Anyone help me Id this brown algae on sand bed?

[Matthew40b]

I have had this brown algae keep coming back for months now. I vacuum the sand every two weeks when I do a water change and it always comes back.

 

[dwest]

I have had this brown algae keep coming back for months now. I vacuum the sand every two weeks when I do a water change and it always comes back.

Maybe dinos. For about $10 you should be able to find out.

https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-100X...7285M9PBE46&psc=1&refRID=V2C4VTHWJ7285M9PBE46

 

[BadFish619]

Diatoms kinda looks like. How old is ur setup?

 

[Bleigh]

Not certain. Do you have any critters that help stir the sand?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

You say when you do a water change it comes back? So after vacuuming the sand it stays away till a water change? Reason I ask, is to ask what kind of water you are doing a water change with? RODI water with salt mixed in or tap with salt mixed in? Just asking as a friend of mine wore me out about his new tank and was using tap water instead of RODI and the silicates made diatoms go nuts after every water change.

If it is RODI, then it could be dino's but there are a few ways to tell somewhat without a scope. A scope will let you what kind of dinos you have if they are dinos.

Here is a good read for dinos.

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

 

[Matthew40b]

The tank has been up and running for a little over a year. I have some snails and crabs, but nothing that really stirs the sand up. I have tried stirring it myself every couple days but it grows very fast. I do use RODI and not tap water

 

[RJinPV]

I was having a problems like that and the solution I found was getting a Diamond Goby. He is constantly moving the sand around. Caution though, he will dig burrows under the live rock and pile sand in places you may not like. Nassarius snails would be a less drastic step.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

The tank has been up and running for a little over a year. I have some snails and crabs, but nothing that really stirs the sand up. I have tried stirring it myself every couple days but it grows very fast. I do use RODI and not tap water

Sorry, had to ask and get it out of the way. I would suggest the cheapo scope to see what it is at the least. Also, what are your tanks parameters? NO3, PO4, etc?

 

[Matthew40b]

My water parameters
Salinity - 1.025
No3 - 4
Alkalinity - 9.8 dKH
Calcium - 480 ppm
Phosphate - 0
Magnesium - 1480 ppm