Is this a diatom bloom?

[CudasReef]

Hey guys! I'm making this thread to hopefully confirm that I should keep being patient. Ive had this tank running for about 5 months now. It went through what I thought was a Diotom bloom at about three months, but the algae remained mainly on the sand for about a week then dissapeared. About a month ago I added some more caribsea liferock and about a week later this bloom started. Im assuming the silicates released from the rock have caused this. Id like your guys' opinion on it. Is it diotoms? Should I keep being patient and let it run its course? The algae is starting to get longer and covor more of the rock. Its fairly easy to remove with a toothbrush so ive been trying to brush around the coral to keep it at bay

my tank is a 65 gal with about 15 snails (trochus and astraea) 5 hermits and an amerald crab. I have 7 fish and about 11 frags of coral. I do weekly 10-15% water changes. My filtration includes 2 filter socks and a skimmer.

Nitrates 6.1 (hanna)
Phosphate 0.06 (hanna)
Ph 8.0 (api)

 

[Uncle99]

What about Alk, CA, MG and Salinity?
All need stability to keep pest stuff at bay.
If stable, for how many months continuous?

 

[CudasReef]

Salinity I keep stable, check everyday. I just recently got an Alk and CA tester (New to the hobby and trying to spread out the expenses) Not sure how stable, but with my weekly waterchanges I assumed it would decently stable. Alk is 9.0 Calc is 407

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

That looks like cyanobacteria to me

 

[CudasReef]

Looking at the pictures, the color is a lot more red than in person. Let me see if I can get you guys some pictures with just straight white lighting.

 

[Lavey29]

Does it blow off or disappear at night?

 

[CudasReef]

It gets better at night for sure. Especially the algae on the sand. Then gets progressively worse as the day goes on.

 

[CudasReef]

Heres with lights off. You can see its quite brown.

 

[Lavey29]

Heres with lights off. You can see its quite brown.

That looks like dinos to me but you need a cheap microscope to confirm

 

[CudasReef]

Oh really? I was under the impression that dinos are more slimey? This is more hairy haha

 

[Lavey29]

Oh really? I was under the impression that dinos are more slimey? This is more hairy haha

You said it disappears at night. Do you use RODI water? Caribe sea rock is not releasing silicate so unless you are introducing to the tank via your water, they should have used up all the silicate in the sand early on. Your nutrient numbers are ok but to low for my taste. You can try and wait it out. Severe diatoms can resemble dinos so perhaps it goes away. If it doesn't then you might want to get a cheap microscope.

 

[CudasReef]

I wouldn't say it dissapears, but it definitly lessens. I do have an RODI setup. Weirdly enough I think I do have an old microscope laying around in storage. Maybe I should dig it out and take a look!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey guys! I'm making this thread to hopefully confirm that I should keep being patient. Ive had this tank running for about 5 months now. It went through what I thought was a Diotom bloom at about three months, but the algae remained mainly on the sand for about a week then dissapeared. About a month ago I added some more caribsea liferock and about a week later this bloom started. Im assuming the silicates released from the rock have caused this. Id like your guys' opinion on it. Is it diotoms? Should I keep being patient and let it run its course? The algae is starting to get longer and covor more of the rock. Its fairly easy to remove with a toothbrush so ive been trying to brush around the coral to keep it at bay

my tank is a 65 gal with about 15 snails (trochus and astraea) 5 hermits and an amerald crab. I have 7 fish and about 11 frags of coral. I do weekly 10-15% water changes. My filtration includes 2 filter socks and a skimmer.

Nitrates 6.1 (hanna)
Phosphate 0.06 (hanna)
Ph 8.0 (api)

Its cyano which typically start when water nutrient concentrations of phosphate, nitrate and other organic compounds are too high. Often, when there are areas with little flow, detritus builds up and becomes a holding bed for cyano. Water changes are important unlike what s the perception of not doing so which reduces the organic nutrients that feed cyano.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Protein skimmer which fills water with air bubbles which form from the reaction chamber, dissolved organic compound molecules stick to them. Foam forms at the surface of the water and is then transferred to a collection cup, where it settles as skim mate. When the protein skimmer has low efficiency or you do not have the suitable protein skimmer to cover the tank, the air bubbles created might be insufficient and can trigger cyano .
- Use of Aminos which actually feed them.
- Overstocking / overfeeding, your aquarium with nutrients is often the culprit of a cyano bloom
- Adding live rock that isn’t completely cured will act as a breeding ground for red slime .
- If you don’t change your water with enough frequency, you’ll soon have a brightly colored red slime algae bloom. Regular water changes dilute nutrients that feed cyanobacteria and keeps your tank clear
- Using a water source with nitrates or phosphates is a welcome mat for cyano. Tap water is an example of po4 and no3 introduction.
- Inadequate water flow, or movement, is a leading cause of cyano blooms. Slow moving water combined with excess dissolved nutrients is a recipe for red slime algae development

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 which will balance phos and nitrate and keep them in check.

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

 

[Sophie"s mom]

That looks like cyanobacteria to me

I second this!

 

[CudasReef]

Hmm thanks for the replies everyone!

It probably isn't coming through on the pictures, but its really quite hairy and not slimy at all. The first pics taken make it look a lot more red than it actually is as well. From everything I've read, cyano can be blown off the rocks with relative ease. This algae requires some sort of contact (toothbrush) to pull it off the rock.

 

[Lavey29]

Hmm thanks for the replies everyone!

It probably isn't coming through on the pictures, but its really quite hairy and not slimy at all. The first pics taken make it look a lot more red than it actually is as well. From everything I've read, cyano can be blown off the rocks with relative ease. This algae requires some sort of contact (toothbrush) to pull it off the rock.

Fall back in time to your biology class days and grab that old microscope you mentioned.

 

[Dan_P]

Hmm thanks for the replies everyone!

It probably isn't coming through on the pictures, but its really quite hairy and not slimy at all. The first pics taken make it look a lot more red than it actually is as well. From everything I've read, cyano can be blown off the rocks with relative ease. This algae requires some sort of contact (toothbrush) to pull it off the rock.

Wrong color for Cyanobacteria. The dark coloration, slimy and streaked appearance of the film is that of dinoflagellates.