Algae ID Please help

[AScarbro14]

Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0

Went on vacation for a week and when I came home this algae was all over my tank. Prior to leaving tank was spotless. Performed a water change and manually removed as much as I could but almost a week later it is coming back.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Just diatoms, very common in newer tanks

 

[Just John]

I am having a hard time telling from the photo, but is it slimy stuff with bubbles in it or dusty stuff (or something different)

 

[AScarbro14]

Just diatoms, very common in newer tanks

I’ve had diatoms before this is more like a brown hair algae

 

[AScarbro14]

I am having a hard time telling from the photo, but is it slimy stuff with bubbles in it or dusty stuff (or something different)

It’s like a brown hair algae on the rocks and a slimy type on the sand

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

It’s like a brown hair algae on the rocks and a slimy type on the sand

On sand either diatoms, cyanno or dinos, probably diatoms. Either way manual removal, less light and time will remove them. On rock diatoms, hair algae or dinos. Zero po4 would make sense if it is dinos

 

[AScarbro14]

On sand either diatoms, cyanno or dinos, probably diatoms. Either way manual removal, less light and time will remove them. On rock diatoms, hair algae or dinos. Zero po4 would make sense if it is dinos

Tomorrow is water change day so I will remove it again and vacuum the sand bed.

I was gonna do 3 days lights out but I worry about the corals.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Tomorrow is water change day so I will remove it again and vacuum the sand bed.

I was gonna do 3 days lights out but I worry about the corals.

Coral should be fine. They're naturally equipped to be able to go awhile without light. I'd say a week is pushing it but 3 days is no problem

 

[AScarbro14]

Coral should be fine. They're naturally equipped to be able to go awhile without light. I'd say a week is pushing it but 3 days is no problem

Alright I’ll give it a try after the water change

 

[Just John]

Look at photos of each online. The red area on the sand in your photo is cyano most likely.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0

Went on vacation for a week and when I came home this algae was all over my tank. Prior to leaving tank was spotless. Performed a water change and manually removed as much as I could but almost a week later it is coming back.

Looks like dino but often you can see this and its not unless you verify with microscope.
How are you testing phosphate? If truly zero, when we see zero readings, automatically we assume this is the cause but by the time you see zero numbers, its because the dino has consumed the po4 and no3 and are multiplying and this biological deficiency is causing the dino structure

 

[AScarbro14]

Looks like dino but often you can see this and its not unless you verify with microscope.
How are you testing phosphate? If truly zero, when we see zero readings, automatically we assume this is the cause but by the time you see zero numbers, its because the dino has consumed the po4 and no3 and are multiplying and this biological deficiency is causing the dino structure

Testing PO4 with Tropic Marin PO4 Pro kit

 

[AScarbro14]

After the 3 day blackout most of the algae seems to be gone. Prepping a water change now

 

[AScarbro14]

Well algae is back. My buddy let me use his micro scope and I was able to get a picture. Anyone have any ideas?