NAME THAT ALGAE

[bxclent]

Hello All
Can anyone tell me what the heck this algae is ?
BTW, I've treated with Chemiclean with no luck.
Just started Vibrant today.
Tank is 8 months old. Permameters are good.
Thanks !

 

[A Young Reefer]

These are diatoms, mainly caused by excess silicates from rocks and sand I would wait it out until they consume all the excess silicates.

 

[bxclent]

These are diatoms, mainly caused by excess silicates from rocks and sand I would wait it out until they consume all the excess silicates.

Thanks, so you are saying it's the "ugly time" ?

 

[mindme]

Just started Vibrant today.

Vibrant is an algaecide and should be avoided. It's also not going to help here.

It's either diatoms(if you are lucky), or based on the coraline algae and thickness, it may be dinos, which are a nightmare. You'll need to identify what type of dino it is before being able to treat it properly, and you'll need a microscope to do that.

 

[rtparty]

My first thought is dinos and Vibrant will absolutely make things worse.

They could be diatoms though and if they are, you're lucky. Diatoms are easy to get rid of with some decent snails and time. So if this has been going on for a while, it's likely not diatoms but dinos.

 

[JAC-]

A cheap microscope is a super handy tool for times like these, but the tank seems a bit mature for a diatom bloom to happen from the original set up. Are you using RO-DI water for your top off and water changes? It looks like diatoms to me too BTW.

 

[JAC-]

One other thing in case no one told you, that GSP is probably going to take over your tank. It looks like it has free run of the whole rock structure. Just in case you didn't know how crazy that stuff grows.

 

[Dan_P]

Hello All
Can anyone tell me what the heck this algae is ?
BTW, I've treated with Chemiclean with no luck.
Just started Vibrant today.
Tank is 8 months old. Permameters are good.
Thanks !

8 months old and coralline growth makes me wonder if the growth is dinoflagellates.

 

[bxclent]

A cheap microscope is a super handy tool for times like these, but the tank seems a bit mature for a diatom bloom to happen from the original set up. Are you using RO-DI water for your top off and water changes? It looks like diatoms to me too BTW.

Yes, I am using RODI water and have been since the beginning. Maybe you can't tell from the pic but the GPS is on its own little island rock.

 

[Thor2j]

Sorry, but i am betting dinos.

 

[bxclent]

8 months old and coralline growth makes me wonder if the growth is dinoflagellates.

Do you think I have Too much Coraline or not enough ?

 

[sixty_reefer]

Hello All
Can anyone tell me what the heck this algae is ?
BTW, I've treated with Chemiclean with no luck.
Just started Vibrant today.
Tank is 8 months old. Permameters are good.
Thanks !

Could you post your parameters also?

 

[Dan_P]

Do you think I have Too much Coraline or not enough ?

Neither. I just take the amount of coralline growth as one indication that the system is not new and maybe advanced enough to be growing dinoflagellates rather than diatoms. Without a microscope, it is all guesswork.

 

[bxclent]

I forgot to say that when the lights go out the start to dissappear and return throughout the day lighting

 

[bxclent]

Neither. I just take the amount of coralline growth as one indication that the system is not new and maybe advanced enough to be growing dinoflagellates rather than diatoms. Without a microscope, it is all guesswork.

I forgot to say that when the lights go out they start to dissappear and return throughout the day lighting

 

[mindme]

I forgot to say that when the lights go out the start to dissappear and return throughout the day lighting

You have dinos.

 

[OfficeReefer]

Do you think I have Too much Coraline or not enough ?

Never enough Coraline at the beginning with most tanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its dinos and keep the battle simple:
Prepare by starting with a water change and blow this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles.
Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15% IF you have light dependant corals) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off.
During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as bacter 7 or XLM) per 10 gallons.
Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX as it is food for dinos.
Day 5,, you can start with blue lights - ramping up and work your white lights up slowly

 

[bxclent]

So, 3 for dinos and 3 for diatoms.....*sigh*

 

[mindme]

So, 3 for dinos and 3 for diatoms.....*sigh*

Pretty much ruled out diatoms when you said they go away at night and come back the next day.