ID Please - coating flat surfaces, thin matt, Scope Pictures Included

Deltec

Daveobrien

Active Member
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
View Badges
Joined
Sep 9, 2011
Messages
151
Reaction score
252
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
Location
Portland, OR
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I've got this thin (~1mm) costing of matt like algae growing on flat surfaces of my frag tank. Seems photo synthetic, doesn't grow in the shade. Snails don't seem to like it. When I scrape, it comes off in slight sheets. Overall redish-brown colored.

I have Dinos in my display tank, so microscope is out regularly. Put some of this under the microscope. Basically zero movement, this doesn't appear to be massive dinos. I don't think this is the structure of Cyano. But not an expert.

ID help please
  • (two scope photos are same slide, with different focus)
  • (frag tank photo shows the spot I collected the sample on the floor of the tank, left side mid tank.)

IMG_3927.jpg


IMG_3928.jpg


IMG_3931.jpg
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
Orphek OR3 reef aquarium LED bar
AS

dwest

2500 Club Member
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
View Badges
Joined
Feb 27, 2018
Messages
4,265
Reaction score
9,122
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
Location
Northern KY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I agree the macro pics look like cyano but scope shots do not. Also OP doesn’t think cyano. No motion so I don’t think dinos. The color doesn’t match up perfectly but I suspect chrysophytes.

 
OP
OP
Daveobrien

Daveobrien

Active Member
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
View Badges
Joined
Sep 9, 2011
Messages
151
Reaction score
252
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
Location
Portland, OR
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I agree the macro pics look like cyano but scope shots do not. Also OP doesn’t think cyano. No motion so I don’t think dinos. The color doesn’t match up perfectly but I suspect chrysophytes.

Thanks for the interpretation and the links.
There were questions on color, so here's a photo under LEDs set to "white." For reference, that's a classic red monti-cap in the immediate front.

IMG_3942.jpg
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
OP
OP
Daveobrien

Daveobrien

Active Member
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
View Badges
Joined
Sep 9, 2011
Messages
151
Reaction score
252
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
Location
Portland, OR
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It's a dino, in my opinion but there is not enough detail to ID which kind.
I'll fix that with a new scope run tonight. In the mean time, here's a snap of had of it zoomed in. Not as good as I'd like, but it's ready now.

IMG_3944.jpg
 

taricha

5000 Club Member
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
View Badges
Joined
May 22, 2016
Messages
5,485
Reaction score
8,153
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I take it back. Those are all going to be diatoms, something like coscinodiscus. They are like hamburgers, the different shapes just come from seeing them at different angles.
google photo for comparison
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
OP
OP
Daveobrien

Daveobrien

Active Member
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
View Badges
Joined
Sep 9, 2011
Messages
151
Reaction score
252
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
Location
Portland, OR
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I take it back. Those are all going to be diatoms, something like coscinodiscus. They are like hamburgers, the different shapes just come from seeing them at different angles.
google photo for comparison
BINGO! That's exactly what they look like when I scroll around the microscope slide. I didn't realize this could be a diatom.

The rapid grow of this stuff is explained!
This is in my frag tank, sharing common sump with display setup. Display tank is fighting LCA dinos, so I've been dosing Silica, finally up to the 2-3ppm range. And now I know who's comsuming it.

As an FYI, this is Not where I need diatoms to out complete dinos. I need it in the display tank. Therefore, my treatment is going to be simple. Drain, Bleach, and Dry the frag tank and racks. Then refill, and move livestock back in. Yes, the livestock will still have these diatoms on them, but It'll greatly reduce the volume in the system right away. Task for this weekend!
 
OP
OP
Daveobrien

Daveobrien

Active Member
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
View Badges
Joined
Sep 9, 2011
Messages
151
Reaction score
252
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
Location
Portland, OR
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Update for those who helped.
- Life stock moved out (it helps to have twin frag tanks)
- Frag tank drained
- tank cleaned and a touch of bleach in the driveway
- reinstalled & refilled
- Livestock moved back. (Hint, those are sparkly clean walls and tank floor)
IMG_3994.jpg

66527873864__795D949A-375F-47E5-B318-7F3E70E444CD.jpg


66528218190__07349EB1-B045-45B9-80C2-B3649477CFA1.jpg


IMG_3997.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3994.jpg
    IMG_3994.jpg
    223.1 KB · Views: 10
AS
OP
OP
Daveobrien

Daveobrien

Active Member
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
View Badges
Joined
Sep 9, 2011
Messages
151
Reaction score
252
Review score
+0 /0 /-0
Location
Portland, OR
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
+1wk Update.
Tank still looks nice and clean. There appears to be a very small patch possibly regrowing on the tank floor, back left corner. It's interesting, this is in the slight shadows. Still get's light, but there is plenty of other floor space in more direct light.
Nothing a slight scraper wont handle.


IMG_4102.jpg


IMG_4103.jpg
 
Deltec

Polyp polynomial: How many heads do you start with when buying zoas?

  • One head is enough to get started.

    Votes: 27 10.6%
  • 2 to 4 heads.

    Votes: 145 57.1%
  • 5 heads or more.

    Votes: 65 25.6%
  • Full colony.

    Votes: 10 3.9%
  • Other.

    Votes: 7 2.8%
Back
Top