Brown algae on sand!
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CDavmd
AstroReefer
Could by dinoflagellates or cyano but you need a microscope to confirm. I favor dino's. There is a simple test if you do not have a microscope on the main Dino's thread. Start reading the first few pages....
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/
Firemanreefkeeper
Active Member
+1 for dino. I had it, I hate it, I hope it never comes back!
Is this a bio cube?
Is that sand new?
Is that sand new?
It's an Innovative Marine 40. Funny you ask cause I have a biocube that looks the SAME way. I think it's more brown algae. I had dinos in the 40 and got rid of them a few weeks ago. Those were super distinctive. But this same algae I've been going through for a while now! So irritating.
You could be dealing with co2. Esp if it’s two tanks.
If it’s new sand it could be just some uglies.
That’s actually a bit of ammonia/nitrates in the samd amd co2.
If it’s new sand it could be just some uglies.
That’s actually a bit of ammonia/nitrates in the samd amd co2.
Firemanreefkeeper
Active Member
My phosphates were high and nitrates were 0. I had to lower phosphates, raise nitrates and I stopped carbon dosing. I did 5 treatments of dino-x. It says you do a treatment every other day for up to 21 days. I did mine for 10 days and it was cleared. I maintain 60 ppb phosphate or less, somewhere between 2 and 5 ppm nitrates. I saw your numbers at the top and they don't look terrible. Maybe try the dino-x and see.
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Looks like Dino to me but if you can use a microscope. But from what you wrote about nitrates being zero it’s quite possible it’s Dino. Only thing that worked for me was a UV sterilizer. There are other methods out there as well. Check out the dino thread. Great read but a long one for sure.
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How is your water flow? I would direct it downwards a little to keep sandbed agitated without stirring the sandbed.
Seems like a combination of diatoms and Dino. Cerith and Nassarus snails as well as diamond back or similar goby will keep that sandbed loose
Seems like a combination of diatoms and Dino. Cerith and Nassarus snails as well as diamond back or similar goby will keep that sandbed loose
Flow isn't bad. I'm starting to think it can be my water. Because I did a water change last night, woke up and some of the sand was starting to turn kind of brown again overnight with absolutely NO lights. A friend brought it to my attention. Maybe I have to add a carbon block to my RODI. but when I had the dinos, they would come at night, so I don't think it could be that.
CDavmd
AstroReefer
Yes just suck up a small amount and a few sand grains and put them on a microscope slide. This will tell you if its Dino or cyano and what type of Dino. Then you can take appropriate action depending on the findings.
CMO
Valuable Member
A lot of good info in this thread if it is infact amphidinium dinos. I waited a long time to test for dinos thinking it was just some sort of brown algae. Before it really get's out of control it's probably best to get a cheap microscope to know for sure since dino treatment is not fun.
To combat I'm currently raising NO3 and PO4, added a ton of copepods / amphipods and siphoning my entire sand bed daily through a 10 micron sock, and slowly removing it at the same time. There are many other potential treatment options discussed in this thread, however.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/a...treatment-methods.365850/page-16#post-5169677
