Any ideas on ID?

[charliedarling]

Im new and can’t tell what this is.

All was well, added Macroalgae to the tank and then approx 4 weeks later (now) my nitrate and phosphate bottomed out and this stuff showed up.

Current parameters:

8 gallon nano
0.0 phosphate
0.0 nitrate
35 ppt salinity
7.89 pH
445 calcium
1380 mag
11.6 alk

I’ve been dosing all for reef, microbacter 7, live phytoplankton, chaetogro & plus NP from tropic Marin. Thinking my problem may have come from a multitude of things. I’m going to turn lights way down/off, manual removal, and dose nitrate and phosphate to get my levels up & stop phytoplankton and plus np

Main thing is I can’t tell what this is - I think it’s chrysophytes but I have no idea. Doesn’t go away at night and coats everything in a slimy or fuzzy coating. Doesn’t blow away with a turkey baster or direct flow.

Ideas?


Video

 

[DrinkinPepsi]

A microscope image would really help in this ID.

 

[charliedarling]

A microscope image would really help in this ID.

Agreed, I wish I had access to one but currently don’t

 

[charliedarling]

A microscope image would really help in this ID.

Was able to get some microscope pics.

 

[DrinkinPepsi]

You lucked out here. Diatoms, as the silica in the tank depletes they should go away on their own.

 

[charliedarling]

You lucked out here. Diatoms, as the silica in the tank depletes they should go away on their own.

Thanks. Got some GFO to absorb silicates, I figure that might help?

I run reef crystals for my salt and heard it’s high in silicates? I’ve been doing 15% weekly water changes. Maybe I should lean back and go bi weekly with the changes.

 

[DrinkinPepsi]

Depending on your water source it could be coming from there as well. Well you run GFO. Just make sure you do not run the phosphates to zero as you may spur an increase in dinoflagellates.

 

[charliedarling]

Depending on your water source it could be coming from there as well.

Good to know. I’ll definitely look into it. I buy R/O from the store.

 

[DrinkinPepsi]

Reef Moonshiner's ICP-MS Test

Reef Moonshiner's ICP-MS Test kit

andremueller.e-junkie.com

May consider that ICP test. Should give you a really accurate look on what the tank looks like as well as the reverse osmosis water that you use.

Instructions for that test can be found here

ICP-Sampling | Reef Moonshiners

Reef Moonshiner's ICP MS OES Testing and Sampling Instruction

www.reefmoonshiners.com