Id on this algea please

[Jason mack]

Ok I'm asking for a Dutch friend of mine ..he asked me too try and ID this algea ....

Kast 2 photos are under the microscope.
Any help ID ing
Thanks in advance ..

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

The top pics look like green hair algae. The stuff at the bottom looks like cyanobacteria.
Can you easily remove the stuff on the sand with additional flow or a turkey baster?

 

[Jason mack]

The top pics look like green hair algae. The stuff at the bottom looks like cyanobacteria.
Can you easily remove the stuff on the sand with additional flow or a turkey baster?

Its definitely not cyno ..that was my first thought ...its also not dinoflagetties either ...

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

It could just be GHA. What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

looks like there is a couple things going on there. Diatoms possibly and you have aiptasia...

 

[Sashaka]

Sort of looks like Nannochloropsis spp. - microalgae living in freshwater and seawater that are related to diatoms and brown algae: https://massivesci.com/articles/iwi-algae-protein-nannochloropsis-food-essential-amino-acids/ .

I am no expert on algae though, so I'll let the experts weigh in on it. I am fighting something similar since treating for bryopsis and turf algae. The treatment got rid of the problem algae but it upset the natural balance of the tank and now I have a new problem...similar to what you are seeing in your tank. Chemi Clean did not touch it.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I've never has diatoms look fuzzy like that. Mine are always very "dusty" and easily dispersed.

 

[Jason mack]

Sort of looks like Nannochloropsis spp. - microalgae living in freshwater and seawater that are related to diatoms and brown algae: https://massivesci.com/articles/iwi-algae-protein-nannochloropsis-food-essential-amino-acids/ .

I am no expert on algae though, so I'll let the experts weigh in on it. I am fighting something similar since treating for bryopsis and turf algae. The treatment got rid of the problem algae but it upset the natural balance of the tank and now I have a new problem...similar to what you are seeing in your tank. Chemi Clean did not touch it.

Ok thanks that looks close actually ....

 

[Katrina71]

Did you by chance have a long bout with cyano there before?

 

[Jason mack]

Ok again it's not my tank ..its from a friend ...tank is about16 weeks old ...the algea is slimy ..
No3 is 5
Po4 is 0.03

 

[Jason mack]

Did you by chance have a long bout with cyano there before?

No hed been battling dinos

 

[Jason mack]

This is the tank

 

[Sashaka]

Ok thanks that looks close actually ....

It could also be bacteria, though I'm not sure what kind it might be.

 

[Katrina71]

Andrew had one area that looked the same in his tank. Added 4 ninja star snails...gone. his is a 32 gallon, so you might adjust for your size.

 

[Sashaka]

Andrew had one area that looked the same in his tank. Added 4 ninja star snails...gone. his is a 32 gallon, so you might adjust for your size.

Hey, good idea. I think I have some ninja stars in one of my other tanks. I may try that too. Thanks!

 

[Katrina71]

His felt slimy too. Almost like a decaying plant.

 

[Jason mack]

Andrew had one area that looked the same in his tank. Added 4 ninja star snails...gone. his is a 32 gallon, so you might adjust for your size.

Never heard of ninja star snails ...now I have too go google ...

 

[Katrina71]

Let me give you the real name. I forgot.

 

[Jason mack]

Let me give you the real name. I forgot.

 

[Katrina71]

Spiny Star Astraea