Is this Cyano or something else?

[TinCanHero]

Hello, im terribly sorry if this is asked all the time, however i was hoping someone with some experience could identify this Cyano / algae that is currently in my system please? Being new im finding it hard to positively identify what im looking at. Here are some pictures. If helpful my params are:
Temp 25c
Nitrates 10ppm or under
phosphates 0 - 0.1ppm
Tank is 16 weeks old (4 months)

Ive cleaned the sand + rocks a few times now and siphon as much as i can out on WC days but the problem just seems to be getting worse. I think the biggest mistake i did was i used a toothbrush when i first started to experience it, i think that spread it pretty well through the tank - live and learn.

Much more tank info, pictures, timeline and documentation can be found on my build diary (Link in my sig)

Many thanks & Kind regards,
TinCanHero.

Pictures:

 

[James M]

Diatoms

 

[saltyhog]

I would like to see a sample under a microscope. That could be dinos, doesn't look like cyano to me.

 

[TinCanHero]

Diatoms

I did think i had my Diatom bloom early, (see post https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...30-x-24-lxwxh-cube.548827/page-2#post-5769879)
would diatoms also produce the thicker stuff im seeing also?

I would like to see a sample under a microscope. That could be dinos, doesn't look like cyano to me.

Dino's scare the hell out of me! Im praying your wrong, however im going to make some phonecalls to see if anyone has a microscope and if not ill see if i can get one in town tomorrow.
From what i understand they are more common with 0 Nitrates and 0 Phosphates? i don't believe my NO3 has even been that low, however my PO4 is always undetectable by myself (100% < 0.03ppm on salifert)

At the end of post #71 you can see how bad the sandbed got before i hoovered the top few mm off Wednesday.

(https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...30-x-24-lxwxh-cube.548827/page-4#post-6053813)

Many thanks,
TinCanHero

 

[jpcrash1]

+1 diatoms

 

[saltyhog]

Dino's scare the hell out of me! Im praying your wrong, however im going to make some phonecalls to see if anyone has a microscope and if not ill see if i can get one in town tomorrow.
From what i understand they are more common with 0 Nitrates and 0 Phosphates? i don't believe my NO3 has even been that low, however my PO4 is always undetectable by myself (100% < 0.03ppm on salifert)

As well they should. The other guys may well be right but my dinos started with NO3 of 1 and 0 PO4. I wouldn't rule them out without looking at them under the scope.

 

[James M]

Your tank is 4 months old. That’s the time where all the algae stages come and go.

 

[TinCanHero]

+1 diatoms

Thank you very much for your input

As well they should. The other guys may well be right but my dinos started with NO3 of 1 and 0 PO4. I wouldn't rule them out without looking at them under the scope.

ill do just that tomorrow if i can get one, if not ill order one online, ive been curios to the microscopic world of my tank for a while

Your tank is 4 months old. That’s the time where all the algae stages come and go.

I had been wondering when my grace period was over ^^
Ive just retested my RODI system and its still reading 0 TDS if indeed its diatoms, would you say that its excess silicates are still being consumed from my sand and rock? I also read it also feeds off of organics in the tank, that has been a issue for myself recently.

 

[saltyhog]

ill do just that tomorrow if i can get one, if not ill order one online, ive been curios to the microscopic world of my tank for a while



I had been wondering when my grace period was over ^^
Ive just retested my RODI system and its still reading 0 TDS if indeed its diatoms, would you say that its excess silicates are still being consumed from my sand and rock? I also read it also feeds off of organics in the tank, that has been a issue for myself recently.

Looking at tank water under a microscope is fun, the amount of life is unbelievable. That should settle the matter....hopefully it's diatoms. Silicate can get by RO/DI even with a zero TDS reading.

 

[BadFish619]

+1 diatoms. Will go away on their own!

 

[TinCanHero]

Looking at tank water under a microscope is fun, the amount of life is unbelievable. That should settle the matter....hopefully it's diatoms. Silicate can get by RO/DI even with a zero TDS reading.

In a weird way im kinda glad I have a excuse to buy one for this exact reason!
Just looking for something with x1200 thats < £100, preferably half that right now.

+1 diatoms. Will go away on their own!

Thank you very much for your input, i'm sincerely hoping the consensus is correct