Help ID Dino or Diatoms

[brianfarm6767]

Hello,
Trying to refresh myself on how to identify all the things growing in my new tank. Been away from the hobby for about 10 years and my kid talked me into jumping back in. I have this algae growing on my rocks mainly at the top, some on the sand and some on the glass. Started a few days ago and has gotten slightly more every day.

Tank is a IM Fusion 20 and has been cycled for around 2 months. I have kept the lights on very low, like 3% just to see the fish. Have added a small cleanup crew and one bottle of pods and just been planning on riding it out for a few months like this before I add more than the 3 fish in there and any coral. Nitrates test around 20 on Red Sea kit. I have a Hanna Nitrate and Phosphate checkers getting delivered tomorrow as well as a amazon microscope as I saw a lot of people mentioning it is a good way to identify problems in the tank from time to time.

I have tried blowing a small section of the rock to see if it came of as a dust or sheet and it really doesnt move much at all. There were some small bubbles in the algae in a few parts of the tank where it was growing also.

Hoping someone could help me out and if not I will post the pictures i get on the microscope tomorrow and see what I have.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Lavey29]

Probably just diatoms or some other normal new tank rock algae. You will be experiencing a variety of algae and bacteria ugly phases the first year. Your white rocks will change all sorts of colors.

 

[brianfarm6767]

Was able to get a look at something on a microscope no idea what I am looking hoping someone else is more of an expert lol. Also not the best photographs but if anyone can make anything out I would appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[Troylee]

Diatoms.

 

[Beachbilly]

Next will be green it's inevitable I'm in my 3rd month. Be of good cheer brother

 

[brianfarm6767]

Diatoms.

What are you seeing to tell you that? I am just curious I read up on forums on how to identify them but when u started looking I found out quickly I wasn’t a scientist. lol thanks for the help

 

[rhitee93]

I would say diatoms as well. I have both on my tank for comparison

Under a microscope, diatoms are long tubes with whiskers at each end.

 

[Beachbilly]

Get some snails

 

[Beachbilly]

I place them where I want them to work till it's gone.