Diatoms? Cyano? What?

Stege_saurus · Aug 4, 2020

So I've been battling whatever "algae" this is since May. I can't get rid of it. What is it? How do I get rid of it?

A little backstory: I've had this reef set up and going since May 2019, didn't battle this then. Fast forward to February 2020, I have an ich outbreak and decide to quarantine and treat all fish, while leaving the tank fallow for 76+ days. During this time I was still "phantom feeding" the tank due to having inverts and what not. Fast forward to May 2020, I start to reintroduce all the fish back into the tank, shortly after all this appears. I do weekly water changes of about 35-40%. When I do the water changes it will disappear for about 4-5 days and then begin to return. Urgh! Help please!

120g reef
Filter socks
Algae scrubber
Protein skimmer

Stege_saurus · Aug 4, 2020

...

MichaelReefer · Aug 4, 2020

Dinos?

Would explain it vanishing when you removed the fish and coming back when you do water changes. Dinos like low nutrient levels.

vetteguy53081 · Aug 4, 2020

Dinos !
Siphon up.
Starting Today, turn off all lights for 5 days. If you have sensitive coral, you can run Blue at 5%
Tonight and next 5 nights, add 1ml of peroxide per 10 gallons (yes it is safe). Each days, blow any dino loose with a turkey baster and net the loose matter or force to overflow and clean filters daily. During the day , add 1ml of Liquid bacteria per 10 gallons of volume. In 5 days, should be all cleared up.
DO NOT at this time any coral foods OR add NoPox which is food for Dino. You can feed any fish in the tank as normal

PR_nano · Aug 4, 2020

Think this is the same I'm dealing with. I was just reading the Dinoflagellates thread and thinking I should buy a microscope to positively ID the type. Thought it was diatoms since the last batch of water from the lfs didn't read 0.