Microscope green algae identification

[Miami Reef]

It grows on the walls of the tank and it’s relatively tough to scrape off (even when using new blades)

I’d appreciate an identification.

 

[Miami Reef]

@taricha

 

[taricha]

The strings look like a multicellular algae, the super tiny green cells are not recognizable. Nothing in there looks like a green crustose coralline algae. I'm not sure what in there would be difficult to scrape.

 

[rmorris_14]

Can you get a good picture of it in the tank, not under the microscope?

 

[Miami Reef]

The strings look like a multicellular algae, the super tiny green cells are not recognizable. Nothing in there looks like a green crustose coralline algae. I'm not sure what in there would be difficult to scrape.

Are the super tiny ones not recognizable because the magnification is too small?

It’s difficult because it’s stuck on. Kind of like caked on food left on a dinner plate overnight. I really need to get in their and put a lot of pressure to get it out. The magnet scraper needs a few passes to get it off. I’m just not used to this type of algae and I haven’t had this experience in the past.

@rmorris_14 I can take a picture later today (it looks like a crossbreed between film and hair algae).

 

[taricha]

Are the super tiny ones not recognizable because the magnification is too small?

Yes and no.
Even if the magnification were much higher, super tiny green or brown single cell roundish algae just aren't distinctive. There's many many things that show up in a tank that it could be.

 

[Miami Reef]

As promised, this is what it looks like. It’s not the best picture, but it’s hard to take one since it blends in the wall + the reflection. The best way I can describe it is that it’s a combination of hair algae and film algae.

 

[rmorris_14]

As promised, this is what it looks like. It’s not the best picture, but it’s hard to take one since it blends in the wall + the reflection. The best way I can describe it is that it’s a combination of hair algae and film algae.

Can you circle what we are looking at?

 

[Miami Reef]

Can you circle what we are looking at?

It’s the entire black wall of the tank (where the powerhead is).

 

[rmorris_14]

It’s the entire black wall of the tank (where the powerhead is).

Does it look like this?

 

[Miami Reef]

Does it look like this?

Nope. It just looks like film algae but it has a fuzzier texture to it (regular film looks powdery).

 

[rmorris_14]

Nope. It just looks like film algae but it has a fuzzier texture to it (regular film looks powdery).

Hmmmm weird … maybe you just need more inverts

 

[Miami Reef]

Hmmmm weird … maybe you just need more inverts

More inverts or more sand…which first?

 

[rmorris_14]

More inverts or more sand…which first?

Both at the same time lol

 

[rmorris_14]

Both at the same time lol

 

[Miami Reef]

Update photo!

Haven’t microscoped this area, but I know for certain that I have diatoms growing on there (the brown areas). The green is most likely the same single celled algae from the first post.

The algae isn’t difficult to scrape, it’s more of the angle of the scrapers + the tank size + eurobracing combined that makes it difficult.

Using a small blade works very well. This stuff grows fast, probably with all the light I’m using + no UV + cheato gro dosed weekly. My nitrates are at 5ppm and I brought phosphates down to 0.00ppm (GFO works too well despite me using under the recommended, so the reactor is off now).

Mexican turbos are good CUC, and I think I should get a few more, but not too much since coralline algae is starting to take over the wall. I’m not going to scrape anymore since it’s such an annoying chore.