Need help identifying

[smc03]

I have some tiny bubbles starting to appear on my live rock (only on rock not sand bed). Curious if anyone can help identify.

This is a sort of new tank. 45G. It’s been up for about 3 months. Nitrates are at about 3-4. Phosphates are around .4. I’ve been doing weekly 5% water changes.

I had what I think was a very small Dino outbrake about a month ago. Blackout period, large water changes, and manual removal seemed to make it go away. What I’m seeing now looks very different this time, with no stringy brown stuff like before.

Anyone have thoughts? Wondering if it might be cyano this time around. I know new tanks often go through ugly stages but this is frustrating!

This pic is zoomed in quite a bit. When looking at it normally the bubbles are very small (almost tiny).

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Probably just more ugly phase.
As hard as it is just ride it out.

Try skipping a water change.

Add dr tims one and only. Don’t be afraid to over dose it a bit.

Check your flow and blow off the rocks when you do a water change to reduce organics.
Check your cuc and snails and. Make sure you have enough good grazers.

 

[Dragon52]

Hard to make out, does it look anything like Bubble Algae?

 

[smc03]

My CUC is a little on the thin side probably.

1x trochus
1x Cerith
1x Nassarius
1x Astraea
1x dwarf blue hermit
1x dwarf Zebra orange hermit (who is a bit of a ******* always messing with the snails.
And one random crab that was supposed to be a bumble bee snail. I ordered it online only to figure out a day or two later it was a crab. My son loves him so I just kept him.

Should I add more to my CUC for a 45G tank?

Haven’t ever seen bubble algae in person. Only pics online - kinda hard to tell but I don’t think it looks like the pics I see.

 

[Dragon52]

Most sites that sell CUCs have a list based on the size of your tank how much you should have but it's also based on how long your tank has been set how much you feed but I would say yes you need quite a few more. I would also check for pictures on the crab to see if it's safe, it could eat your CUC & fish.