Algae on sand bed...?

[Jrco226]

Noticed this stuff pop up over the weekend. It's in long strains with a reddish maroon tint to it. Any thoughts?

 

[twilliard]

Possible cyanobacteria
Here is how you identify between cyanobacteria and spirulina

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/positive-identification-of-cyanobacteria.253287/

 

[Jrco226]

I made the mistake of trying to siphon it out with my water change yesterday and it looks to have come back stronger today. Would that help with the identification?

 

[Mele__Reef]

Correct me if I'm wrong. I did a bit of research and ran into this:

Gelidium, Red Wiry Turf Algae

Many species of short creeping red algae exist so the hobby generally lumps all of them under the heading "Gelidium", (the genus that is home to many of those species), and the common name Red Turf Algae, or Red Wiry Algae.

Manual Removal - Difficult. Macros that have fragile runners and creep along the rock are the hardest to manually remove. Do the best you can. Use a dental pick to remove it if possible. Fragments of the algae can spread though, so make sure to net any pieces that break loose. Yeah I know, it is boring as can be, but if you do it once surgically with a dental pick the problem goes away for good. If you can take the rock out, all the better.

Clean Up Crew- Emerald Crabs, urchins, sea hares, and large turbos.

Tip - Don't pass on frags with this stuff to other hobbyists, don't put one in your tank. This algae has become extremely common on traded/aquacultured frags. So my advice is every time you add a coral or a rock look for it from now on. It is easier to keep out of the tank then deal with it once inside.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mele__Reef]

Sorry this is the picture that went along with the article.

 

[twilliard]

I made the mistake of trying to siphon it out with my water change yesterday and it looks to have come back stronger today. Would that help with the identification?

Yes and that is something you have to be careful about when you siphon the sand. Try your best not to stir it up.
Run that test above for conclusive identification

 

[Jrco226]

Looks like I need to pick up some h202. My tank is only 4 months old should I let it play out if it is either or is removal the best option?

 

[twilliard]

Looks like I need to pick up some h202. My tank is only 4 months old should I let it play out if it is either or is removal the best option?

I have treatments for both. It will continue to grow out until treated.

 

[Jrco226]

It was tough to get a good amount of this stuff out of the tank because it's so thin and hair like but I managed to get a few stains, hopefully enough. I have it in a cup or 2 of tank water with 1ml of h202. Hopefully I get a result soon.

 

[twilliard]

It was tough to get a good amount of this stuff out of the tank because it's so thin and hair like but I managed to get a few stains, hopefully enough. I have it in a cup or 2 of tank water with 1ml of h202. Hopefully I get a result soon.

Yes you should have results soon!

 

[Jrco226]

I had such a small sample that I can't see a change in color to the water put any strains of the subject I had are either pale tan/brown or have disintegrated into pieces so small I can notice them.

 

[twilliard]

I had such a small sample that I can't see a change in color to the water put any strains of the subject I had are either pale tan/brown or have disintegrated into pieces so small I can notice them.

Oh that is not good
Possible dinoflagellates if the sample turned into nothing.

 

[Jrco226]

I'll try and get a bigger sample later tonight. I did stir it up so maybe that made it fall apart. Idk, it doesn't have the snot look in the tank. I though dinos would clump together?

 

[twilliard]

I'll try and get a bigger sample later tonight. I did stir it up so maybe that made it fall apart. Idk, it doesn't have the snot look in the tank. I though dinos would clump together?

Yes they do and how they appear depends on the species.
Get what you can but don't stir it up.

 

[Jrco226]

Redid the test and the strains went to a pale color. Hinting at cyano?