Vodka dosing

[jenreefer]

It could be dinoflagellates from the look or just brown algae. Hard to tell honestly. Is it on equipment like powerheads? does it blow off easily or stay put when you blow on it?

 

[KAV84]

It's only located on the sand bed. And is easily stirred up when I agitate the sand bed. Once sand bed is cleaned. It's back within a couple of hours

 

[KAV84]

I'll take better pictures when he lights ramp up in a couple hours

 

[KAV84]

This one is a little better. Can you see the bubbles ?

I do know one thing. I'm pretty proficient in killing corals.

 

[Waterjockey]

This one is a little better. Can you see the bubbles ?

I do know one thing. I'm pretty proficient in killing corals.

Take some of the algae and put it in a glass, and add some hydrogen peroxide and wait. If the peroxide turns pink it's likely cyanobacteria.
You really need to identify what it is to determine an effective treatment method

 

[KAV84]

Thank you for the info. I'll try that and proceed from there

 

[KAV84]

@Waterjockey

I tested peroxide in cup. No changes in color

I also dosed 5 ml of peroxide in tank which is 120 gallon. The orp normally ranges in the 380 mark, dropped to 246 immediately after dosing.

Here's the pic of test. With a high rate of peroxide No difference.

Earlier today started to vaccum the sand bed. Hours later it came back, not as strong but still present.

Any help on how I can get this algae under control

 

[Waterjockey]

@Waterjockey

I tested peroxide in cup. No changes in color

I also dosed 5 ml of peroxide in tank which is 120 gallon. The orp normally ranges in the 380 mark, dropped to 246 immediately after dosing.

Here's the pic of test. With a high rate of peroxide No difference.

Earlier today started to vaccum the sand bed. Hours later it came back, not as strong but still present.

Any help on how I can get this algae under control

The ORP drop when dosing peroxide is normal and temporary. It will come back up within a few hours.

If there was no change with the cup of peroxide, it likely isn't cyano (not conclusively, but not likely).
It could be dinoflagellates or spirulina.
If you syphon some into a cup, does it stay in small chunks, or combine back together into one mass after a short period? Dinos will tend to re-form back into a single mass.
If it's dinos metro + vibrant worked for me. Let's find out if that is what it is first.

Perhaps @twilliard can have a look at your pics and offer some guidance. Todd and company are far more experienced/better equipped to offer advice.

 

[KAV84]

I would say one large mass. I'll see if I can get better pictures tomorrow. The whole sand bed is covered again after vacuuming earlier today

 

[twilliard]

From the looks of the picture and the test it is likely spirulina.
I would have to see a sample under a microscope

 

[KAV84]

@twilliard

What would you do if you were in my situation? Obviously I don't have any experience or know of anyone with access to a microscope or knowledge in identifying algae ?

 

[Waterjockey]

@twilliard

What would you do if you were in my situation? Obviously I don't have any experience or know of anyone with access to a microscope or knowledge in identifying algae

Without being able to identify it, I would give Vibrant a try. Many people have reported success with it for various nuisance algaes. It finished off my dinoflagellate outbreak (so far...2 months dino free).

 

[KAV84]

@Waterjockey @twilliard

Here's a better picture

 

[twilliard]

Shh we will keep this on the DL but vibrant is not performing against cyanobacterias directly in my lab ;)
@Waterjockey

 

[twilliard]

@Waterjockey @twilliard

Here's a better picture

Honestly I would take a sample of that and send it my way. It looks too thin to be a cyano from the picture

 

[Waterjockey]

Shh we will keep this on the DL but vibrant is not performing against cyanobacterias directly in my lab ;)
@Waterjockey

I suspected as much based on my current experience. Thank you for all the investigating you do!
Started dosing H2o2 @ 1.25ml/10 gallons twice a day to address my current cyano outbreak.

 

[Waterjockey]

@Waterjockey @twilliard

Here's a better picture

That looks like Dinoflagellates to me. @twilliard has graciously offered to examine a sample for you, you'll know in short order what it is if you send him a sample.

 

[KAV84]

@twilliard

Thank you. I'll shoot you a dm

 

[twilliard]

@twilliard

Thank you. I'll shoot you a dm

You bet!