diatoms or cyano?

[Nancie Snyder]

My tank is almost 30 yrs old. It has the old corner box. For the past year I have had this brown sludge and also some reddish algae-looking stuff. In the morning when lights come on it is not as bad, but within a hour its as dark as ever. Water changes do nothing- the next day it is back. Is there any getting rid of this stuff?

 

[Idoc]

It seems odd to have a diatom bloom in a 30yr old tank. Are you sure you are not seeing dinos mixed with a cyano mat? Those two do like to go together to create havoc.

 

[Nancie Snyder]

It seems odd to have a diatom bloom in a 30yr old tank. Are you sure you are not seeing dinos mixed with a cyano mat? Those two do like to go together to create havoc.

I guess it could be. What caused this? How do I get rid of it? Ive decreased the lighting. Only feed about once a week.

 

[Nancie Snyder]

It seems odd to have a diatom bloom in a 30yr old tank. Are you sure you are not seeing dinos mixed with a cyano mat? Those two do like to go together to create havoc.

I dont know. Here are some more pics

 

[GKorals]

Have you done an icp test by any chance?

 

[Nancie Snyder]

Have you done an icp test by any chance?

No, not sure what that is or how to do it....

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its a combination of diatoms and algae. Generally inadequate flow, filtration or both will allow this to form
An slgae scrubber by hand will work . Assure any overflows are not blocked

 

[Jen1978]

No, not sure what that is or how to do it....

ICP is a very in depth ananysis of the water. You can order a test kit online or ask your LFS if they sell the kits. You send a water sample in to a high tech testing lab.

 

[nereefpat]

Looks more like cyanobacteria to me, but it could be some dinoflagellates mixed in. A microscope would tell you for sure.

Siphon as much out as you can. If it's cyano, there are meds for that, like red slime remover.