Algae ID and how to remove

[chipchipbro]

Hi guys

I got some slight brownish algae growing on my rocks and backwall. What is that and do I need to actively remove it manually? the tank is 1,5 months and I guess its still early phase?

 

[dhanking]

Well I can't really say its scientific name but it isn't harmful, I have it in my tank as well. If you don't like how it looks snails enjoy eating it.

 

[chipchipbro]

Well I can't really say its scientific name but it isn't harmful, I have it in my tank as well. If you don't like how it looks snails enjoy eating it.

yeah my snails eat it.. but I got only 2..
u think i have to scrub it manually?

 

[chipchipbro]

someone else maybe had experience?

 

[chipchipbro]

bump

 

[homer1475]

Looks to be diatoms. Typical in a new tank, or when new dry rock or sand is added. They usually feed off the silicates brought in with new rock or sand.

They will burn themselves out in a couple weeks, or when the available silicates is used up.

 

[chipchipbro]

Looks to be diatoms. Typical in a new tank, or when new dry rock or sand is added. They usually feed off the silicates brought in with new rock or sand.

They will burn themselves out in a couple weeks, or when the available silicates is used up.

Thanks for your help!
I know the pictures look a bit like cyanos cause of the wrong violet coloration due to bluelights. But in nature they are brown/greenish ugly algae. Well, would you also maybe use GFO or some stuff to remove silicates?

I am a bit affraid of also removing PO4 using an absorber.. As my po4 is "only" like 0.06 atm.

 

[homer1475]

No GFO will not removes the Silicates.

It's part of the "ugly" stage, and just have to let it run it's course. You can siphon them out, and siphon the sandbed to help, but it's just help. They do have to burn themselves out naturally.

I was initially thinking cyano with the red color, but your description said brown, and new tank. This led me to diatoms.

 

[chipchipbro]

No GFO will not removes the Silicates.

It's part of the "ugly" stage, and just have to let it run it's course. You can siphon them out, and siphon the sandbed to help, but it's just help. They do have to burn themselves out naturally.

I was initially thinking cyano with the red color, but your description said brown, and new tank. This led me to diatoms.

Well, yes the picture have a kind of "red" factor. But under whites they look brown/green.. Also when I remove them manuelly I see single algae parts looking like a "snowflake" or a single "dandelion" if you know what I mean.

Well, then I just wait... Fun thing, my sand doesnt look to brownish but it has some slight algae on it for sure as my algae blenny is eating stuff in the sand too.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Could you post your no2 and po4? Is any of them at zero or near zero?

 

[homer1475]

Could you post your no2 and po4? Is any of them at zero or near zero?

I was thinking it may be dino's too, but being a new tank, and the light rust look to it(not the typical snotty bubbly look of dino's), makes me think it's not dino's, but rather diatoms.

But yes, a parameter check would help too.

 

[sixty_reefer]

I was thinking it may be dino's too, but being a new tank, and the light rust look to it(not the typical snotty bubbly look of dino's), makes me think it's not dino's, but rather diatoms.

But yes, a parameter check would help too.

There’s also a chance it could be a mix of both

 

[chipchipbro]

Could you post your no2 and po4? Is any of them at zero or near zero?

Would you need NO3 or NO2?

NO3 was around 20 last time I checked (saturday).. then I did a 20% WC 2 days ago.
PO4 was around 0.07

All I can say is my snails love to eat that type of algae growing on my rock (and it isnt everywhere on the rocks)

Sandbed isnt really involved anymore.. I used to have spots of diatoms on the sand but sand is now clear for like 3 weeks

 

[homer1475]

If snails are eating it, and your not at 0 nutrients, it's most definitely diatoms.

 

[chipchipbro]

If snails are eating it, and your not at 0 nutrients, it's most definitely diatoms.

I was at 0 nutrients for a while.. but that was like 4 weeks ago.. then I started to raise po4 and no3 also automatically began to start rising. I dont think this is the outcome of like 3 weeks without any nutrients measurable, or can I be wrong?

My algae blenny also is eating it but I do only have a small one and 2 snails of which one is the most lazy snail ive ever seen so far... That guy is like not moving for ages...

 

[homer1475]

Could still be a small amount of dino's. Yes 0 nutrients weeks back could have contributed. But, and this is a big but..... If things are eating it, it's not dino's.

I mean snails, and fish if left to starve will eat it, but it will also kill them.

 

[chipchipbro]

Could still be a small amount of dino's. Yes 0 nutrients weeks back could have contributed. But, and this is a big but..... If things are eating it, it's not dino's.

I mean snails, and fish if left to starve will eat it, but it will also kill them.

OK well.. yeah but I wont do anything besides just removing them manually a bit. And waiting for my snails and blenny to remove it when it doesnt naturally disappear.

But my snails and fish eat it def. - so I thought or lets say hoped its not Dino.

 

[chipchipbro]

Could still be a small amount of dino's. Yes 0 nutrients weeks back could have contributed. But, and this is a big but..... If things are eating it, it's not dino's.

I mean snails, and fish if left to starve will eat it, but it will also kill them.

here is a recent pic.. when I remove this algae out of the tank it is completely green on white filter waddon