Helping id'ing algae/cyano

[hopperjl16]

I need help id'ing this crud in my tank so I can treat more effectively. I know I have some gha, and at times definitely some red cyano on the sand, but this stuff is different. I sent a message to twillard at one point bc I thought maybe it was dinoflagellates bc I saw some strings with bubbles. Basically this stuff is a stringy brown substance that gets worse with lighting. Sometimes the strings are several inches long. They will come off of anything, but as u can see in the pics they frequently get stuck on my leather toadstools. I've been dosing H2O2 for over a week now, doesn't seem to really help.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Looks like cyano to me. What is your po4 and no3?

 

[hopperjl16]

Looks like cyano to me. What is your po4 and no3?

Both are zero, but I keep reading that can be the case if the gha and cyano are sucking it right up. I started a refugium in the middle back chamber of my 29g biocube with some chaeto to see if that helped, that's been going a few weeks. The chaeto seems to be barely growing, but def looks healthy. Overall the tank is over a year old. For a few weeks I did twice weekly 20% water changes, seemed to help a little.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Both are zero, but I keep reading that can be the case if the gha and cyano are sucking it right up. I started a refugium in the middle back chamber of my 29g biocube with some chaeto to see if that helped, that's been going a few weeks. The chaeto seems to be barely growing, but def looks healthy. Overall the tank is over a year old. For a few weeks I did twice weekly 20% water changes, seemed to help a little.

This was my tank 4.5 months ago.

H202 had zero effect. Same as you po4 = 0.00 and No3 = 0.

I would stop adding any thing to the tank except for fish food. Start dosing KNO3 till nitrates read 5. Continue to do 20% week water changes. Test no3 after every water change and dose till you read 5. Maintain that number and maintain stable alkalinity and your cyano will disappear.

 

[hopperjl16]

Well I guess I'm glad it's likely cyano. Could be worse. Thanks for the info! Did u ever try the chemiclean?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Well I guess I'm glad it's likely cyano. Could be worse. Thanks for the info! Did u ever try the chemiclean?

No. And I dont advise it. Erythromycin can cause harm to a tank. KNO3 can easily be added with a product found at local hardware stores called Stump Remover. There are some instructions on R2R for mixing and dosing.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

A problem in my JBJ nano cube was the return flow blew funk from the back into the tank. The flow kinda hits the glass swirls there and dissolved organics settle . It might be worth a look, in the back(siphon) and at the flow.

 

[Mr.Alex]

Since we're identifying possible algea and stuff do you know what this is? It was about the size of a quarter a few months ago...it's growing on my back wall. And before you even ask, my parameters are perfectly normal. Thriving coral and all the good stuff. Please excuse the sea hare, he likes to poop for the camera

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Since we're identifying possible algea and stuff do you know what this is? It was about the size of a quarter a few months ago...it's growing on my back wall. And before you even ask, my parameters are perfectly normal. Thriving coral and all the good stuff. Please excuse the sea hare, he likes to poop for the camera

if that's not slimy to the touch Id say a coralline.

 

[hopperjl16]

Since we're identifying possible algea and stuff do you know what this is? It was about the size of a quarter a few months ago...it's growing on my back wall. And before you even ask, my parameters are perfectly normal. Thriving coral and all the good stuff. Please excuse the sea hare, he likes to poop for the camera

Green coralline maybe? Is it hard and chips off? I have some green coralline in my tank.

 

[Mr.Alex]

Not slimy at all its rough like stucco...I didn't want to assume it was corraline right off the bat because it's a brownish color all my corralline on my rocks are deep purple, pink, and red

 

[Mr.Alex]

Thanks a lot!! I appreciate the quick help.

 

[hopperjl16]

No. And I dont advise it. Erythromycin can cause harm to a tank. KNO3 can easily be added with a product found at local hardware stores called Stump Remover. There are some instructions on R2R for mixing and dosing.

I was def a little concerned reading up on chemiclean.....thanks for the info. I'll give ur method a try.