What is this? Algae? Bacteria?

The new fish on the block

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Can anyone tell me what this stuff is? I have never dealt with anything like this. It started on the back wall of my tank and has made it on to all of my rocks. It goat almost a fluffy jelly like texture, and it’s light brown, the flash on my phone made it look darker for some reason.

Tank is almost a year old.

IMG_3478.jpeg IMG_3479.jpeg IMG_3480.jpeg IMG_3476.jpeg IMG_3475.jpeg IMG_3474.jpeg IMG_3483.jpeg IMG_3486.jpeg
 

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Does it go away when lights are out, then come back when lights come back on? Does it have bubbles that are snot-like? I can't really make out the pics completely
 
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Does it go away when lights are out, then come back when lights come back on? Does it have bubbles that are snot-like? I can't really make out the pics completely
Bump.

Possibly Dinoflagellates but others may have a more conclusive answer.
https://www.reef2reef.com/search/5358874/?q=dinoflagellates&o=relevance

Yeah sorry about the pics, I will try and get some later with the lights on.

I doesn't go away when lights are turned out, or seem to get worse when they come back on.

I’m not super convinced it’s Dinos having dealt with them in the past in a different tank, it doesn’t present itself like Dino.

I was thinking maybe some sort of cyano? There is some red slime growing alongside it. (Ironically the RS presents itself more like Dino than this does)
 
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vetteguy53081

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Can anyone tell me what this stuff is? I have never dealt with anything like this. It started on the back wall of my tank and has made it on to all of my rocks. It goat almost a fluffy jelly like texture, and it’s light brown, the flash on my phone made it look darker for some reason.

Tank is almost a year old.

IMG_3478.jpeg IMG_3479.jpeg IMG_3480.jpeg IMG_3476.jpeg IMG_3475.jpeg IMG_3474.jpeg IMG_3483.jpeg IMG_3486.jpeg
Looks like a substance known as Lyngbya and will need to be shaved off glass with the edge of an old credit card or similar abd taking the rocks out of tank, place in a container of tank water and scrub off withfirm toothbrush.
Increase water flow and add a few ninja star snails as well as astrea snails and pitho crabs
 
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Looks like a substance known as Lyngbya and will need to be shaved off glass with the edge of an old credit card or similar abd taking the rocks out of tank, place in a container of tank water and scrub off withfirm toothbrush.
Increase water flow and add a few ninja star snails as well as astrea snails and pitho crabs
@vetteguy53081 . Every picture of lyngbya that I see looks more like hair algae, this is more of a gel/jelly like texture. Does lyngbya present itself like that? I attached better pictures under white lighting above, in case you did not see those.


Thank you for your help !
 

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Can anyone tell me what this stuff is? I have never dealt with anything like this. It started on the back wall of my tank and has made it on to all of my rocks. It goat almost a fluffy jelly like texture, and it’s light brown, the flash on my phone made it look darker for some reason.

Tank is almost a year old.

IMG_3478.jpeg IMG_3479.jpeg IMG_3480.jpeg IMG_3476.jpeg IMG_3475.jpeg IMG_3474.jpeg IMG_3483.jpeg IMG_3486.jpeg
I think it looks more bacterial or some micro organisms, I would scrape off what you can and siphon it out, then maybe try a 3 day black out. Any corals you have will be fine just cover the tank and turn off the lights.
 
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I think it looks more bacterial or some micro organisms, I would scrape off what you can and siphon it out, then maybe try a 3 day black out. Any corals you have will be fine just cover the tank and turn off the lights.
That is what I am thinking as well, however Im still not certain, I first saw it behind my anemone box where there is little to no flow.
 

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Can anyone tell me what this stuff is? I have never dealt with anything like this. It started on the back wall of my tank and has made it on to all of my rocks. It goat almost a fluffy jelly like texture, and it’s light brown, the flash on my phone made it look darker for some reason.

Tank is almost a year old.

IMG_3478.jpeg IMG_3479.jpeg IMG_3480.jpeg IMG_3476.jpeg IMG_3475.jpeg IMG_3474.jpeg IMG_3483.jpeg IMG_3486.jpeg
Maybe Chrysophytes?
 

vetteguy53081

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@vetteguy53081 . Every picture of lyngbya that I see looks more like hair algae, this is more of a gel/jelly like texture. Does lyngbya present itself like that? I attached better pictures under white lighting above, in case you did not see those.


Thank you for your help !
If gel like, may then be a substance known as calothrix which cleans up the same way as mentioned. Lyngbya is more brown and slimy as its similar to texture of cyano.
 

SaltyWalty

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That is what I am thinking as well, however Im still not certain, I first saw it behind my anemone box where there is little to no flow.
The flow wouldn’t really be affected by a black out. I definitely wouldn’t recommend turning off the flow. The black out won’t really hurt so I would personally see if it gets rid of it. Wouldn’t hurt to try and remove some of it too, see if it falls apart or holds it structure
 
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If gel like, may then be a substance known as calothrix which cleans up the same way as mentioned. Lyngbya is more brown and slimy as its similar to texture of cyano.
yeah this stuff is definitely more gel like. After looking back at chrysophytes, I think that’s what it may be.
The flow wouldn’t really be affected by a black out. I definitely wouldn’t recommend turning off the flow. The black out won’t really hurt so I would personally see if it gets rid of it. Wouldn’t hurt to try and remove some of it too, see if it falls apart or holds it structure
oh yeah, definitely not going to do that. I just meant that when I first saw the stuff pop up, I was behind my nem box on the back of the tank, and the box sits up against the wall so there is very little flow in that spot.
Maybe Chrysophytes?
Yep, That was one of my original thoughts, but I had talked myself out of it being that, but after looking back over other people’s picture that almost matches up to it perfectly.

Not what I wanted to hear, I was hoping it would be something easier to get rid of, but it is what it is.

Thanks for everyone’s help!
 

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I think it looks more bacterial or some micro organisms, I would scrape off what you can and siphon it out, then maybe try a 3 day black out. Any corals you have will be fine just cover the tank and turn off the lights.
The 3 day blackout would work? What happens to dosing? In the dark the corals wouldn’t consume normal Alk, Cal, Mag , right?
 

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So I’m still fighting this issue with blue green Cyano , and after hitting it with Chemiclean it went away. 1 week later it returned just as bad, but in the form of brown algae. I’ve had Chemiclean running for 3 days and it ain’t going anywhere. Is it time to rip apart tank and remove sand?
 

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