa 19547 Posts: 1,513	Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good I never got rid of it that easy in the past, but congrats! Haha

07/14/2019, 10:58 AM	#4
jmm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 569	I've had bad bubble algae problems just suddenly go away with no changes on my part. And they never came back.