Microscope is my guess cyano

[Captscott91]

Hello everyone was wondering about getting help IDN this bacteria in my fish tank to me. It looks like cyano. I don’t see any diatoms under the microscope. My phosphates were really elevated but all other parameters are in check so I dosed phosphate E extra carefully to not harm any fish or coral and have brought it down to a 0.02 over a extend period of a week to make sure nothing would be shocked. Any advice is great, ps my tank is going on 4 years had a crash one year ago due to a failed heater while out of town for work. Not new to reef to reef just new account as other was lost

 

[Formulator]

Don’t need a microscope to tell you that is cyano LOL. Siphon it out. It comes off sand easy.

Very common after a rapid drop in PO4.

 

[Captscott91]

Thanks bud that’s what I thought too. I will siphon it tomorrow with my water change.

 

[Formulator]

Thanks bud that’s what I thought too. I will siphon it tomorrow with my water change.

I used to get it on my sand just like that at least once a year. If you add some nassarius snails and conch, they will keep the sand moving and prevent the cyano from getting a foothold. Sand sifting goby does great at this also, but not sure if you have room for a new fish (or want one).