Algae identification help - microscope pictures included

[Viking_Reefing]

Hi guys! I’m dealing with a situation that has me scratching my head…and completely new to me even after 20+ years of reefing.

If you have a look at the below thread I detail my setup, nutrient levels, ICP tests etc etc
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/extremely-fast-algae-growth-in-glass…for-no-reason.1008679/
Anyways, I scraped some of this crap of a side panel where I let it grow wild. I figured that if I let it mature I would have an easier time finding a positive ID. It basically starts of like a light brown/green dusting and ends up like this:

Here are pictures under different magnifications:

Any idea of what the heck this stuff is? It has lately also started affecting the sand bed.

 

[Dan_P]

Hi guys! I’m dealing with a situation that has me scratching my head…and completely new to me even after 20+ years of reefing.

If you have a look at the below thread I detail my setup, nutrient levels, ICP tests etc etc
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/extremely-fast-algae-growth-in-glass…for-no-reason.1008679/
Anyways, I scraped some of this crap of a side panel where I let it grow wild. I figured that if I let it mature I would have an easier time finding a positive ID. It basically starts of like a light brown/green dusting and ends up like this:

Here are pictures under different magnifications:

Any idea of what the heck this stuff is? It has lately also started affecting the sand bed.

Microscope photos not clear enough to make a positive ID. Visually, the growth looks like short filaments. The last photomicrograph looks as if the organism consists of a chain of cells. Diatoms and I think also cyanobacteria can do this. There might also be quite a bit of other microorganisms making a home amongst the chained organism. @taricha?

 

[taricha]

I like diatoms as the explanation, too. They can do this zigzag sort of chain occasionally.
it also fits that there's a nice path of snail grazing on this glass....

This is what the glass looks after about two days:

 

[exnisstech]

Following.