Need a guru for positive id

[deville n reef]

I have jumped back and forth between the real identity of this..
My aquarium is still new 2mos
0ammo,0 trite,0-1ppm trates any given time.,calc 440,10-12alk,pH 8.0.
This is a very very dark brown dirty looking growth. Feels like dirt to the touch.
Won't go near the rocks that are covered in coraline. It doesn't grow anywhere but on the substrate where it feeds off light...

Please help those of u who know is this a severe diatom or dino.
Before I vacuumed the gravel last month there was a mix of cyano in it..
I'm at a loss I just want to enjoy but it's always something.
I quit cutting corners and now ...

 

[twilliard]

Yes have seen this many many times
I would suggest testing for cyanobacteria which is linked below
"Positive identification of cyanobacteria "
This is the first step

 

[deville n reef]

I don't see a link..I'll search with the quote... Thank u
Sounds like a start

 

[cnseekatz]

Diatoms. It's standard in a new tank cycle. You don't need to do anything. Leave it alone. Eventually it'll consume all the excess nutrients in the tank, and it'll die off. Then you'll likely get a bloom of green algae. At that point, you can manually remove it, or wait for it to die off on its own. I would recommend letting it die off on its own before you stock the tank, but technically, it should be safe for inhabitants when the green algae blooms.

 

[deville n reef]

See this is what I was leaning towards also.
But as it gets darker I just don't want it to be anymore than one big step ahead of me.
Too far for me to catch uhp...
My pod population seems to be eating at it.
So basically let it run its course..? Manual removal will set back.??
What factor determines this stuff being consumed.?
Is it beneficial bacteria or excess nutrients..
What actually consumes diatoms

 

[twilliard]

Diatoms. It's standard in a new tank cycle. You don't need to do anything. Leave it alone. Eventually it'll consume all the excess nutrients in the tank, and it'll die off. Then you'll likely get a bloom of green algae. At that point, you can manually remove it, or wait for it to die off on its own. I would recommend letting it die off on its own before you stock the tank, but technically, it should be safe for inhabitants when the green algae blooms.

Diatoms typically do not produce o2 bubbles

 

[deville n reef]

Arent the bubbles meaning it is dying off ..?

 

[twilliard]

Arent the bubbles meaning it is dying off ..?

No the bubbles are o2 that is produced during photosynthesis from bacteria

 

[domination2580]

Diatoms typically do not produce o2 bubbles

Hey twilliard, mine do produce bubbles lol. Does that count?

 

[twilliard]

Hey twilliard, mine do produce bubbles lol. Does that count?

LOL diatoms are an algae with a silica shell.
Now o2 can be produced from the organic breakdown of diatom cells from bacteria underneath.
But diatoms themselves, through my research, does not produce o2

 

[deville n reef]

Hey twilliard, mine do produce bubbles lol. Does that count?

I heard the best most simplest way to test is use 2 of your most important tools. Scent and touch
Smells it cyano. Slippery it's cyano..
But if it feels like dirt it's diatoms ...
This feels like dirt no smell or slip..
This true to anyones exp

 

[Reefhabit]

Looks like cyanobacteria.
When it gets real bad you will start seeing filaments coming off sometimes with air bubbles inside the ends.

 

[deville n reef]

Just wanted to thank all of you for the help.
As we speak they are finally breaking down into a powder that disapears.
Thank the Lord nothing but some real nasty diatoms.
Thanks again..
That was 2 weeks of stress and finally looks like we might be back in action