Algae ID

[Jeffroc]

I’m desperately seeking help or guidance to ID whatever has taken over my 40 gal reef tank. My tank has been running for approximately 6 months. It is a 40 gal. AIO. I have been dosing Tim’s waste away for the last two weeks with no improvement. I have recently (yesterday) treated with chemiclean, also with no possitive results. I realize the treatment commonly takes 2 to 3 days but would have expected some improvement after 24 hours. The substance multiplies when lights are on but lessens over night. I have been blasting it off rocks and gravel with a turkey baster twice a day but it returns quickly. I also perform 15% water changes weekly. My parameters are as follows; Temp- 78, Sal- 1.025, Nitrate- 5, Kh- 9.1, Mag- 1220, Cal- 450, PH- 8.0, PO4- .1. I have done a lot of research and have no clear identification but I am leaning toward Gelidium which I have read horror stories regarding how difficult it is to remove completely. I have attached a video and pics for help with ID. I do not have a microscope and will purchase one if I get a reasonable consensus on a possible Dino ID. I appreciate any assistance you can provide.

 

[Jeffroc]

Seems my video is unavailable.

 

[Lavey29]

Needs pics under white light but first impression is dinos. Get a cheap microscope to ID.

 

[Jeffroc]

Let’s try this video.

 

[Lavey29]

Let’s try this video.

Need to see it under white light. That appears to be GHA on the rocks but need better views.

 

[Jeffroc]

White light pics.

 

[Lavey29]

Looks like GHA on the rocks but I'm unsure of the sand. Dinos typically hit the sand and GHA the rocks.

Do daily manual removal. Siphon sand with weekly water changes. Cut lights to 6 hours with blue and uv only no whites. Get a diverse cleaner crew with turbos and tuxedo urchins. Raise magnesium to 1500. Dose PNS probio weekly which is a natural heterotrophic bacteria that eliminates organic waste.

You are in the middle of the ugly phase which typically goes for most of the first year.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m desperately seeking help or guidance to ID whatever has taken over my 40 gal reef tank. My tank has been running for approximately 6 months. It is a 40 gal. AIO. I have been dosing Tim’s waste away for the last two weeks with no improvement. I have recently (yesterday) treated with chemiclean, also with no possitive results. I realize the treatment commonly takes 2 to 3 days but would have expected some improvement after 24 hours. The substance multiplies when lights are on but lessens over night. I have been blasting it off rocks and gravel with a turkey baster twice a day but it returns quickly. I also perform 15% water changes weekly. My parameters are as follows; Temp- 78, Sal- 1.025, Nitrate- 5, Kh- 9.1, Mag- 1220, Cal- 450, PH- 8.0, PO4- .1. I have done a lot of research and have no clear identification but I am leaning toward Gelidium which I have read horror stories regarding how difficult it is to remove completely. I have attached a video and pics for help with ID. I do not have a microscope and will purchase one if I get a reasonable consensus on a possible Dino ID. I appreciate any assistance you can provide.

Im seeing cyano but not ruling out dinoflagellates but im leaning towards cyano. Cyano typically emerges when nutrient concentrations of phosphate, nitrate and other organic compounds are too high where there are areas with little flow, detritus builds up and becomes a base for cyano. Water changes are important unlike what the perception of not doing one which reduces the organic content that feeds cyano. Often some causes are overfeeding, lack of water movement, no or improper skimming, use of tap water and use of aminos which can feed cyano.
I recommend to reduce white light intensity or even turn them off for 3-5 days. Add liquid bacteria daily for a week during the day at 1.5ml per 10 gallons. Add Hydrogen peroxide at night at 1ml per 10 gallons. Add a pouch of chemipure Elite if nitrate and phosphate are elevated which will balance phos and nitrate and keep them in check. This step will also address dino should it be present

After the 5 days, add a few snails such as cerith, margarita, astrea and nassarius plus 6-8 blue leg hermits to take control.

 

[Jeffroc]

Looks like GHA on the rocks but I'm unsure of the sand. Dinos typically hit the sand and GHA the rocks.

Do daily manual removal. Siphon sand with weekly water changes. Cut lights to 6 hours with blue and uv only no whites. Get a diverse cleaner crew with turbos and tuxedo urchins. Raise magnesium to 1500. Dose PNS probio weekly which is a natural heterotrophic bacteria that eliminates organic waste.

You are in the middle of the ugly phase which typically goes for most of the first year.

I’m worried cutting lighting will have adverse effects on the few coral I have.

 

[Lavey29]

I’m worried cutting lighting will have adverse effects on the few coral I have.

you only do it for 2 weeks. Corals don't need white light is for viewing pleasure.

And using harsh chemicals like chemiclean killed off what little biome and good bacteria your tank had at 6 months and moved you backwards multiple months.

 

[Jeffroc]

Looks like GHA on the rocks but I'm unsure of the sand. Dinos typically hit the sand and GHA the rocks.

Do daily manual removal. Siphon sand with weekly water changes. Cut lights to 6 hours with blue and uv only no whites. Get a diverse cleaner crew with turbos and tuxedo urchins. Raise magnesium to 1500. Dose PNS probio weekly which is a natural heterotrophic bacteria that eliminates organic waste.

You are in the middle of the ugly phase which typically goes for most of the first year.

Looks like GHA on the rocks but I'm unsure of the sand. Dinos typically hit the sand and GHA the rocks.

Do daily manual removal. Siphon sand with weekly water changes. Cut lights to 6 hours with blue and uv only no whites. Get a diverse cleaner crew with turbos and tuxedo urchins. Raise magnesium to 1500. Dose PNS probio weekly which is a natural heterotrophic bacteria that eliminates organic waste.

You are in the middle of the ugly phase which typically goes for most of the first year.

you only do it for 2 weeks. Corals don't need white light is for viewing pleasure.

And using harsh chemicals like chemiclean killed off what little biome and good bacteria your tank had at 6 months and moved you backwards multiple months

This is my lighting schedule. I can lower the amount of white light to zero. And start adding bacteria supplement to replenish biome.

you only do it for 2 weeks. Corals don't need white light is for viewing pleasure.

And using harsh chemicals like chemiclean killed off what little biome and good bacteria your tank had at 6 months and moved you backwards multiple months.

 

[Jeffroc]

This is my lighting schedule. I can lower the amount of white light to zero. And start adding bacteria supplement to replenish biome.

 

[Jeffroc]

Im seeing cyano but not ruling out dinoflagellates but im leaning towards cyano. Cyano typically emerges when nutrient concentrations of phosphate, nitrate and other organic compounds are too high where there are areas with little flow, detritus builds up and becomes a base for cyano. Water changes are important unlike what the perception of not doing one which reduces the organic content that feeds cyano. Often some causes are overfeeding, lack of water movement, no or improper skimming, use of tap water and use of aminos which can feed cyano.
I recommend to reduce white light intensity or even turn them off for 3-5 days. Add liquid bacteria daily for a week during the day at 1.5ml per 10 gallons. Add Hydrogen peroxide at night at 1ml per 10 gallons. Add a pouch of chemipure Elite if nitrate and phosphate are elevated which will balance phos and nitrate and keep them in check. This step will also address dino should it be present

After the 5 days, add a few snails such as cerith, margarita, astrea and nassarius plus 6-8 blue leg hermits to take control.

Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[Solo McReefer]

It is a .mov file

It will only play on Apple devices

 

[Solo McReefer]

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