Help ID this.

[StartingATank]

So, this algae? popped up about 3 days ago, and has slowly been spreading on the substrate. I don't know if it is fungal, algae, or anything. Please help. My Nitrates are high because I just had 3-4 snails die, and possibly a goby, we haven't seen him for a week and a half. Phosphates are also high, about .14-.16. Its hard to see but it is kinda gray.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Not sure what you're circling, but the brown algae on your sand and rocks looks like a type of dinoflagulettes , thats bad stuff. Some dino's are toxic and can kill snails and even fish. There are lots of threads on this forum, but you can start a new thread to ask for help, I don't have experience with that to help you. Good luck

 

[StartingATank]

I have had dinos before and the stuff on the sand isn't dinos, I don't know what it is, and the thing I am circling is hard to see, but it looks kinda like green mold as the texture, but it is grey instead. But it does look like dinos but it isn't

 

[StartingATank]

Figured it out, since the way my current moves, it was a collection of fish poop

 

[Glenner’sreef]

“Fish poop” a really good reason to syphon your substrate. The algae and diatoms should be syphoned and scraped off the glass as well. Daily/weekly. Replace syphoned water with new salt water. These nuisance algae's are unwanted, and the more you mess with them the quicker they disappear.

 

[StartingATank]

It was about that time to clean the tank and I was confused on what that was

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Your Phosphates are feeding them. Add an additional pump to avoid dead spots, reduce your lighting schedule by 20 percent, add 5 or 10 hermits and a small bag of gfo in your sump. Things like these work while you’re sleeping or at work. Smart reefing lol

 

[StartingATank]

Yeah, I am testing my phosphates and they look extremely high, >.16 ppm. I am going to my lfs soon, because they are open on weird hours, but where would I get hermit shells that are Reef safe, they don't have shells at my lfs

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Yeah, I am testing my phosphates and they look extremely high, >.16 ppm. I am going to my lfs soon, because they are open on weird hours, but where would I get hermit shells that are Reef safe, they don't have shells at my lfs

Hermit crabs. They eat algae and detritus and will keep your substrate stirred up. Also check your ammonia levels. You’d mentioned dead snails and a goby. It might be time for a water change.

 

[StartingATank]

Hermit crabs. They eat algae and detritus and will keep your substrate stirred up. Also check your ammonia levels. You’d mentioned dead snails and a goby. It might be time for a water change.

Did a water change yesterday, snails died like half a week ago, I am going to get hermit crabs, but where would I get the shells they would move into when they get bigger, because my lfs doesn't sell them

 

[chip shop]

I wouldn’t put anything in till you can determine what killed your other livestock as said above I’d continue with water changes

 

[StartingATank]

I just think that only one of the snails died because it was a bad snail, but the other two that died were killed by the hermit I have. Goby is just hiding, I think

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Did a water change yesterday, snails died like half a week ago, I am going to get hermit crabs, but where would I get the shells they would move into when they get bigger, because my lfs doesn't sell them

I’ve actually ordered them online. Good prices.

 

[StartingATank]

I’ve actually ordered them online. Good prices.

Where from?

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Where from?

Just googled hermit crab shells amazon.