Can someone help me id these?

[skipcurl]

I got to use a microscope from a friend (see picture). I am thinking it is an algae. It is all over my tank. I can't get control of it. Water changes weekly. Phosphates/Nitrate levels have never been out of check since I started the tank 9 months ago. Everything is fine but these are all consuming. I am beginning to hate dry rock as I cannot start a tank without some algae taking over. Lights out will solve over about 1 month. But it just comes back. My thought now is identifying and trying to move forward. White to light brown in color. Grows everywhere and fast (glass, heater, sand bed, etc). Run 90% blues.

 

[skipcurl]

Though. I did some searching on the web and that microscopic picture looks like a Diatom. Sure does not look like a GHA. But the tank is over 9 months old and the Diatom has long hairs (over 1 inch). So confused

 

[vetteguy53081]

I got to use a microscope from a friend (see picture). I am thinking it is an algae. It is all over my tank. I can't get control of it. Water changes weekly. Phosphates/Nitrate levels have never been out of check since I started the tank 9 months ago. Everything is fine but these are all consuming. I am beginning to hate dry rock as I cannot start a tank without some algae taking over. Lights out will solve over about 1 month. But it just comes back. My thought now is identifying and trying to move forward. White to light brown in color. Grows everywhere and fast (glass, heater, sand bed, etc). Run 90% blues.

This substance is known as Chrysophytes and is labor work for removal. Take the rock out and place in large container with tank water.
Give the tank a good siphon and clean all filters and skimmer if you have one.
Scrub the rock with a firm toothbrush Or auto detail brush and 3% peroxide. Agitate to shake off particles and add cleaners such as Pitho crabs, chiton snails, ninja star snails and caribbean blue leg hermits to help with control and reduce white intensity a little and increase water flow. You likely have inadequate flow which allowed this to adhere to rock

 

[GSPClown94]

Though. I did some searching on the web and that microscopic picture looks like a Diatom. Sure does not look like a GHA. But the tank is over 9 months old and the Diatom has long hairs (over 1 inch). So confused

Definitely looks like diatoms attached to filamentous algae from your microscope picture, not sure on exact identification though. What does your clean up crew look like?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Agreed - these seem to be epiphytic diatoms growing on a filamentous algae (so small diatoms growing on a big algae).

I'm very new to learning diatoms, but I suspect your species comes from one of the two groups below:

Araphid | Morphology - Diatoms of North America

diatoms.org

Asymmetric Biraphid | Morphology - Diatoms of North America

diatoms.org

No guesses on the filamentous algae though - sorry.

 

[skipcurl]

Interesting. Today it just looks like some form of filamentous algae. The supposed diatoms are gone. Can they go away that fast? I am going to do a water change tonight and see if the diatoms come back. Kinda of a cool puzzle. But that Algae will grow on the sand beds and walls and it spreads fast. My CUC is not very big and I will be adding. Thanks everyone for thoughts so far.

 

[jabberwock]

Sorry, I think you have the dry rock blues. Real ocean live rock, or bust!

 

[skipcurl]

Though, I just took from my heater and now I see them again. Would Diatoms move while on the microscope? These do not move. I do see what looks to be some very small worms moving aound.

 

[skipcurl]

Sorry, I think you have the dry rock blues. Real ocean live rock, or bust!

I am tending to agree. But I am stuborn. Will get there soon, I guess.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Would Diatoms move while on the microscope? These do not move. I do see what looks to be some very small worms moving aound.

The diatoms probably would not move, no:

"They are non-motile, or capable of only limited movement along a substrate by secretion of mucilaginous material along a slit-like groove or channel called a raphe."*

The little worms may be tiny worms, ciliates, or something else.

*Source:

Diatoms

This teaching and learning web-site is intended as an introduction to micropalaeontology. Micropalaeontology is the study of microfossils (any fossil generally less than 1mm in size). This page covers diatoms.

www.ucl.ac.uk