Are these Dinos?

[plc001]

Hi,

I have a fairly new (7 month old) 40g breeder that its going through a stage. I think its Dinos but would like some one to confirm. Its mainly on the sand bed, starts like a color brown but see a hint of red.

My phosphate are .03 ppm and my Nitrates are zero to 1.

I stop doing water changes, was doing 25% every week, then every other week and not skipped for 4 weeks. Was feeding once a day, now I'm feeding 3x a day.

Any other thing that I can do or just keep waiting? Thanks.

 

[bday1335]

From that video it looks more like Cyano

 

[CMMorgan]

My first thought was diatoms... but it is very red. The picture is very small. I think we would need to know more. Does it blow off? Is it powdery, slimy, thick?

 

[s0mthinG]

Looks like red Cyanobacteria to me. The reason nitrates are testing low is the cyanobacteria locks it all up. It's very common with higher silicates and phosphates in the water. Your nitrate silicates and phosphate will all test low As it's all being bound up inside the cyano.

 

[plc001]

Hoping this help.

 

[s0mthinG]

With dinos you should be worried more about seeing small bubbles trapped on the surface of the brown/red.
Also with Dinos they will break down and dissolve into the water column or under the substrate when the lights are off, only forming into large colonies and chains when the lights turn back on for the day.

 

[plc001]

My first thought was diatoms... but it is very red. The picture is very small. I think we would need to know more. Does it blow off? Is it powdery, slimy, thick?

Yes, it blows off and looks slimy.

 

[s0mthinG]

Hoping this help.

Yeah just looks like cyano to me. It seems to be on your rocks as well, do us a favor and get a pipet or turkey baster / coral feeder and blow on the stuff that is on the rocks

 

[s0mthinG]

Well looks like you beat me to it, definitely Red Cyanobacteria. I want to say that's from silicates and phosphates. Do you have a silicate test kit?

 

[bday1335]

Hoping this help.

My vote is still Cyanobacteria. Try blowing it with a turkey baster

 

[CMMorgan]

MUCH better video. +1 on the red cyano

 

[saltyhog]

It does look like cyano. Sometimes you will find dinos and cyano together so a microscopic view is the only way to tell for sure.

Cyano is usually more prominent in low flow areas and is common with high nutrient levels. It is not dependent on silicates. Diatoms, sponges and chrysophytes are what depend on silicates.

 

[plc001]

Sorry could up upload here, but here is a link:

 

[taricha]

It does look like cyano. Sometimes you will find dinos and cyano together so a microscopic view is the only way to tell for sure.

I'm betting it's both. Color is pretty clearly cyano. Structure and color in strings says dino.

 

[RobertTheNurse]

Ever since I bought a conch that thing LIVES to turn around every pebble on my sand bed!! Not sure if they consume cyano, I bet they do tho!!

 

[KomsCorals]

Definitely leaning towards cyano as well