Anybody wanna try and id this?

[Steve1500]

I posted a few similar pics of this algae on the algae forum but only got one hit so I thought I would try it here. Not sure if it is cyano or bubble algae....bubbles are NOT hard and they pop using a turkey baster. The algae on the rocks is red, mat like and slimy and starts with small bubbles and ends up with large bubbles (1/8"). NOTE: the last pic (thumbnail 10) shows what this algae looks like when it is full blown. It is the one of red slime and big bubbles.

I have another algae on the sand (thumbnail 6 jpeg) and it is brown and stringy with no bubbles. Not sure if the sand is dinos.

I am dosing N and P because they continually read at or near zero, hence the suspected dinos. Overfeeding did not help.

My biggest concern is the red/bubble algae. It is wreaking havoc on my corals by smothering them. I have to turkey baste them everyday to keep things at bay. I tried chemiclean (80%) and that helped some but I am not positive on the identification. Before I go 100% chemiclean, I want to get some opinions on what the red stuff is.

Any help would be appreciated on figuring out what these uglies are. Thanks!

 

[Travis Stewart]

Looks like a little red cyano and some dino (bubbles)

 

[Steve1500]

Thanks Travis. What do you think the algae is in the last pic )...red with big bubbles? Cyano or dino?

 

[Travis Stewart]

Thanks Travis. What do you think the algae is in the last pic )...red with big bubbles? Cyano or dino?

Honestly it’s hard to tell but it may be a mix of both.

 

[Gools]

Cyano with oxygen bubbles trapped, which can be helpful, as when the break away they will take small bits of cyano with them, and go down the over flow and if you have any mechanical filtration it can help export some of that cyano and help remove it. And by all means will not eradicate the problem, there is more then likely a high nutrient problem, excess phospahtes.

 

[Gools]

How long ago did you set this tank up? less then 6 months?

 

[Steve1500]

Yes, it’s about 6 months old. Odd thing is that my nitrates and phosphates are nearly zero. In fact I have been dosing N and P and they still are low after a day. I wonder if this may be contributing to my problem. I do believe the cyano started before I started dosing. That confuses me.

 

[Gools]

What test kits are you using to test with?

 

[Gools]

what size is your tank?

 

[Steve1500]

75G. Was using API to test nitrates but switched to Nyos. Hanna low range for phosphate.

 

[Gools]

Personally I think your tank is still cycling, meaning still new and your gonna have these blooms. I'm gonna assume that your using RO/DI and have a good skimmer. I would do small weekly water changes, and maybe lighten up on feedings. I know its ugly to look at but I wouldn't worry about it your tank is still maturing. Probably not the advice you'd want to hear.

 

[Gools]

Here’s a pic of my 260, it’s about 4 months old. I know once it’s ready all this algae will disappear overnight

 

[Steve1500]

I really don’t mind the uglies if it’s due to cycling. It would be worse if were something I was doing wrong. Will have to wait it out a few months and see what happens. Thanks to all

 

[dwest]

I posted a few similar pics of this algae on the algae forum but only got one hit so I thought I would try it here. Not sure if it is cyano or bubble algae....bubbles are NOT hard and they pop using a turkey baster. The algae on the rocks is red, mat like and slimy and starts with small bubbles and ends up with large bubbles (1/8"). NOTE: the last pic (thumbnail 10) shows what this algae looks like when it is full blown. It is the one of red slime and big bubbles.

I have another algae on the sand (thumbnail 6 jpeg) and it is brown and stringy with no bubbles. Not sure if the sand is dinos.

I am dosing N and P because they continually read at or near zero, hence the suspected dinos. Overfeeding did not help.

My biggest concern is the red/bubble algae. It is wreaking havoc on my corals by smothering them. I have to turkey baste them everyday to keep things at bay. I tried chemiclean (80%) and that helped some but I am not positive on the identification. Before I go 100% chemiclean, I want to get some opinions on what the red stuff is.

Any help would be appreciated on figuring out what these uglies are. Thanks!

I would read the first page of the thread below. I hope it’s not dinos, but there are some ways to check.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/

 

[dwest]

Sorry, that didn’t post correctly. Check out the thread below. I’ll cross my fingers you don’t have dinos.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/

 

[Steve1500]

Sorry, that didn’t post correctly. Check out the thread below. I’ll cross my fingers you don’t have dinos.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/

I think I do have Dino’s also, due to the low nutrients. But Dino’s due to low nutrients and cyano, which thrive on nutrients does not make sense. Then again in this hobby there’s a lot of things that don’t always make sense. Keeps us on our feet.

 

[dwest]

I think I do have Dino’s also, due to the low nutrients. But Dino’s due to low nutrients and cyano, which thrive on nutrients does not make sense. Then again in this hobby there’s a lot of things that don’t always make sense. Keeps us on our feet.

Just be careful. I’ve had cyano on and off for over 20 years. Mostly an eyesore. Dinos on the other hand have almost completely wiped out my tank twice. I’d want to know if I were dealing with dinos or not.