Algae ID

[Lovefish77]

I have had this brown algae on the glass in one of my tanks. I did not clean the glass for over 3 weeks. It is brown, when i cleaned the glass it started to attach to rocks and other parts of the tank. It is brown and a bit stringy.
My fear is that it could be Dinos. Tank is bare bottom. It only grew on the back glass and on the glass itself. I just siphoned and cleaned the tank. Any idea how to make sure it is Dino? I dont have a microscope either.

Nitrates is 10ppm and phosphate is like 0.05 or so.
Any help appreciated. Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pictures under white light will be helpful in determining what it is. Could be dinos but need to see

 

[SchrutesReefs]

I am afraid that the only way to know for sure is to get a microscope. A cheap one can be purchased if you really wanted to know.

 

[SchrutesReefs]

Pictures under white light will be helpful in determining what it is. Could be dinos but need to see

Or this. A seasoned vette (see what I did there) could have a good idea from a pic

 

[Lovefish77]

This is what is left over after the cleanup and siphon. Note that I had none on the rocks before cleaning the glass. And it has a rusty smell to it.
They also cling like a magnet to any rough surface or substrate.

 

[ScottB]

Take a sample of gunk and some tank water. Shake it up really good so that gunk kinda dissolves. Filter it into another clear glass through a coffee filter. It should now be clear. Let it sit under some light for an hour. If it then clumps back together, then dinos. Time for a microscope then.

 

[Lovefish77]

They passed through the filter socks. And reclumprd in like an hour. So am assuming it is dino. Now apart from the microscope what can be done? I live in a small apt and have no room for a microscope. Even I borrow one how can I share images to identify the dino type?
But how can dino develop in the dark? The tank has has been covered with a bunch of nem baskets that the bottom and the rest of the tank was not getting any light!!!

 

[ScottB]

They passed through the filter socks. And reclumprd in like an hour. So am assuming it is dino. Now apart from the microscope what can be done? I live in a small apt and have no room for a microscope. Even I borrow one how can I share images to identify the dino type?
But how can dino develop in the dark? The tank has has been covered with a bunch of nem baskets that the bottom and the rest of the tank was not getting any light!!!

Well if you don't have corals, then I wouldn't worry about the dinos. I doubt the nems care at all about them.

 

[Lovefish77]

Well if you don't have corals, then I wouldn't worry about the dinos. I doubt the nems care at all about them.

The tank has only nems. It is good to hear they dont affect nems. I thought I read nems are affected by dinos

 

[ying yang]

They passed through the filter socks. And reclumprd in like an hour. So am assuming it is dino. Now apart from the microscope what can be done? I live in a small apt and have no room for a microscope. Even I borrow one how can I share images to identify the dino type?
But how can dino develop in the dark? The tank has has been covered with a bunch of nem baskets that the bottom and the rest of the tank was not getting any light!!!

Size is 9 inches by 4.5 inches by 3 inches
I dont think when people say get microscope they mean like lab grade that bolted onto a desk and measures 1 metre by metre kind thing.
Ive read often on these threads only need 400x zoom if can get microscope like this then more than adequate if memory serves me right.
Could keep it under sink ,wardrobe or even in sock draw ^_^
Will help what kind of dinos it is ( thats if is dinos) as ive read different treatments for different kinds,or something like this.im new to saltwater and dont think got dinos but i think i will buy a cheap microscope shortly or at least if suspect dinos and maybe little fun and take me back to my childhood in science lessons ha ha ^_^

 

[Lovefish77]

It is very confusing some say because N and P up to battle Dino. Others like Randy say lower them. Which direction shall one go really?

 

[Lovefish77]

Anyone? So nutrients up or down with dino?