diatoms with bubbles? ID please

[baslewprime]

my parameters

alk 10.8
mag 1280
cal 370
po4 undetectable
no3 2ppm

no gfo

running skimmer and gac

 

[Big G]

During photosynthesis, diatoms turn carbon dioxide into organic carbon and, in the process, create O2.

 

[ndrwater]

Couple of possibilities here, but better pictures would definitely help.
Possibility #1, dinoflagellates. They usually show up with long stringy slime with bubbles at the end.
Possibility #2, a natural outgassing of Nitrogen gas in an anerobic part of the tank.
Personally, I would guess #1, but a few more details need to be known. How old is the tank? How deep is the sand bed? Is that a low flow area of the tank?

 

[baslewprime]

During photosynthesis, diatoms turn carbon dioxide into organic carbon and, in the process, create O2.

so theres nothing to be worried?

 

[Big G]

so theres nothing to be worried?

see ndrwater's post above ^^^

 

[baslewprime]

Couple of possibilities here, but better pictures would definitely help.
Possibility #1, dinoflagellates. They usually show up with long stringy slime with bubbles at the end.
Possibility #2, a natural outgassing of Nitrogen gas in an anerobic part of the tank.
Personally, I would guess #1, but a few more details need to be known. How old is the tank? How deep is the sand bed? Is that a low flow area of the tank?

its 40g cube running for 5 months

theres alot of flow. mp10 and k1 gyre

sandbed 1.5 maybe 2 inches

its a really high flow area

 

[ndrwater]

I am gonna stick with my initial gut reaction on this one and say Dinos. Very common in a relatively new tank. In an effort to get ahead of them, personally I would recommend a good gravel vac. Especially in the area in question.
There are countless threads discussing Dinos and how to get rid of them. Dinos can be a serious problem. Doesn't look like you are anywhere near panic time. I would vac the gravel, and start reading some threads on the subject. You'll be okay!!

 

[baslewprime]

I am gonna stick with my initial gut reaction on this one and say Dinos. Very common in a relatively new tank. In an effort to get ahead of them, personally I would recommend a good gravel vac. Especially in the area in question.
There are countless threads discussing Dinos and how to get rid of them. Dinos can be a serious problem. Doesn't look like you are anywhere near panic time. I would vac the gravel, and start reading some threads on the subject. You'll be okay!!

what causes dinos?

i did a gravel vac but most of sand sucked into the bucket.

can i remove all the sand to prevent that?

 

[ndrwater]

what causes dinos?

i did a gravel vac but most of sand sucked into the bucket.

can i remove all the sand to prevent that?

The reason for Dinos is a mystery to me, and I suspect, 99% of reefers out there. Much smarter people than me would have to tackle that question.
When you gravel vac, put your thumb over the small hose end. If the sand gets high in the large tube, stop the flow with your thumb. The gravel will fall back in the tank.
I am not 100% convinced that bare bottom tanks are immune to Dinos

 

[Big G]

I am not 100% convinced that bare bottom tanks are immune to Dinos

They aren't. Had dinos show up in a bare bottomed frag tank.

 

[baslewprime]

The reason for Dinos is a mystery to me, and I suspect, 99% of reefers out there. Much smarter people than me would have to tackle that question.
When you gravel vac, put your thumb over the small hose end. If the sand gets high in the large tube, stop the flow with your thumb. The gravel will fall back in the tank.
I am not 100% convinced that bare bottom tanks are immune to Dinos

raise po4 will solve the problem?

my po4 its undetectable but i dont know the main reason.

 

[ndrwater]

Raising phosphate will not solve the problem. If anything, it may worsen.
I was having a discussion just yesterday regarding Dinos, Cyano, and nusance algae and how to combat them. Definitely was more of an "advanced" topic discussion and definitely WAY to indepth for a quick post reply.
She short version is less nutrients definitely helps. This isn't news, but the "how to get there" may be. Need to do much more research on the subject before I start espousing my thoughts and theories.

 

[Big G]

Here's a bit of info that may be of some help you to come up with an overall plan for your tank:
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/how-i-beat-dinoflagellates-and-the-lessons-i-learned

 

[baslewprime]

Raising phosphate will not solve the problem. If anything, it may worsen.
I was having a discussion just yesterday regarding Dinos, Cyano, and nusance algae and how to combat them. Definitely was more of an "advanced" topic discussion and definitely WAY to indepth for a quick post reply.
She short version is less nutrients definitely helps. This isn't news, but the "how to get there" may be. Need to do much more research on the subject before I start espousing my thoughts and theories.

thanks buddy