Need help IDing nuisance if possible!

[Vdlibrtr]

hey all, ive had some red/brown spots showing up on my sand, lately its gotten a little worse and I don't really feed a whole lot. I got a test done at my lfs last week and everything was zero, (except nitrate which was like 5ppm or w.e) which can obviously be a problem. ive started to feed on a schedule, dosed chemi clean which didn't do anything and recently reupped on my clean up crew which also doesn't seem to have helped, other than weekly water changes is there anything I should do? and is there any way anyone can ID what it is??

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

How long has your tank been running?

 

[Paul31733]

Usually photos with white lights on work the best for help with i.d if you can take one. Also a cheap microscope can sometimes help identify if you can get a picture with your phone through the lens. If it is a dinoflagellate, you would need I believe only 400x zoom to get a good shot.

 

[Paul31733]

Usually photos with white lights on work the best for help with i.d if you can take one. Also a cheap microscope can sometimes help identify if you can get a picture with your phone through the lens. If it is a dinoflagellate, you would need I believe only 400x zoom to get a good shot.

I bought my microscope from toyz r us lol. It was like $40 but works to i.d. Dino's and other algaes.

 

[Vdlibrtr]

How long has your tank been running?

I started in a 25 peninsula over a year and a half ago, but in the last 4 months I upgraded to a new tank, same filter media and rock, but new sand

 

[Vdlibrtr]

Usually photos with white lights on work the best for help with i.d if you can take one. Also a cheap microscope can sometimes help identify if you can get a picture with your phone through the lens. If it is a dinoflagellate, you would need I believe only 400x zoom to get a good shot.

definitely will upload some soon with whites on. its more of a red, or brown. almost comes across looking like filament or slime when it builds up, creeps up the glass slightly but doesn't seem to be getting on rocks or corals, and when I stir it up or siphon it'll disappear for a few hours or the night if lights go out within a few hours.

 

[Vdlibrtr]

I bought my microscope from toyz r us lol. It was like $40 but works to i.d. Dino's and other algaes.

my lfs is convinced its not dinos as they say I would know because its so awful. how do you go about getting a sample? just scoop up some sand?