Air bubbles rising (fast) from rocks

[SparSandbar]

Hi all! So my tank is new, 3 months, and I guess I am starting my brown stage journey. The intriguing part is the many small air bubbles rising from the surface of the (dry) rock where the algae are. Is that normal too? Hard to see on the photo, but there is a lot, all the blurry white spots are air bubbles!

 

[BaliReefBox]

air bubbles or dino flagelettes??

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Yes. I believe they are releasing oxygen from photosynthesis.

 

[SparSandbar]

Yes. I believe they are releasing oxygen from photosynthesis.

That’s what I thought but I hadn‘t seen it in the many ugly stage videos/pics I’ve watched. I am trying not to panic and wait it out. I adjusted my feeding and lowered my phosphate to 0.02. It’s only been a couple weeks, but the bubbles are new.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

That’s what I thought but I hadn‘t seen it in the many ugly stage videos/pics I’ve watched. I am trying not to panic and wait it out. I adjusted my feeding and lowered my phosphate to 0.02. It’s only been a couple weeks, but the bubbles are new.

Should be okay if it looks like normal algae. If it gets long and stringy, then dino or cyano are things to consider. Either way, imo, all of them are manageable, and not a cause for panic. If your nitrates and phosphates are higher, then it is most likely an algae.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all! So my tank is new, 3 months, and I guess I am starting my brown stage journey. The intriguing part is the many small air bubbles rising from the surface of the (dry) rock where the algae are. Is that normal too? Hard to see on the photo, but there is a lot, all the blurry white spots are air bubbles!

This is the beginning of dinoflagellates.
Its biological deficiencies that are causing the dino structure. No light is first key followed by the addition of bacteria to overcome the bad bacteria allowing them to thrive
Prepare by starting by blowing this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles. Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15% IF you have light dependant corals) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off. During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as micro bacter 7 or XLM) per 10 gallons. Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX
You can feed fish as normal and if doing blackout, ambient light in room will work for them

 

[Rocktron1]

I went through that early stages. It was air bubbles in algae, and goes away eventually. Keep an eye on surface to make sure the algae and bubbles don't cover the surface, and make sure you have good surface agitation
A good water change will also help

 

[SparSandbar]

Thank you! I’ve been doing 10% weekly WC from the beginning. My phosphate are down to zero, presumably all eaten by the algae. I do not think it’s dinos yet as it’s not “blowing” away with a turkey baster and it’s also present on high flow areas. But the again I am no expert. Looks like brown algae to me. My nitrate are also down to zero now, wait it out or try to raise those?

The only coral I have is a GSP that seems very happy!

 

[Lps_lover12]

Since both your phosphates and nitrates are both down to zero I would say it’s more then likely Dino’s. Only way to truly know what it is and what to do is to put it under a microscope and see. If it is Dino’s there are many different kinds and they each have their own way of treating to get rid of them. You can just buy a microscope off Amazon, doesn’t need to be anything fancy

 

[SparSandbar]

Since both your phosphates and nitrates are both down to zero I would say it’s more then likely Dino’s. Only way to truly know what it is and what to do is to put it under a microscope and see. If it is Dino’s there are many different kinds and they each have their own way of treating to get rid of them. You can just buy a microscope off Amazon, doesn’t need to be anything fancy

Ok I’ll be looking thru the microscope first time doing this. Any obvious signs that’s it’s Dinos vs algae when using a microscope? Here is a video!

 

[Lps_lover12]

Ok I’ll be looking thru the microscope first time doing this. Any obvious signs that’s it’s Dinos vs algae when using a microscope? Here is a video!

Once you put it under the scope either post a photo of it on here or send me a pm. Hard to see from the video

 

[SparSandbar]

Once you put it under the scope either post a photo of it on here or send me a pm. Hard to see from the video

Here is the scope photo. Not sure if it’s zoomed enough…..

 

[Lps_lover12]

Here is the scope photo. Not sure if it’s zoomed enough…..

No you’ll have to zoom in some more

 

[Lps_lover12]

Here is the scope photo. Not sure if it’s zoomed enough…..

Also shake it up some more to break it all apart to get a better view

 

[SparSandbar]

Also shake it up some more to break it all apart to get a better view

Quick update. I’ve been struggling to pick a microscope that seems decent enough and affordable since I know nothing about them. But I got some turbo snails and they are eating that stuff like there is a food shortage on earth! So I am assuming it’s algae I can literally see their tracks on the rocks.

 

[Lps_lover12]

Quick update. I’ve been struggling to pick a microscope that seems decent enough and affordable since I know nothing about them. But I got some turbo snails and they are eating that stuff like there is a food shortage on earth! So I am assuming it’s algae I can literally see their tracks on the rocks.

If you have any questions about getting one you can send me a dm. Glad to hear the turbos are eating it! You really don’t want to deal with Dino’s, they are a pain in the rear