Is this cyanobacteria or dinoflagellates?

[aglendinning]

Hey guys!

New to the reefing world and have hit my first issue!
I have a Fluval Sea EVO 52L Aquarium, cycled with live rock. Tanks been up and going about a month and a half now. I have two small clowns and just like week got a cleaner shrimp and two nassarius snails (although one as been MIA since I put him in there).

Trying to identify if the red hair like stuff is cyanobacteria or dinoflagellates (or something completely different)? I also have lots of bubbles over the tank, which add the start I thought was bobble algae but not convinced now it is?

So two things:
1. What is it?
2. What can I do to counter it? (Had been leaving it alone to see if things could settle, but the issue has gotten rapidly worse in the last few days)


Third bonus question - Anyone know what the coral is? Fairly certain its a type of zoa but not sure of its specific name. It came on the live rock :)


Thanks! (and sorry if this is in the wrong place)

 

[StartingATank]

Algae is probably cyano, and the Coral is in the zoa family, but don't think it is a zoa. I think it is a palythoa

 

[MikeReefs]

Cyano for sure. Check your levels and try to get to the bottom of what’s causing it. Tank looks pretty new so it can just be part of the uglies

 

[jdpeters]

Cyano

 

[MattyH]

Definitely cyano

 

[CHSUB]

Nuisance algae of all types, including dinos, Cyano. You have allowed it to become a problem, need to start removing it daily with turkey basting, scrubbing, and a fine net to catch it.

 

[aglendinning]

Thanks for the replies, appreciate it. Now to figure out what to do about it haha

 

[BonnieB]

To counter it, you first need to identify why you have it. Check your parameters carefully with good test kits (Hanna or Salifert recommended). Often it begins with bottomed out numbers. Next check your flow. Cyano thrives in low flow areas. After you do the recommended cleaning above (turkey baster and catch with a fine net) make sure you are positioning your Powerhead so this area is not being neglected in getting adequate flow. It might take some work, but the effort is worth the results!

 

[aglendinning]

To counter it, you first need to identify why you have it. Check your parameters carefully with good test kits (Hanna or Salifert recommended). Often it begins with bottomed out numbers. Next check your flow. Cyano thrives in low flow areas. After you do the recommended cleaning above (turkey baster and catch with a fine net) make sure you are positioning your Powerhead so this area is not being neglected in getting adequate flow. It might take some work, but the effort is worth the results!

Thanks for the tips! Took to it with the Turkey baster and got as much of it out as I could. Ive also reduce the time the light is on. At the moment I think my phosphate has bottomed out.

Nitrates may also be bottomed out but need to re-test today - my Hanna checker said 0 but Salifert kit showed up something in there.

Chatted with my local shop yesterday and they recommended turning my skimmer off (they have the same tank sitting and never run a skimmer in it). Also gave me some froozen food to try, but will do some more tests first and see how we are looking.