Need help identifying this algae

[Pudgeshambley]

My tank is a little over a year old now. Started with live sand and marco rock. Use six stage BRS rodi system for water. I have 5 trochus, 8 nerite, and 6 bumblebee snails. Plus 4 scarlet legged hermit crabs for a clean up crew. I can't seem to get rid of this algae. Don't know if it is still some type of diatoms?? This is my first tank so any help would be appreciated. I have had an ICP test done and everything came back normal. Silica was fairly high which I know might cause diatoms. Alkalinity has been stable at 9.2 for a few months now. Ph runs between 8.1 to 8.3. Temp is 77.6. Salinity is 1.025. Haven't tested for nitrate or phosphate because I assume it would be inaccurate because of the algae. First few pictures are under 100%blues with orange filter the rest were taken under 100% whites.

 

[Auto-pilot]

That appears to be dinoflagellates
Sometimes it is caused by low nutrients

 

[Pudgeshambley]

That appears to be dinoflagellates
Sometimes it is caused by low nutrients

Well that stinks. How confident are you that is dinos? Or is it too hard to tell from just pictures. I tried to siphon some out earlier but wasn't very successful

 

[MischiefReef]

Easiest way to rule out dinos is to check your parameters. If you’ve bottomed out nitrate and phosphate, it could be dinos.
Could also be bubble algae. But I also notice some white film overtop, how is the flow in your tank?

 

[Flux Capacitor]

The best way to confirm is with a microscope. There’s a thread on Dino’s that you can identify what you see there. If you can get a picture through the microscope someone can help if you post a photo.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Easiest way to rule out dinos is to check your parameters. If you’ve bottomed out nitrate and phosphate, it could be dinos.
Could also be bubble algae. But I also notice some white film overtop, how is the flow in your tank?

I run two mp 10s at 70% on reef crest during the day and lagoon setting at 40% at night. Tank is the AIO red sea max e170 so display tank is 38 gallons.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

The best way to confirm is with a microscope. There’s a thread on Dino’s that you can identify what you see there. If you can get a picture through the microscope someone can help if you post a photo.

How do you get a sample out of the tank? I tried earlier with a pipette but didn't have any success

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Easiest way to rule out dinos is to check your parameters. If you’ve bottomed out nitrate and phosphate, it could be dinos.
Could also be bubble algae. But I also notice some white film overtop, how is the flow in your tank?

Pretty sure it's not bubble algae. Have had that on some frag plugs and it is different than what I have now

 

[Flux Capacitor]

You can just scrape it or try tweezers.

I just reread your first post. It could be chrystophytes if the sicila was really high. They feed on them just like diatoms. I’d get a microscope to see what you’re working with.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

You can just scrape it or try tweezers.

I just reread your first post. It could be chrystophytes if the sicila was really high. They feed on them just like diatoms. I’d get a microscope to see what you’re working with.

I just tested the phosphate and got .03. I only run a skimmer and filter floss so I don't think I would've bottomed out nutrients. I did see chrystophtes in one of the BRS videos and thought that might be a possibility but don't know how to identify it either. I thought about adding a third stage to the rodi system and using the different resins and then the mixed resin at the end to help with Silica but don't know if that would help

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Easiest way to rule out dinos is to check your parameters. If you’ve bottomed out nitrate and phosphate, it could be dinos.
Could also be bubble algae. But I also notice some white film overtop, how is the flow in your tank?

Tested phosphate. Got .03