Any help with an ID and treatment plan?

bradv123

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Any ideas on what this is and how I can get rid of it? New to the hobby, but to me it looks like there's some green hair, but I have no idea what the other stuff is. It flows quite a bit, but obviously that can't be seen in a photo. It's also slightly more brown than the pictures show. I also find it interesting that it's only really on the left side of that rock. That is definitely one of the higher flow areas of my tank.
I last tested water a couple days ago (this algae was there when I tested, just not as much)
Temp: 78
Salinity: 1.026
Nitrate: 0.75
Phosphate: 0.4
Alk: 9.8
Calcium: 480
Mag: 1350

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First: Welcome to the hobby. While I have been reefing for 48 years, I learn new things about marine systems everyday. Your tank has the new syndrome uglies. Looks like maybe dinos. Check out this link to nuisance algae ID & cure.

Diatoms
diatoms_300x215.jpg


Almost sure to appear in a new system, diatoms are some of the most abundant organisms on earth. They usually surface in the aquarium as a brown powdery like substance, within a week or so after a tank finishes its cycle. Diatoms feed on available silicates in your system and will run their course in time. Similarly, because they feed on silicates, anytime you add new sand, rock or something plastic they can pop up.

Manual Removal: 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.

Clean Up Crew: Ceriths, Nerites and Trochus and Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms, as well as the algae species that usually replace them as the silicates in your system are depleted.
 

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