Black/brown film like algae looking goo

[Trillaman954]

It’s starting to reach one of my zoas. Is this dangerous?

 

[therootcause]

Would you mind taking some photos under white light?

 

[Trillaman954]

 

[Trillaman954]

Sorry about that

 

[therootcause]

Is your tank a few months old? You may be experiencing "the ugly phase" which can include different types of diatoms, algae, and bacteria.

It is hard to tell from the photos if it is a reddish cyanobacteria or a brown dinoflagellate. There are many ways to controls these bacteria/algae. If your tank is new I recommend sourcing some copepods and phytoplankton from a local hobbyist as copepods can consume the unsightly slime.

Measure your tank nutrients and correct any concerns with water changes.

 

[Trillaman954]

Is your tank a few months old? You may be experiencing "the ugly phase" which can include different types of diatoms, algae, and bacteria.

It is hard to tell from the photos if it is a reddish cyanobacteria or a brown dinoflagellate. There are many ways to controls these bacteria/algae. If your tank is new I recommend sourcing some copepods and phytoplankton from a local hobbyist as copepods can consume the unsightly slime.

Measure your tank nutrients and correct any concerns with water changes.

Ok def ugly stage. I see many copepods on the glass and in diy hob refugium. This tank is only 2 months old.
Ammonia is at .5
Nitrates at 10
Phosphate at 0
dkh 11
Salinity 33
Nitrite 0
API kit

I dose calcium to keep at 420-450 to promote corraline and dose Red Sea Coral nutrition ab plus for corals.

 

[randomfishdude]

You need to raise your phosphates.
It might be dinos.
But It's still definitely part of the ugly phase.

 

[Trillaman954]

You need to raise your phosphates.
It might be dinos.
But It's still definitely part of the ugly phase.

I thought algae needed phosphates to grow? Or are you saying that because I stated I was trying to promote corraline?

 

[randomfishdude]

I thought algae needed phosphates to grow? Or are you saying that because I stated I was trying to promote corraline?

You're not going to get corraline at 2 months. It will be about 7 or 8 before you see any.
But you don't want phosphate or nitrate at 0. If enter one is at 0 for too long you get dinos.
It dosnt nessacarally mean that there isn't any phosphate going into corals and stuff. It just means that it's being consumed faster than its being produced.

 

[Trillaman954]

You're not going to get corraline at 2 months. It will be about 7 or 8 before you see any.
But you don't want phosphate or nitrate at 0. If enter one is at 0 for too long you get dinos.
It dosnt nessacarally mean that there isn't any phosphate going into corals and stuff. It just means that it's being consumed faster than its being produced.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t algea consume phosphates? So wouldn’t increasing the algae’s food source therefore increase its reproduction?

 

[randomfishdude]

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t algea consume phosphates? So wouldn’t increasing the algae’s food source therefore increase its reproduction?

If you get more cuc it will balance out and raise.
But yes it technically would.
I have a 6 or 7 month old tank that has a phos of .22 and I have no algae issues.
Getting more cuc is a good way to raise it too.

 

[Trillaman954]

If you get more cuc it will balance out and raise.
But yes it technically would.
I have a 6 or 7 month old tank that has a phos of .22 and I have no algae issues.
Getting more cuc is a good way to raise it too.

Ok. And I understand, because corals also need phosphates so keeping it at 0 can hinder Coral growth. .hmm I have tiger conch, 6 blue hermits, 6 turbo snails and lawnmower blenny

 

[randomfishdude]

How big is the tank?

Ok. And I understand, because corals also need phosphates so keeping it at 0 can hinder Coral growth. .hmm I have tiger conch, 6 blue hermits, 6 turbo snails and lawnmower blenny

 

[Trillaman954]

How big is the tank?

20 gallon hex, no skimmer and dyi refugium with 24g of chaeto. Chaeto grew 6g in 7 days