Black algae
- EMERGENCY
- Thread starter Natemeister
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OP
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Natemeister
Community Member
Yes there is trap air inside. And like a hairy black thing on the substrate
Seascapes
Active Member
I'm having the same problem. My nutrients have been high and I've been dosing nitrates reducer. Now this black stuff. And I see it has bubbles. Is this dino, ugh! That's all need! Following need help too!May i know what kind of algae is this? And how to treat it? I tried brushing of rocks and sand vaccuum but its keeps on coming back instantly.
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Natemeister
Community Member
We wait for the experts help , as of the moment i just shut off my lights upto 3 days and lets see what will happen. I didnt dose any chemicals yet because im not sure what is the best thing to do
melonheadorion
Well-Known Member
im no expert, but i would say its dinos. a couple key features that indicate is air bubbles (and you have alot of them), as well as being really stringy, almost mucus like. pretty easy to self test. many responses you will probably see, will say to look under a microscope, which will pinpoint the specifc type of algae, but a real simple home method is to get a sample of some of it, and put it in a clear container. shake it vigorously, let it sit in the light and see if it forms back to mucus.
when you get your sample, strain it through paper towel into a glass container that you can shake. shaking it will seperate all of the algae cells and basically settle to the bottom like dust. if it is true dinos, which i expect it to be, it will form itself back to a floating mucus.
www.reef2reef.com
when you get your sample, strain it through paper towel into a glass container that you can shake. shaking it will seperate all of the algae cells and basically settle to the bottom like dust. if it is true dinos, which i expect it to be, it will form itself back to a floating mucus.
Helpful Method for Identifying Dinoflagellates
There have been dozens (probably hundreds) of posts from people trying to identify dinoflagellates in their aquarium. I have posted this in other threads but figured it might be helpful to start a thread explaining this method. Dinoflagellates are single-celled organisms that aggregate to form...
www.reef2reef.com
LiveFreeAndReef
Valuable Member
Did you cover the tank in something to block all the light? Turning off the lights is only part of it, and it really won't help if the tank is still getting light from the room.
melonheadorion
Well-Known Member
100% agree with this. corals can still open with ambient light. ive had corals stay open with just light from computer monitors, and algae would be no different. for lighting to effectively be "off" it has to be complete dark, which usually means wrapping, or covering the tank so its completely black.
OP
OP
Natemeister
Community Member
Can i still have dinos with a .16 phosphate and 10ppm nitrate? From what read they thrive on low nutrient environmentim no expert, but i would say its dinos. a couple key features that indicate is air bubbles (and you have alot of them), as well as being really stringy, almost mucus like. pretty easy to self test. many responses you will probably see, will say to look under a microscope, which will pinpoint the specifc type of algae, but a real simple home method is to get a sample of some of it, and put it in a clear container. shake it vigorously, let it sit in the light and see if it forms back to mucus.
when you get your sample, strain it through paper towel into a glass container that you can shake. shaking it will seperate all of the algae cells and basically settle to the bottom like dust. if it is true dinos, which i expect it to be, it will form itself back to a floating mucus.
Helpful Method for Identifying Dinoflagellates
There have been dozens (probably hundreds) of posts from people trying to identify dinoflagellates in their aquarium. I have posted this in other threads but figured it might be helpful to start a thread explaining this method. Dinoflagellates are single-celled organisms that aggregate to form...
OP
OP
Natemeister
Community Member
LiveFreeAndReef
Valuable Member
They do thrive in low-nutrient environments, but those numbers have less of an impact once they've gotten a foothold. They key is getting something to outcompete them for those nutrients, whether that is some kind of algae in the display or a macro algae in the sump.
