Still Diatoms... or film algae, etc?

[Coxey81]

So, my tank which is about 8 months old (BUT had new sand added 4 months ago) started having diatoms pop up on the sand bed a little over a month ago when I upped my light period from 4.5 to 9 hours.

That lasted a week or two and they spread all over... but since then they have been replaced with what looks like the same thing except the color has changed to more of a yellowish green.

It's also appears to be the same thing growing on the glass which looks like film algae most likely.

This stuff grows quick. I'll stir up the sand bed and it's pretty much taken over the sand again by the next evening.

Running only blue lights.

N03 has been between 3 and 10ppm

PO4 between .03 and .1 ppm

First pic is what I believed to be diatoms that started a month ago... second pic and others is what I have now.

Thank with any help.

 

[polyppal]

Do you run RODI? Diatoms usually result from silicates not filtered out in the water supply

 

[Coxey81]

Do you run RODI? Diatoms usually result from silicates not filtered out in the water supply

Yes, 6 stage RODI. TDS is zero.

But like I said. I added new dry sand which can add silicates about 4 months ago and just turned the lights up. That's when this all started.

 

[moz71]

Does the green stuff look slimy when stir it? Kinda looks like green cyano!

 

[Coxey81]

Does the green stuff look slimy when stir it? Kinda looks like green cyano!

No, not slimy. Kind of clumps up into little balls. And it's a very thin layer on top of the sand.

Here is what it looks like after I stirred it up.

 

[moz71]

No, not slimy. Kind of clumps up into little balls. And it's a very thin layer on top of the sand.

Here is what it looks like after I stirred it up.

Hmm interesting well I never heard of green diatoms! Either beginning of a basic algae or still might be beginning of green cyano. Do you see any clean up crew eat it?

 

[Coxey81]

Hmm interesting well I never heard of green diatoms! Either beginning of a basic algae or still might be beginning of green cyano. Do you see any clean up crew eat it?

No, nothing seems to eat it off the sand. If it is the same stuff on the glass, the turbos eat it from there but they can't keep up as I only have three big ones.

But I also only have two small sand sifting snails (Nassirus).

My clean up crew is pretty small. Plan on upping it alot next month. Reefcleaners shipping is crazy high for the holidays.

 

[moz71]

Just asked because if they were eating it probably basic algae. If it is cyano I am sure going to get worse before better. Hope that’s not what it is. I only say this from your pics growing only in lite areas in sand which I seen before. Only way to definitely determine is a cheap microscope and compare to identification on this site. As there are several threads describing

 

[Coxey81]

Just asked because if they were eating it probably basic algae. If it is cyano I am sure going to get worse before better. Hope that’s not what it is. I only say this from your pics growing only in lite areas in sand which I seen before. Only way to definitely determine is a cheap microscope and compare to identification on this site. As there are several threads describing

K, I'm really thinking it's film algae.

Cause on the glass that is exactly what it looks like and it seems to just extend from the glass to the sand and is pretty much the same color. I just dont really have any sand snails to eat it, so I think that's why I'm not seeing anything eating it.

All the snails I have stick to the glass and rocks.

Would a urchin eat if off the sand? I want one anyway cause I think they are really neat.

 

[polyppal]

I’d say no need for alarm, likely due to changes tank is in some ways recycling. Diatoms are no threat though, just see them through and your you’ll be fine

 

[Coxey81]

I’d say no need for alarm, likely due to changes tank is in some ways recycling. Diatoms are no threat though, just see them through and your you’ll be fine

Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out if it is still diatoms for sure. And if not, then what to do about it.

 

[chipchipbro]

update? im interested

 

[Coxey81]

update? im interested

So after more research I'm thinking it is possibly a type of green cyano. Because although it doesn't appear slimy on the sand bed, when it is scraped off the glass it does come off in strips that sometimes roll up as being scraped and sometimes don't.

If I gather it and bring out the roll, it is definitely slimy. And the only thing I have come across that fits these descriptions is some type of cyano.

I ordered some chemiclean that came in yesterday and plan on dosing it today actually. If that clears it up it should confirm it is indeed a bacteria.

I'll update on Friday as the treatment lasts 48 hours.

 

[Coxey81]

update? im interested

So, I dosed the chemiclean Wednesday evening and waited until Friday.

It didn't appear to have alot of effect visually. However, Friday eving after the 48 hours I cleaned the glass and performed a 20% water change and vacummed the sand and got the tank looking pretty good.

Nothing has grown back since then and normally it would grow back almost immediately on sand bed and within a few days on the glass. So, so far so good.

It did cause a PO4 and NO3 spike, I assume because it killed off what I now believe was green cyanobacteria.

So, we will just have to see if it stays away. Chemiclean is currently still in the system and the protein skimmer is foaming over.

I'm debating on whether I should perform anthother water change or wait and just do one at my next scheduled time.

 

[Coxey81]

Some pics before I vaccummed and while I was cleaning the glass.. also some video after it was scrapped off the glass.

 

[Coxey81]

Pics from today, two days after cleaning.