Gut Check on Cyano and GHA

[RWReefer]

Just looking for confirmation that what appears to be in my tank is Cyano and GHA.

New tank. Dry sand and rock with some rock rubble in sump. Diatoms already shown so assuming this is just the natural ugly phase process.

Cycled completed 9/6. Diatoms showed up 9/21.

 

[splunty]

The red splotches producing oxygen bubbles look like cyanobacteria.

If the little green tufts have frond-like tops, they are bryposis -- otherwise some kind of hair algae. It's blurry but looks like both are in there.

What are your nutrients at?

 

[RWReefer]

The red splotches producing oxygen bubbles look like cyanobacteria.

If the little green tufts have frond-like tops, they are bryposis -- otherwise some kind of hair algae. It's blurry but looks like both are in there.

What are your nutrients at?

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

pH: 8.2
Temp: 77.5F
Salinity: 1.0255
Nitrate: 9.7ppm
PO4: 0.2ppm
Alk: 5.8
Cal: 420
Mag: 1350

Will do some reading up on byropsis. As of now I’m only dealing with two clowns. Clean up crew of various snails and a pitho crab coming early next week.

 

[splunty]

5.8 Alkalinity seems surprisingly low for such a young tank especially with your pH and calcium spot on. Cyanobacteria love high PO4 and low alkalinity, but the latter seems like it could be testing error?

Do you mind sharing what testing kit you are using and what salt mix you're using?

 

[RWReefer]

5.8 Alkalinity seems surprisingly low for such a young tank especially with your pH and calcium spot on. Cyanobacteria love high PO4 and low alkalinity, but the latter seems like it could be testing error?

Do you mind sharing what testing kit you are using and what salt mix you're using?

I agree on the alk. It’s the one parameter that has been low from the start.

Using Aquaforest salt that should be giving me 7.7-8.3 based on my salinity. I’m probably going to move over to Red Sea here on the next purchase. Less concerned about alk right now as I don’t plan on adding corals for a little while.

For test kits I use Hanna for dkh, NO3, and PO4 and salifert for calc and mag. I also use a pipette for measuring out the test water to aid in consistency between tests.

 

[splunty]

I agree on the alk. It’s the one parameter that has been low from the start.

Using Aquaforest salt that should be giving me 7.7-8.3 based on my salinity. I’m probably going to move over to Red Sea here on the next purchase. Less concerned about alk right now as I don’t plan on adding corals for a little while.

For test kits I use Hanna for dkh, NO3, and PO4 and salifert for calc and mag. I also use a pipette for measuring out the test water to aid in consistency between tests.

How strange. I use Aquaforest as well, and my new water tests at 8.0 at 1.026.

It would 'waste' reagent but you could test a fresh batch of saltwater just to make sure. If it still tests that low, I would personally be more suspicious of your reagent or meter than the salt.

Best of luck! I've got a punk rock trochus right now with GHA growing on either side of his shell. I guess it's time to get him a haircut.

 

[RWReefer]

How strange. I use Aquaforest as well, and my new water tests at 8.0 at 1.026.

It would 'waste' reagent but you could test a fresh batch of saltwater just to make sure. If it still tests that low, I would personally be more suspicious of your reagent or meter than the salt.

Best of luck! I've got a punk rock trochus right now with GHA growing on either side of his shell. I guess it's time to get him a haircut.

That’s a good suggestion. I’ll take a reading on the next salt batch to compare. I’ve done a few water changes and it has just been sitting between 5.8-6.3 from the start.