Diatoms or Dinos? Sorry I don’t have a microscope laying around. I don’t notice any bubbles but it’s getting darker brown everyday. Please assist

[malcb76]

 

[NonstopSoda]

Looks like a combo? I see Dinos and GHA but I might be wrong

 

[vetteguy53081]

Based on appearance , may be cyano bacteria with algae.
Test your water with a reliable test kit and see if the level is low or elevated. Higher often associated with cyano and lower Dino which I dont see some of the characteristics.
Is this tank by chance at or near a window?
Are you using RODI water or tap water for mixing salt or top offs?

 

[malcb76]

Based on appearance , may be cyano bacteria with algae.
Test your water with a reliable test kit and see if the level is low or elevated. Higher often associated with cyano and lower Dino which I dont see some of the characteristics.
Is this tank by chance at or near a window?
Are you using RODI water or tap water for mixing salt or top offs?

Thanks I battled Cyano a couple months ago and it went away. But now this. Started off a lighter shade of brown but over the last few weeks and a couple water changes here we are.

5 month old tank
Nitrates 6
Phosphates .09
PH 8
alk 8.3
RODI water 0TDS

 

[rtparty]

Dinos and hair algae

 

[UMALUM]

You don't need a microscope you need a siphon. Looks like undisturbed cyano has let some sort of algae take hold.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks I battled Cyano a couple months ago and it went away. But now this. Started off a lighter shade of brown but over the last few weeks and a couple water changes here we are.

5 month old tank
Nitrates 6
Phosphates .09
PH 8
alk 8.3
RODI water 0TDS

Im banking on cyano. If you find it less in the morning and coming right back in the day, may be cyano. First to locate cause. Water changes are important unlike what the perception of not doing one which reduces the organic content that feeds cyano especially if you have low flow at your tank bottom..
Some of the most common causes include:
- Protein skimmer which fills water with air bubbles which form from the reaction chamber allow dissolved organic compound molecules stick to them. Foam forms at the surface of the water and is then transferred to the collection cup, where it settles as skim-mate. When a protein skimmer is ineffective or absent or cant keep up with the tank, the air bubbles created might be insufficient and can trigger this outbreak .
- Use of Aminos can actually feed them.
- Overstocking / overfeeding, your tank with nutrients is often the cause of cyano
- Adding live rock that isn’t completely cured will act as a breeding ground for this red slime .
- If you don’t change your water regularly, you’ll soon have this red substance. Regular water changes dissolve nutrients which feed cyano
- Using water with nitrates or phosphates is a base for cyano. . . . . Tap water is an example of po4 and no3 introduction.
- Inadequate water flow is often a chief cause of cyano as slow moving water combined with excess dissolved nutrients creates red slime algae development

I recommend to reduce white light intensity or even turn them off for 3-5 days. Add liquid bacteria daily for a week during the day at 1.5ml per 10 gallons. Add Hydrogen peroxide at night at 1ml per 10 gallons. Add a pouch of chemipure Elite which will balance phos and nitrate and keep them in check.

After the 5 days, add a few snails such as cerith, margarita, astrea and nassarius plus 6-8 blue leg hermits to take control.

 

[malcb76]

Im banking on cyano. If you find it less in the morning and coming right back in the day, may be cyano. First to locate cause. Water changes are important unlike what the perception of not doing one which reduces the organic content that feeds cyano especially if you have low flow at your tank bottom..
Some of the most common causes include:
- Protein skimmer which fills water with air bubbles which form from the reaction chamber allow dissolved organic compound molecules stick to them. Foam forms at the surface of the water and is then transferred to the collection cup, where it settles as skim-mate. When a protein skimmer is ineffective or absent or cant keep up with the tank, the air bubbles created might be insufficient and can trigger this outbreak .
- Use of Aminos can actually feed them.
- Overstocking / overfeeding, your tank with nutrients is often the cause of cyano
- Adding live rock that isn’t completely cured will act as a breeding ground for this red slime .
- If you don’t change your water regularly, you’ll soon have this red substance. Regular water changes dissolve nutrients which feed cyano
- Using water with nitrates or phosphates is a base for cyano. . . . . Tap water is an example of po4 and no3 introduction.
- Inadequate water flow is often a chief cause of cyano as slow moving water combined with excess dissolved nutrients creates red slime algae development

I recommend to reduce white light intensity or even turn them off for 3-5 days. Add liquid bacteria daily for a week during the day at 1.5ml per 10 gallons. Add Hydrogen peroxide at night at 1ml per 10 gallons. Add a pouch of chemipure Elite which will balance phos and nitrate and keep them in check.

After the 5 days, add a few snails such as cerith, margarita, astrea and nassarius plus 6-8 blue leg hermits to take control.I

have pretty good supply of CUC, all of which you mentioned. I'm confused because this algae doesnt show any purple or redness.. just brown. No doubt that you are more experienced than I am, but I dont think this is Dinos either? It doesnt appear stringy and I dont notice any bubbles forming. With that said, can Cyano be dark brown like this?

This tank is 5 mos. old, all dry rock.. There are still several small pieces of dry rock sitting in my sump for at least the past 2 months now. Could that be causing the outbreak (diatoms)?
A little over a month ago, my nutrients bottomed out. Phosphates and Nitrates were 0. For the last month I got it back up (Phos .9, nitrates 5-6). Now the sand has gotten worse. I will try to treat for Cyano again with chemi clean. I will look closely at my skimmer as well, thank you for the advice!

 

[vetteguy53081]

This tank is 5 mos. old, all dry rock.. There are still several small pieces of dry rock sitting in my sump for at least the past 2 months now. Could that be causing the outbreak (diatoms)?
A little over a month ago, my nutrients bottomed out. Phosphates and Nitrates were 0. For the last month I got it back up (Phos .9, nitrates 5-6). Now the sand has gotten worse. I will try to treat for Cyano again with chemi clean. I will look closely at my skimmer as well, thank you for the advice!

Yes on rocks as a contributor to this and how are you testing nitrate and phos levels?
Chemi clean is alternative and often not solution as is identifying the cause.

 

[Clarkjw2002]

Here's a way to test without a microscope.

Suck some up and put in a container. Stir vigorously to suspend the algae. Place a paper towel on top of another container and pour the stirred water/algae mix through. Let sit for a few minutes.

If the algae clumps back together then it is Dinos, if not, then cyano or another form of algae.

Dino outbreaks are common after chemical treatments for cyano in tanks started with dry rock, especially when nutrients are bottomed out.

The color looks like Dinos but the texture not so much so I'd do the above test to confirm what you are dealing with. Diatoms are dusty and usually appear within a week of after the cycle on a new tank.

 

[malcb76]

Yes on rocks as a contributor to this and how are you testing nitrate and phos levels?
Chemi clean is alternative and often not solution as is identifying the cause.

I use Hanna checkers for both Phos & Nitrates. after I posted last night I tested again. Phos .06 Nitrates 2.4