Microscope image - please help with ID

[Tower]

Hi guys,

Been running a small fowlr for over a couple of years now and have recently been fighting something. Any help with ID appreciated.

 

[Dan_P]

Hi guys,

Been running a small fowlr for over a couple of years now and have recently been fighting something. Any help with ID appreciated.

This appears to be hair algae (the wider filaments) infested with a very thin filament cyanobacteria. I would interpret this to mean that the hair algae is not doing well.

 

[Subsea]

Wow, this is your fist post in 2 years.

I don’t use microscopes, so I can’t help there. I trust what Dan says and I can see the Cynobacteria.

Macro Algae: Your Source For Quality Marine Plants and Macroalgae | Gulf Coast Ecosystems

We specialize in saltwater Macroalgae and Seagrass | GCE has the largest selection of Macroalgae online, offering over 35 different species

www.live-plants.com

I suspect you need some janitors. I like snails. Also depending on what fish you have, consider ornamental macro algae.

If you would, post a full tank shot under white light

 

[Tower]

Wow, this is your fist post in 2 years.

I don’t use microscopes, so I can’t help there. I trust what Dan says and I can see the Cynobacteria.

Macro Algae: Your Source For Quality Marine Plants and Macroalgae | Gulf Coast Ecosystems

We specialize in saltwater Macroalgae and Seagrass | GCE has the largest selection of Macroalgae online, offering over 35 different species

www.live-plants.com

I suspect you need some janitors. I like snails. Also depending on what fish you have, consider ornamental macro algae.

If you would, post a full tank shot under white light

I know, time flies right!?

I'll post a tank pic when I get home tonight

 

[Tower]

This appears to be hair algae (the wider filaments) infested with a very thin filament cyanobacteria. I would interpret this to mean that the hair algae is not doing well.

Thanks Dan. Sample taken from a small surface skimmer so high up in the tank. Is this also cyano and would you know what the dark blobs are?

I know, time flies right!?

I'll post a tank pic when I get home tonight

This appears to be hair algae (the wider filaments) infested with a very thin filament cyanobacteria. I would interpret this to mean that the hair algae is not doing well.

 

[Subsea]

Dark blobs are Cynobacteria.

 

[williamCreery]

Hi guys,

Been running a small fowlr for over a couple of years now and have recently been fighting something. Any help with ID appreciated.

Get some zebra turbo snails. Will solve that problem all day long

 

[taricha]

The magnified shots clarify a bit more.
It's a strand of gha as @Dan_P said, but with attached strands of diatoms I think.
Sometimes these attach in these funky zig-zag strand shapes

 

[Dan_P]

Thanks Dan. Sample taken from a small surface skimmer so high up in the tank. Is this also cyano and would you know what the dark blobs are?

At first I thought this was a string of diatoms, but when I looked closer, it looks like crumpled filamentous algae. The dark blobs could just be clumps of biofilm, possibly bacteria.

 

[Tower]

FTS under white light.

 

[Tower]

So, are we saying diatoms or cyano possibly or both?

 

[Tower]

So, are we saying diatoms or cyano possibly or both?

I don't have these I don't think.