Algae Control Identification and Help

[Fishy888]

Do you have a picture under white lights? I dunno but it looks an awful lot like dinos.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

In case it is cyano, are regular water changes the only answer or should I any product?

Not to beat a dead horse, but YOUR TANK IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD!
Let it be for the moment!

 

[sixty_reefer]

It is definitely dark brown in color.

Those pictures are still blue, unfortunately we need them under white light to be able to make any determination, we also need to know what your phosphates are as they can indicate if you have diatoms, dinoflagellates or Cyanobacteria. The only expected in a new reef is diatoms. Everything else will need addressing as time won’t resolve it on its own

 

[sixty_reefer]

In case it is cyano, are regular water changes the only answer or should I any product?

You will need to do some changes if it’s dinoflagellates or Cyanobacteria, depending on what you have. Although we can’t help you without pictures under whites and your phosphates analysis.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Actually, while not every new tank goes through a cyano stage, to say it's "not normal or part of" the process of a maturing tank is inaccurate.

How come? The only thing that is unavoidable is diatoms if dead rock and dead sand is chosen to cycle a system, Cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates are nutrient management related issues and will only occur if a tank has a nutrient imbalance in any stage of its life not necessarily just during the first few months.

 

[harsha22]

You will need to do some changes if it’s dinoflagellates or Cyanobacteria, depending on what you have. Although we can’t help you without pictures under whites and your phosphates analysis.

I think it is cyano. It took pics under white light. Suggestions for fix?

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is classic diatoms which are a brown algae that typically appear in a reef tank that has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an established reef tank. They can cover sand, rock, pumps, glass, you name it. Diatoms look ugly but in most cases they are harmless so the key is to not panic when they appear.
Diatoms feed mainly off of silicates but also consume dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Unfiltered tap water can contain silicates and is a good way to jump start a bloom if you use it to mix salt or to replace water that evaporated from the tank. The best way to prevent this from happening is to filter water through a RODI unit, although you can still get a diatom bloom when using RODI if the cartridge that removes silicates expires.
Diatoms are typically harmless to a captive reef and can be beaten once their food source expires. Once you put the kibosh on the source, the outbreak should last a couple of weeks so just be patient and it will pass.

For major outbreaks you may want to consider the three day blackout. Diatoms are easily wiped from the glass with a mag float, a turkey baster or a toothbrush can access other areas of the tank. Be prepared for them to re-establish themselves quickly, they are likely to be able to resettle and have exponential growth rates.
To prevent their return, practice good aquarium husbandry by doing regular water changes, keep the substrate clean, don’t overfeed the fish, ensure your skimmer is running at an optimal level and rinse out filter socks and sponges on a regular basis.
Some cleaner crew to help control it are : Cerith snails, Nerite snails and Trochus snails and also Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Those pictures are still blue, unfortunately we need them under white light to be able to make any determination, we also need to know what your phosphates are as they can indicate if you have diatoms, dinoflagellates or Cyanobacteria. The only expected in a new reef is diatoms. Everything else will need addressing as time won’t resolve it on its own

This is not true. Cyano and dinos can resolve as the tank stabilizes.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

How come? The only thing that is unavoidable is diatoms if dead rock and dead sand is chosen to cycle a system, Cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates are nutrient management related issues and will only occur if a tank has a nutrient imbalance in any stage of its life not necessarily just during the first few months.

Then you don't understand the processes at work in a new tank. Are cyano and dinos always going to appear? No. But all kinds of things can happen in a new tank as it's still maturing and finding bacterial/archeal balance, and the appearance of dinos, cyano, other algaes, bacterial blooms, etc can be short-lived and often need no significant intervention.

There is a wealth of information about this process already on this forum, including in the sticky threads, so I'm not inclined to do your homework for you. But for any new reefer reading this thread, I feel it's warranted to refute your claim that "The only expected in a new reef is diatoms. Everything else will need addressing as time won’t resolve it on its own".

 

[Rmckoy]

In case it is cyano, are regular water changes the only answer or should I any product?

Even if it is cyano .
carbon dosing or dosing anything for that matter that can’t be tested the need for is pointless and reckless .

take the time to let it naturally mature without adding the cocktail of mixed chemicals

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

@sixty_reefer , here's a good place for you to start...

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Screwgunner]

I am sorry I do not agree your nitrates and phosphates are what you should be watching. If you are below .15 phosphates let it ride if you go over that change water to bring down. Do not deplete your nitrates and phosphates it will lead to dinos witch is worse than cyano. The bacteria you need in your tank need the phosphates and nitrates to take hold of your rock.

 

[Screwgunner]

For the yellow tint run some activated carbon in a bag or reactor.

 

[sixty_reefer]

@sixty_reefer , here's a good place for you to start...

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

It’s a very large sponsored article from 2013 that only touches briefly in Cyanobacteria quote from the article “it will go away on its own” we know better today that it won’t just go away in fact it can become so bad that in some situations only with the aid of antibiotics it can be removed also a fact

 

[sixty_reefer]

This is not true. Cyano and dinos can resolve as the tank stabilizes.

It seems that you may have been watching Ryan presentation although you may not have understood the message. Can you define tank stabilisation by your own words? Can you have that without nutrients control and management?

 

[IndianReefGuy]

Please just slow down!
First, not at all an emergency. That tag is used for when someone needs help immediately to try to keep a fish from dying, etc.
Second, you've made quite a few posts about different "problems" that are simply the things that happen with a new tank.
Don't expect a saltwater aquarium to look "great" until it's a year old, and then you'll be pleasantly surprised if it stabilizes sooner than that.
You WILL get algae. ALL KINDS of algae. The tank has to mature and go through multiple cycles -- the nitrogen cycle that makes the water safe for fish and inverts is just the beginning.

You're welcome to throw every chemical/product you want into your tank in an attempt to avoid the natural process, but will literally just be throwing money away.

Slow down and enjoy and learn from the experience. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

Cheers!

That is brilliant advice!