Diatoms cyano or dino?

[Jake_the_reefer]

So I am dealing with a weird algae that is slowly covering my sand. When i look at it, it looks brown. But up close with a flash light it has a red hue to it I have stuff on my rock as well that looks exactly like cyano. It's not causing any issues it's just a big eye sore. What is it?
Nitrates are about .2 and phos is below .05 but higher than 0

 

[ReeferNtraining]

So I am dealing with a weird algae that is slowly covering my sand. When i look at it, it looks brown. But up close with a flash light it has a red hue to it I have stuff on my rock as well that looks exactly like cyano. It's not causing any issues it's just a big eye sore. What is it?
Nitrates are about .2 and phos is below .05 but higher than 0

If you take a baster to it and it blows off easily, it’s probably Dino’s. If it comes off in fiberous looking sheets and is red it’s probably cyano

 

[Jason mack]

Have your no3 and po4 been a 0 at all ...to me it looks like cyno ...but unless you put a sample under micro scope you wont now for sure if its dinos ...does it disappear at night and come back when lights come on ... I would first add more flow too the sandbed and affected areas ...then if you can take a sample too your lfs if they have a microscope and take some fotos with your phone ..

 

[Jason mack]

Are you dosing any sort of carbon ...??

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Are you dosing any sort of carbon ...??

No carbon dosing. It stays at night. It can be dificult to blow off but it comes off in a weird sheet like a film. And no my perameters have never hit 0.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

I'll get a microscope tomorrow

 

[King Turkey]

No carbon dosing. It stays at night. It can be dificult to blow off but it comes off in a weird sheet like a film. And no my perameters have never hit 0.

it can still happen even if nothing hits zero. anything new in tank? anything change? when was the last water change. how many hours do you have light on for?

 

[Jason mack]

No carbon dosing. It stays at night. It can be dificult to blow off but it comes off in a weird sheet like a film. And no my perameters have never hit 0.

Cyno bacteria...add more flow too your sandbed ...and add bacteria ...dr Tim's or special blend..
And are your nitrates 2ppm or 0.2ppm ...I would raise it a little...aim for around 5-10 ppm ..and phos 0.03 -0 1

 

[Jason mack]

If its dinos it will look like this under microscope....

Took these with my phone

 

[King Turkey]

Cyno bacteria...add more flow too your sandbed ...and add bacteria ...dr Tim's or special blend..
And are your nitrates 2ppm or 0.2ppm ...I would raise it a little...aim for around 5-10 ppm ..and phos 0.03 -0 1

I agree dr tims and more flow is a good starting point. love dr tims it is my go to at the moment for a ultra lowish system.

 

[Jason mack]

I agree dr tims and more flow is a good starting point. love dr tims it is my go to at the moment for a ultra lowish system.

Cant get it here in holland so I use special blend which is German

 

[King Turkey]

Cant get it here in holland so I use special blend which is German

I see. Amazon wont do it?