Hello! We have some hairy brown algae coming and going (snail and shrimp cuc) in the ugly phase about 2.5 months old 65-gallon dry rock bare bottom tank, (BioSpira, copepods, adding eco pods soon, showing a few tiny early signs of coralline from seeding).
To the best of my recollection, these are recent parameters:
Salinity 1.027
Alkalinity 9
Phosphate 0
Nitrate 14.5
ph 7.3 (has been better with a CO2 scrubber, putting one back on soon)
I attached a few pictures and a video, some under a digital microscope and some not. There was a somewhat metallic smell from the rock I took the sample from. One microscope photo has the algae on a regular sized toothpick. It’s just a microscope that adjusts height up and down and a fine focus knob, “50-1000X” digital zoom so I’m not exactly sure the power. Anyone know what those little things that look like watermelon seeds are?
Any help on ID anything in the photos or general advice and encouragement? I’ll also take suggestions on getting a nicer microscope if needed.
YouTube link for video:
Thanks!
Mandy
![DFC41ABC-4ED3-408A-89D9-2810A70148CF.jpeg DFC41ABC-4ED3-408A-89D9-2810A70148CF.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674859-92bf589a4443ddca74c8388db0d49862.jpg)
To the best of my recollection, these are recent parameters:
Salinity 1.027
Alkalinity 9
Phosphate 0
Nitrate 14.5
ph 7.3 (has been better with a CO2 scrubber, putting one back on soon)
I attached a few pictures and a video, some under a digital microscope and some not. There was a somewhat metallic smell from the rock I took the sample from. One microscope photo has the algae on a regular sized toothpick. It’s just a microscope that adjusts height up and down and a fine focus knob, “50-1000X” digital zoom so I’m not exactly sure the power. Anyone know what those little things that look like watermelon seeds are?
Any help on ID anything in the photos or general advice and encouragement? I’ll also take suggestions on getting a nicer microscope if needed.
YouTube link for video:
Thanks!
Mandy
![WIN_20220714_17_17_44_Pro.jpeg WIN_20220714_17_17_44_Pro.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674794-f2f76a75c21392cadbeaa7a80c576ea2.jpg)
![WIN_20220714_17_19_17_Pro.jpeg WIN_20220714_17_19_17_Pro.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674795-b2c4c3cc5a454b8dd605ef4a233bafc2.jpg)
![WIN_20220714_17_25_57_Pro.jpeg WIN_20220714_17_25_57_Pro.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674796-4f92bc750175c91f7ba9db2524064ecc.jpg)
![WIN_20220714_17_34_55_Pro.jpeg WIN_20220714_17_34_55_Pro.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674798-c978b2707eda058eebae395aed0dcd5e.jpg)
![99E047F1-3E6E-479D-9A8D-DC3EEE5EE9B7.jpeg 99E047F1-3E6E-479D-9A8D-DC3EEE5EE9B7.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674801-83a4c27b4e03c4c7512d1d6e1327456b.jpg)
![B6CD3ED1-701C-47BC-BC48-F3188D3B636C.jpeg B6CD3ED1-701C-47BC-BC48-F3188D3B636C.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674857-4c4f4f4e06012d77ed906a7621f7d99c.jpg)
![08B0BEF6-4D6D-4D02-95C4-6239CD378036.jpeg 08B0BEF6-4D6D-4D02-95C4-6239CD378036.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674858-468bf3d5bc7b491824655ca871450b02.jpg)
![DFC41ABC-4ED3-408A-89D9-2810A70148CF.jpeg DFC41ABC-4ED3-408A-89D9-2810A70148CF.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2674/2674859-92bf589a4443ddca74c8388db0d49862.jpg)
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