What Algae is this?

[kylevan]

Background:
My tank is 4 months and 20 days in. I have 2 clown fish, a small Tomoni Tang, a few nassarius snails, 3 Mexican turbo snails, 1 blue legged hermit crab, 2 emerald crabs, a queen conch for live stock. Corals I have 4 Zoa frags, 1 small acan frag, small 3 headed hammer, small sun coral, small pipe organ, BTA, GSP frag. My most recent test results are attached. I’ve been trying to figure out why my Nitrates and Phosphate is 0.0. Phosphate is maybe because I’m running Chemi-Pure Blue? I’ve done some research and think the algae is possibly Dinoflagellates? I thought hair algae previously but now seeing those I’m uncertain. It was a lot worse about 2 weeks ago but I scrubbed it with a tooth brush the best I could and dislodged a bunch.
Here is a link to my YT, I uploaded 4 shorts showing the algae

Kyle

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[Mr. Mojo Rising]

To me it looks like a mix of green hair algae and biofilm and micro algae's, but overall looks kind of normal for a 4 month old tank. I would increase the number of snails and just keep on top of regular maintenance, I don't think any action is needed. I do notice you have good flow up top, but down by the sand things are barely moving, I would try to increase the flow along the sandbed. IMO

 

[kylevan]

To me it looks like a mix of green hair algae and biofilm and micro algae's, but overall looks kind of normal for a 4 month old tank. I would increase the number of snails and just keep on top of regular maintenance, I don't think any action is needed. I do notice you have good flow up top, but down by the sand things are barely moving, I would try to increase the flow along the sandbed. IMO

I did turn off the return pump which adds a lot of flow to the rest of the tank for the video. Thanks for the advice! Could the algae be causing the 0 Nitrate and Phosphate?

 

[MeganV]

I think you most likely have a combination of things going on here, most likely related to the immaturity of the tank. I think you do probably have some dinos there, but I'm also wondering if that algae is crysophytes, which can be fueled by silicate.

I'd confirm your RODI isn't fueling the crysophytes. Overall I wouldn't consider this off-the-rails so don't go crazy trying to fix it. Just keep your head down with good husbandry and probably work on getting your nutrients detectable. It will most likely sort itself out.

 

[kylevan]

I think you most likely have a combination of things going on here, most likely related to the immaturity of the tank. I think you do probably have some dinos there, but I'm also wondering if that algae is crysophytes, which can be fueled by silicate.

I'd confirm your RODI isn't fueling the crysophytes. Overall I wouldn't consider this off-the-rails so don't go crazy trying to fix it. Just keep your head down with good husbandry and probably work on getting your nutrients detectable. It will most likely sort itself out.

I just got some Neo-Nitro and Neo-Phos to do just that! I’ll get them in normal range and just monitor for now. I don’t want to start treating for stuff if not needed