Algae/ bacteria ID

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Didn't expect the chaeto, that makes much more sense. Your system doesn't use a sump, correct? I seem to remember seeing a heater in the DT on your build thread. How do you get flow to the chaeto?

I don’t have a sump. I would love to add one, but I’m not sure about a U tube overflow. The Chaeto isn’t getting a lot of flow.

 

[Auquanut]

The Chaeto isn’t getting a lot of flow.

So is the chaeto in an HOB fuge? How well is it growing?

 

[MnFish1]

PS - the stuff on the back of the tank looks like dead single strands of algae thats now covered with detritus or some kind of bacteria

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

So is the chaeto in an HOB fuge? How well is it growing?

It is growing ok, but it’s just sitting on the bottom of the tank. It’s probably doubled in size since I got it.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

PS - the stuff on the back of the tank looks like dead single strands of algae thats now covered with detritus or some kind of bacteria

I don’t think that it’s covered in detritus. Nothing comes off of it no matter what I do to it. It does resemble dead algae, but it grows back when I remove it.

 

[MnFish1]

I don’t think that it’s covered in detritus. Nothing comes off of it no matter what I do to it. It does resemble dead algae, but it grows back when I remove it.

question - how do you remove it - with a scraper? (to get the whole thing off) - if so - then it could be bacteria - especially if its really easy to remove

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

question - how do you remove it - with a scraper? (to get the whole thing off) - if so - then it could be bacteria - especially if its really easy to remove

I usually use a metal scraper for the glass, and then I collect it in a net. For the rocks, I suck up what I can with a siphon and then try to pull it off with my hands or the net.
Edit- it’s fairly easy to remove.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

I don’t know if you all can see that video or not, but that’s what happens when I scrape it.

 

[MnFish1]

Unfortunately videos still dont work on Macs

 

[vetteguy53081]

Bacteria and lack of filtration.
You will need more water flow and movement, and added maintenance.
You can scrape off with credit card but do catch loose particles with net or siphon right away

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Bacteria and lack of filtration.
You will need more water flow and movement, and added maintenance.
You can scrape off with credit card but do catch loose particles with net or siphon right away

How should I increase filtration?

 

[taricha]

This looks to me like GHA under low nutrient pressure. Most of the places it's pale/white, which happens to me when I push N really low.
But some places in your tank, it retains a bit of GHA color. Look between the rocks where local nutrients must be allowing it to stay slightly green.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

This looks to me like GHA under low nutrient pressure. Most of the places it's pale/white, which happens to me when I push N really low.
But some places in your tank, it retains a bit of GHA color. Look between the rocks where local nutrients must be allowing it to stay slightly green.

How do I fix this?