Algae identification

[BrunoL]

Hey all,

I've set up a new tank (log in my signature) 2 months ago. I would really appreciate a hand in identifying 3 types of algae.

Tank is a Waterbox 20, with a 9001 skimmer. Parameters are:

• Temp 25°C
• dKH 7.4
• Salinity 1025
• CA 360
• Mg 1320
• PO4 0.3
• NO2 0
• NO3 0

I've added Seachem Seagel (Carbon & GFO mix) to reduce PO4 and help treat waste. I have Seachem Matrix and Purigen as filter media in the back.

1) First I thought these were diatoms, but there appear to be little strings now. I have these exclusively on the sand bed and to a lesser extend, the glass (I'm guessing my Astraea's are keeping the rockwork clean). There are no bubbles in it, and it kind of follows the outline of the rock. There are almost no algae like this in the areas where there is no light. Hence my diatoms diagnosis?

2) I think these pink / violet algae on the rocks are coralline algae, but would like a confirmation (this is under white light).

3) I have this darker kind of algae growing as well, at first I thought it was a different kind of coralline, then red slime but it's 'dry' and branching. Which makes brings me back to my original idea of coralline or some other macro algae (photo under white light as well). You can also see on this picture that there are no brown algae on the sand bed in this little overhang area (no direct light).

Can someone help me identify the 3 algae?

Thanks!

 

[Spare time]

Remove the seagel until you know the phosphate level. Also you need to get the nitrate up a little. The 2nd algae is coralline but I'm not sure about the other two.

 

[BrunoL]

Phosphate was at 0.5. I've been slowly running it down with water changes and the seagel, I'm at 0.30 now.

I'm actually not sure why it initially clocked in at 0.5 (Hanna meter), my RODI was coming out at 0. I think it was probably some newbie overfeeding mistake.

 

[BrunoL]

Either way, I sucked out the top layer of the sand today, washed it and put it back. The sand bed looks much better now.

 

[zjaz777]

Can someone help me identify this red algae? It is growing on some rocks and the side of my Biocube.
How do I get rid of it?

Thank you in advance.

 

[zjaz777]

Can someone help me identify this red algae? It is growing on some rocks and the side of my Biocube.
How do I get rid of it?

Thank you in advance.

Any help on identifying this for me and how to rid my tank of it? Thank you!

 

[BrunoL]

You should probably start your own thread but it looks like red bubble algae (botryocladia skottsbergii). I would fish them out but be careful not to pop the bubbles. Should probably remove by hand (with glove on) while syphoning below to make sure you catch spores. It is my understanding that snails are inefficient against these, but a mithrax crab might eat them. I'm guessing a tang and / or urchins may eat these as well.

 

[zjaz777]

It doesn't seem like the normal bubble algae.