can anyone tell me what this is ?

[softreef92]

Tank is a year old. 75 gallon with 20 gallon sump with refug. And protine skimmer. Tested my water my nitrite is zero my phosphate zero my nitrate is zero. Its been in my tank for months on my rock and sand anyone know what it its and how to handle it

 

[sunken3]

possibly a sponge? is it covering "everything"?

 

[softreef92]

It only grows on top of the rock and sand and it covers everything but my corals. And it traps air bubbles. And i cannot for the life of me scrub it off the rocks

 

[Idoc]

Looks like Chrysophytes... which looks like short ckear/white hairy stuff sometimes. A good microscope pic would be helpful to identify.

 

[softreef92]

Looks like Chrysophytes... which looks like short ckear/white hairy stuff sometimes. A good microscope pic would be helpful to identify.

That is spot on what it looks like. And it doesnt seem to hurt anything its just ugly and traps junk in it. Makes cleaning a pain. Il have to buy a microscope tomorrow and post a pic

 

[Idoc]

That is spot on what it looks like. And it doesnt seem to hurt anything its just ugly and traps junk in it. Makes cleaning a pain. Il have to buy a microscope tomorrow and post a pic

Chrysophytes are like dinos, they can be difficult to clear out of a system! But, it can be done.

You should start by dosing some nitrates and phosphates into the system slowly. You don't want zero levels of these nutrients.

I don't recall exactly how to clear them out, but i had them a few years ago in a new setup coral quarantine tank...i cleared them out. Search the forum for threads on them and you'll find some good ways to clear them.

 

[softreef92]

Chrysophytes are like dinos, they can be difficult to clear out of a system! But, it can be done.

You should start by dosing some nitrates and phosphates into the system slowly. You don't want zero levels of these nutrients.

I don't recall exactly how to clear them out, but i had them a few years ago in a new setup coral quarantine tank...i cleared them out. Search the forum for threads on them and you'll find some good ways to clear them.

I looked at a couple and seen a few that said run a gfo ? also should i dose some good bactiera while i dose nutrients ?

 

[Idoc]

I looked at a couple and seen a few that said run a gfo ? also should i dose some good bactiera while i dose nutrients ?

I recall running a little GFO as well when i got rid of mine. I also remember scrubbing the rocks, etc... with a brush to break them off.

Adding bacteria is always helpful.

 

[softreef92]

I may pick up a gfo. Watched a few videos of people dosing vibrant reef for about 5 to 9 weeks and clearing it up for good. Its got really good feedback. Il give it a shot. If that fails il start raising my po4 and nitrate. Il post if it works out. Thanks for the quick replies and help everyone !

 

[softreef92]

So i figured i would give an update on this just in case anyone cares lol. I have been dosing vibrante reef now for about 5 months now and it has helped kill alot of it and beat back and stop new growth. But i do still have some i have come to find that my biggest problem is super low to almost no nutrients in my water. My croals witch are all softies and a few lps grow very slow because of it so i am trying to raise up my phosphate and nitrate and hopefully that will be the final cure.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So i figured i would give an update on this just in case anyone cares lol. I have been dosing vibrante reef now for about 5 months now and it has helped kill alot of it and beat back and stop new growth. But i do still have some i have come to find that my biggest problem is super low to almost no nutrients in my water. My croals witch are all softies and a few lps grow very slow because of it so i am trying to raise up my phosphate and nitrate and hopefully that will be the final cure.

Chrysophytes are photosythetic and as long as they receive light- they will continue to spread. Some say Vibrant works- it rarely does. Manual removal with siphon or canister filter along with toothbush. Do a 3 day black out with 24 hours of small amount of GFO on the first of three days. Monitor alkalinity with use of GFO.
Perform 25% water change after 3 day black out. Don't reduce any increase of nutrients from treatment. Chrysophytes don't move, although they are round like dino under a microscope and can have similar appearance to dinos in a tank.
UV sterilizer will help digest as will scrubbing the rock with Peroxide.

 

[softreef92]

Thank you. I do try to siphon and scrub every water change but the stuff is so short now i cant really get much off manualy but my starry blenny does eat some of it off lol. I have not tried gfo or the 3 day lights off i will give it try.