Are these diatoms? Need help with ID

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grisban

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Hi all,

Im now about 4-5 months deep in my reeftank and im getting this think brown cover of algae, no bubbles.

I was suspecting dinos that went into the water column like ostreopsis, since at night my sand looked clean, and i already went through the ugly phase. So i bought a second hand 20w deltec UV. After running it for a week with 0 improvement i decided to get a microscope and here are the results:

My nitrates are a stable 10-15, and my phosphates i try to keep them detectable, 0.03 ish, i dose nyos phos every other day.

I dont have much bioload, couple corals and 2 fish.

20260424_222825.jpg 20260424_222704.jpg 20260419_102816.jpg 20260419_102807.jpg
 

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You shouldn't need to be dosing anything.

But yea thoes look like kinda dinos.
Been a while since I've seen em.

Aeird you have them with actual nutrients, also ugly phase goes on for quite a while. You're 100% still in it.
 
You shouldn't need to be dosing anything.

But yea thoes look like kinda dinos.
Been a while since I've seen em.

Aeird you have them with actual nutrients, also ugly phase goes on for quite a while. You're 100% still in it.
Could it also be my high silicates in my water after my rodi?
 
To add: i have trochus, cerith and astrea snails, if it were diatoms shouldnt the trochus eat them?
 

WHICH KIND OF INVERT HAS CAUSED THE MOST MISCHIEF IN YOUR TANK?

  • Sea urchins

    Votes: 15 23.1%
  • Hermit crabs

    Votes: 11 16.9%
  • Other crabs

    Votes: 4 6.2%
  • Shrimp

    Votes: 5 7.7%
  • Snails or conchs

    Votes: 3 4.6%
  • Sea stars

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Anemones

    Votes: 12 18.5%
  • None! My inverts are model citizens. :-)

    Votes: 11 16.9%
  • Something else (tell us in the comments)

    Votes: 4 6.2%
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