Assure me this is not dinos

[mrbacony]

This is a brand new tank that’s only been up and running for about 3 to 4 weeks. I added new rock and realize it’s going to go through the ugly stage. I have cycled other tanks and witnessed the ugly stage. But this appears to have bubbles in the algae. I have had dinos before, and it looked eerily similar to this. Is it possible to get dinos at this early stage? Here is an orange filtered photo as well as an unfiltered photo. My nitrates and phosphates are at zero.

 

[TheSheff]

Firstly, I would look at how to get your nutrients up. I'm currently struggling with low nutrients as well in my bare bottom 3 month old tank. Feed more, maybe dose small amounts of a nitrate/phosphate additive if needed. Zeroing out your nutrients is worse than having high N/P IMO.

 

[mrbacony]

Firstly, I would look at how to get your nutrients up. I'm currently struggling with low nutrients as well in my bare bottom 3 month old tank. Feed more, maybe dose small amounts of a nitrate/phosphate additive if needed. Zeroing out your nutrients is worse than having high N/P IMO.

I completely agree. That is what happened the last time I got dinoflagellates. My nutrients were near zero. This is the first time I’ve tested for nutrients since it’s a brand new tank. I’ve only been testing for ammonia. So I do have some Neo phos and Neo nitro that I can add to the tank. If this was dinoflagellates, I was going to take the rocks out and scrub them first.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

Here is a great vid on dinos and young tanks. He does a great job discussing them.