Is it Algae, cyano or Dino ?

[Hakunamatahtah]

Hi there,
Tank= 4 months old
ph=8.1
Temp=79
Phos= 27 ulr (Hannah test kit)
NO3= 10
Alk=8.6
Mag and cal are good as well..

Cycle has been completed, didn’t add livestock until I saw coraline algae.
I have been battling some sort of stringy brown, spiderweb looking thing. It has no air bubbles, I had Dino before which has air bubbles. please help! I have syphoned all out but came back again. I have this problem for three weeks now. I have been changing 10% water weekly and adding vibrant.

 

[andrewey]

At first blush, it looks closer to dinos than cyano to me, although both are absolutely possibilities and hard to differentiate at the macro level. Diatoms would be much lower on my differential. Have you tried the coffee filter method if you don't have access to a microscope?

 

[macnets]

Are you over dosing vibrant? It caused me a dino outbreak aswell because it bottoms out nutrients

 

[sixty_reefer]

Most probably dinoflagellates, Cyanobacteria doesn’t smoother corals.

 

[Hakunamatahtah]

I will take some samples to my lfs today, I think they have a microscope. I will keep you guys posted. Thanks for the reply.

 

[andrewey]

If you can, try and take some videos/pictures through the scope.

 

[Hakunamatahtah]

Dang! So I went to the lfs they told me the guy that can use the microscope is off, but I can confirm that is pretty much Dino. I sucked the stringy web looking mucus into a 10ml container, I shake it then turns into powdery looking dust and I will settle into a ball..

 

[SPR1968]

Before you do anything ‘dramatic’ I would try a simple 3 day blackout (lights off curtains closed etc) and also try and increase the flow to the affected areas.

Also your phosphate levels may be raised (I think anyway, I’m not familiar with ULR 27 readings?) and this can cause issues if it is

 

[Hakunamatahtah]

Thanks for the help, I started the 3 days black out this morning hope it will help. Should I dose hydrogen peroxide?

 

[andrewey]

You can dose hydrogen peroxide, however I think more reefers have probably been successful with other methods compared with hydrogen peroxide dosing. If you do go down that route, just make sure you understand dosages and possible side effects.

 

[Hakunamatahtah]

Thanks for the advice, I think I will wait after the 3 days of blackout and see

 

[Bells>Waimea]

Howd the blackout work for you?

 

[Hakunamatahtah]

Hey! Hi! Yeah black out plus UV sterilizer worked!! I slowly ram back up the light intensity